Landwell’s decision to spin off its tax litigation department to the London office of US firm Dorsey & Whitney must have been deeply depressing for out-going senior partner Chris Arnheim, one of the earliest and highest profile converts to the cause of the accountancy-tied firms.

In the years to come, the move may also take on a wider significance – heralding the point at which the accountancy-tied firms finally gave up the fight to become top-tier legal players.