The Premier League has warned its clubs that it spent more than £45m on legal bills last season due to various disputes over its financial regulations.
The figure is contained in papers sent to clubs ahead of a shareholders' meeting on Thursday in central London.
The league has been embroiled in a series of investigations, disciplinary arbitration processes, and appeals. Cases have involved Manchester City, Everton, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea and Leicester City.
An independent commission hearing into more than 100 charges of alleged financial rule breaches by Manchester City, following a four-year investigation, is now into its second week.