The key disciplinary hearing of two of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s best-known lawyers is not expected to take place until the end of the year at the earliest, it has emerged.

The case, involving Freshfields corporate head Tim Jones and former head of corporate Barry O’Brien, is set to pass a year without a hearing date being set as Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) panel members have suggested time-slots for even straight-forward hearings are now booked until mid-October.