Marks & Spencer adviser Slaughter and May is seeking an injunction to stop Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acting for Philip Green on the £9bn bid for the retail giant in a dramatic early twist to the year’s most closely-watched deal.

Slaughters’ team, led by Nigel Boardman, is arguing Freshfields should be barred from acting for Green on the takeover attempt as it has advised M&S previously.