Accountancy firms have reacted with predictable fury to the decision of the American Bar Association’s (ABA’s) House of Delegates to reject multi-disciplinary partnerships (MDPs).

But they know full well that they have lost an important battle, not the war itself. For a start, the ABA’s pronouncements are merely advisory. State bar associations can ignore the ABA if they wish, with Washington being the most likely to strengthen its existing pro-MDP stance.