The business of guiding law firms to make smarter lateral hires now has a new entrant. But as public relations and consulting firm Baretz+Brunelle launches a “talent intelligence and analytics practice” helmed by industry veteran Howard Rosenberg, it’s facing off in court against Decipher Investigative Intelligence, which Rosenberg co-founded seven years ago.

Baretz+Brunelle sued Decipher in New York federal court Monday, hours before a planned announcement of its new business line. The lawsuit asks a judge to assert that Rosenberg has not misappropriated any of his former company’s intellectual property.