This week Slaughter and May took its first tentative steps towards that swashbuckling six-way merger we all know is just around the corner after agreeing to share office premises in Brussels with continental chums Hengeler Mueller, Uria Menendez, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo and Bredin Prat.
However, displaying characteristic Teutonic efficiency, Hengeler caught its best friends rather on the hop, rising bright and early to slap its colours on the news sunlounger by sending out its own missive of Belgian-themed waffle at 6am UK time, hours ahead of the agreed slot later that afternoon.
