Thompson withdrew in late April, citing a client conflict.

Getting all 570 partners (3,100 lawyers total) to agree on compensation, partnership issues and client conflicts was sticky.

Even so, the executives said, there remained difficulties over issues like client conflicts.

It was merely a client conflict and one that has been more than adequately compensated for.

The combination makes sense from every aspect," he added, "with very few client conflicts.

The partners must also work through some client conflicts that would be created by a merger.

Then there are the client conflicts that result from mergers.

However, in a news release announcing the merger, there was a sentence that client conflicts "cannot be ruled out."

Forming a third group can be dauntingly difficult because of logistical problems and client conflicts.

"But there were some obstacles regarding the nature of the deal, organizational problems and client conflicts."