FieldField Fisher Waterhouse’s (FFW) new international alliance is facing stiff internal resistance to a merger despite a London-led commitment to consider integration in three years.

The alliance, which was officially announced this week, has firms in Ireland, Scotland, Germany and France and is being hailed by FFW as a precursor to a merger. A key aspect of the deal is a contractual agreement to “seriously consider” a merger within three years of the launch.