Barlow Lyde & Gilbert’s senior equity partners will face a financial penalty of up to £180,000 if they choose to break the three-year lock-in set out in the firm’s merger agreement with Clyde & Co.

Barlows’ equity partners opting to leave during the next three years will be required to pay between roughly £30,000 at the junior end through to £60,000 at the top for each year of the lock-in they do not serve at the 
newly-merged firm.