Eversheds has announced it is to split with its South African arm in the New Year due to issues over client conflicts.

The Johannesburg-based practice will return to trading under the name Routledge Modise, although the two firms are planning to continue to work together in the region.

In a statement, Eversheds chief executive Bryan Hughes said: "Recently Eversheds and Eversheds South Africa found ourselves in an impossible situation where the best interests of two of our respective, prominent clients in different jurisdictions could not be fully represented.