Denton Wilde Sapte is engaged in a behind-the-scenes tussle with Herbert Smith, as it emerges that the firm is attempting to hold departing leveraged buy-out (LBO) partners Chris Fanner and Ian Yeo to their full notice period.

Dentons is insisting that Fanner, the more senior of the pair, serves out nine months of gardening leave – a stance that has infuriated Herbert Smith. Yeo is being pressed to serve out a six-month period.