White & Case's hire of Weil Gotshal & Manges banking head Mark Donald has fallen through, in a surprise end to a long-running saga.

Last month, it emerged the move had been delayed. But, in a statement to Legal Week, a White & Case spokesperson has confirmed: "After discussion, White & Case and Mark Donald have agreed that Mark will not join the firm. We wish him the very best for the future."

It is unclear whether the decision to stop the hiring process came before or after the firm's due diligence process, which generally takes place before a lateral hire is completed.

On this point, White & Case declined to comment.

Legal Week reported last month that the hire had hit delays caused by concerns regarding client conflict issues.

Weil has now removed Donald's details from its website.

Having joined Weil from Hogan Lovells in 2012 as head of banking, Donald acted on deals including BHS's administration in 2016, and lists among his clients banking powerhouses Lloyds Banking Group and Credit Suisse.

When the financial crisis hit in 2008, he led a legacy Lovells team on five financing deals for Bank of Scotland in a two-month spell.

White & Case's City-based banking practice includes JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley in its client base. The firm has engaged in an aggressive recruitment drive as part of its three-year global growth strategy, announcing 15 lateral hires, including Donald, in London in 2018.