Slaughter and May has delayed the long-awaited implementation of the Law Society’s new conflicts and confidentiality rules after complaining that they might “unsettle clients”.

The rules, which have been more than five years in the making, were set to be approved by the Law Society’s ruling council today (13 May). But, in an 11th hour objection, Slaughter and May has complained that the proposed rules on confidentiality are more restrictive than both common law and the present regime.