Tower SnowLawyers at collapsed California giant Brobeck Phleger & Harrison are this month facing up to a grim struggle to escape millions of dollars of debt – while hunting for new employers – following the 30 January shock decision to dissolve the firm.

The dramatic move leaves the San Francisco-based firm – the 14th largest US practice by income at its peak in 2000 – fighting to negotiate a deal to settle estimated debts of $64m and millions more in property liabilities.