The administration of legacy firm Ince & Co has hit delays due to a dispute between Ince's UK and French branches over settling who owes what to the process.

Each party has suggested the other owes a figure of as much as £2m, according to a person close to the process.

Sources familiar with the situation said the French arm – headquartered in Paris – is owed money and that the balances are in its favour. 

However, a UK-based person with knowledge of the administration said Paris is yet to hand over necessary paperwork that will help settle the dispute and that the administration process had been delayed as a result.

Joint administrators Andrew Hosking and Sean Bucknall of Quantuma have today (25 January) written to the Paris office asking for information regarding the branch's position. The Paris base is in the process of addressing preliminary queries, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Gordon Dadds announced the completion of the Ince acquisition on 31 December, creating Ince Gordon Dadds, in a deal carried out by way of a pre-pack administration.

Ince's France offices – which comprise 10 partners in Paris, Le Havre and Marseille – rejected the deal, and are now in tie-up talks with Paris firm Gide Loyrette Nouel.

The Paris and Le Havre offices were established in 2002, and Marseille 15 years later in 2017. The firm's Monaco base – launched in 2011 – operates independently from the French offices.