A professional services firm has failed to secure court orders stopping a former senior employee from soliciting its clients at a rival firm, as lawyers highlight a spike in poaching disputes over the past year.

Mid-tier firm Blue Rock sought a temporary injunction to force associate director Sangeeta Kaushik, 40, who had taken a partner role with consulting firm Nexia, to comply with a restraint clause that stopped her enticing away clients for up to two years.