It is being claimed that Wilsons, one of the UK's leading private client firms, has been in court twice in two weeks after partner departures.

Details are sketchy as the firm's press office wouldn't comment, and as its management was unavailable yesterday (presumably as they were all busy in court). But we understand that Peter Williams and Viv Williams (no relation) who recently joined the firm's Bristol office were on their probationary period when the firm asked them to retire and take gardening leave. But as their probationary period had not ended, the Williams objected to gardening leave and so trooped to court last Friday asking that Wilsons be compelled to let them return to work.

Their application was successful but yesterday Wilsons was back in court attempting to overturn the injunction. The judge has asked the squabbling parties to try to resolve the matter between themselves and has stayed proceedings until June.
 

A Williams pair yesterday

Peter Williams was Burges Salmon's Head of Agriculture until April last year and Viv Williams joined from the same firm in November. Both are still on Wilsons' website.

Watch this space.