We are all familiar with the cosy ‘best friends’ arrangement between Slaughter and May and its fellow blue-bloods on the Continent.

However, Burges Salmon this week nudged the envelope an inch to the left after a missive from the firm hailed a new hire by its US ‘better friend’ Thompson Hine. Whether the southwest firm was suggesting Thompson Hine is actually better than Slaughters’ buddies – or just that their relationship is that much closer – is a moot point.