McDermott Will & Emery is locked in a dispute with a former partner over repayment of capital – one of a series of problems relating to a wave of defections from the US firm’s London office.

The dispute – news of which comes as London office head David Dalgarno (pictured right) announces his decision to stand down – centres on the capital payment made by partners when they join the partnership, which is meant to be repaid within a guaranteed period when they leave the firm.