Chicago�Large law firms have gone out of business before. But few in recent memory have been liquidated in bankruptcy court, the fate of Chicago’s Keck Mahin & Cate, a firm that once boasted 350 attorneys.

Not surprisingly, the former partners of Keck Mahin have been dueling over who owes what. Exacerbating matters are harsh bankruptcy rules that give broad administrative powers to the liquidating partners and the firm’s creditors�but few rights to the typical former partner.