Martin SorrellSupport for the City-led campaign to water down conflict rules has collapsed, according to an investigation by Legal Week, which shows growing calls from commercial lawyers for a u-turn on plans to legalise the widespread use of Chinese walls.

UK law firms that have told Legal Week they are opposed to major liberalisation of the conflict rules include Lovells, DLA and Hammonds, while not one major firm would publicly back major liberalisation.