A raft of firms including Allen & Overy (A&O), Linklaters and DLA Piper are facing legal action from Dewey & LeBoeuf’s estate over client matters they allegedly took on when recruiting former partners of the collapsed US law firm.

US firm Diamond McCarthy, which is acting for Dewey’s estate, last Friday (26 July) asked the judge overseeing the bankruptcy to grant permission to issue subpoenas to 36 law firms and one accountancy firm which are now home to ex-Dewey partners.