The threat of Cobbetts becoming liable to pay out for a fellow defendant in a major fraud and negligence case became more pressing this month after the defendant, property surveyor Dunlop Haywards, went into liquidation.

The firm could see its liability increase if lenders look to recover money and find Dunlop Haywards, which had a winding-up order made against it on 12 May, is unable to pay out on the fraud claim.