Lawyers for Marks & Spencer today won a temporary injunction against the lawyers acting for Philip Green in the billionaire entrepreneur's bid to take over the struggling high street retailer.

The decision in the High Court in London will delay and possibly jeopardise Mr Green's plans for the £9 billion takeover.

M&S lawyers Slaughter & May took out the injunction to try to prevent Freshfields from handling the takeover, on the grounds that Marks & Spencer are former clients of Mr Green's legal advisers.

It is understood that Freshfields previously advised M&S on the deal to bring fashion designer George Davies to Marks & Spencer from Asda.

The legal arguments seeking the injunction sought to show that in so doing, Freshfields would benefit from inside knowledge of Marks & Spencer, and therefore would have a conflict of interest.

Freshfields has until 10.30am tomorrow to challenge the ruling by Mr Justice Lawrence Collins, which followed a private hearing over the past two days.

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