Legacy Barlow Lyde & Gilbert staff could be forced to remain in the firm’s Beaufort House offices until 2019, scuppering plans to integrate the London team with merger partner Clyde & Co’s City workforce.

Talks between the merged firm and insurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT) to take over the Beaufort lease broke down around a month ago, leaving Clydes potentially tied to the deal until it expires in seven years’ time.