Partners in the US arm of global accountancy firm KPMG have been told their gardening leave pay will be cut by 50% if they leave for a rival firm.

The move is the latest effort to stymie a poaching war among the Big Four firms. KPMG’s decision stands out among its other three rivals – EY, Deloitte and PwC – and would likely force firms nabbing talent to scramble for more cash to top up payments of staff they’re luring away.