When blue-blooded Scottish firm Maclay Murray & Spens announced that it was merging with London firm Fenners last week, staff at both firms could have been forgiven for feeling slightly confused by the news.

Just a week before, Fenners senior partner John Fenner had stated categorically to Legal Week that the firm was not in merger talks with anyone following the breakdown of earlier discussions with fellow family-run firm, Manches and West End property firm Kanter Jules.