Barthélémy goes up in smoke

Massive drama in France as gigantic employment firm Barthélémy & Associés (think Thompsons merged with Russell Jones & Walker with a little dash of Lewis Silkin) splinters.

It's a notable move. Barthélémy used to act for Sanofi-Aventis among others and has a peerless reputation for labour law across France.

The new incarnation is Capstan, which has launched this new year with two-thirds of former Barthélémy lawyers. Crucially it's Capstan that has maintained membership of international employment law network ius laboris.

We're just confused as to why they've named themselves after a cigarette brand that old blokes in pubs used to smoke.