Deloitte & Touche is to cut all links with its French law arm – leaving the 340-lawyer practice completely independent – as the accountancy giant responds to the post-Enron clampdown on auditors.

The firm’s local legal arm, Deloitte & Touche Juridique et Fiscal, the fourth largest firm in France, will now fully separate from its accountancy parent by the end of the year, although the exact details have yet to be finalised.