The last-minute cancellation of a merger between two prominent law firms focused on e-discovery was “odd,” said legal analysts this week, but they said conflicts are often deal killers, even when mergers appear final.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough and Redgrave announced on Nov. 17 their intention to merge, with a Dec. 1 effective date. Redgrave had planned to merge with Nelson Mullins’ wholly owned Encompass subsidiary to create one of the largest information governance and e-discovery law practices. This week, the firms confirmed their deal didn’t actually go forward, citing client “conflict-related issues.”