Two of the UK’s leading barristers have been called in to advise on the Northern Rock saga as the debate over City firm conflicts gathers pace.

Brick Court Chambers’ Charles Hollander QC, one of the country’s pre-eminent conflicts specialists, was instructed by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer to advise on the potential conflicting nature of the two roles the firm has subsequently accepted – for the Bank of England and then Northern Rock.