A group of ex-Hammonds partners are meeting this week to co-ordinate their response to a request to repay some of their drawings, as it emerges that the national giant is considering a loyalty bonus for existing partners.

As Legal Week went to press, a group of at least 15 former equity partners were due to meet in London to co-ordinate their tactics in the wake of demands for them to pay sums as high as the six-figure mark to the firm in order to cover over-drawings.