The row between Portuguese leader Barrocas & Alves Pereira (BAP) and a former partner over the use of his name in the firm's title has been settled in acrimonious style with BAP this month re-branding.

The firm has become Barrocas Sarmento & Rocha following eight months of bitter dispute, which came to a head in July following a case brought by legacy name partner Jose Alves Pereira over BAP's use of his name.

Alves Pereira left the firm in December 2003 and attempted to have his name removed from BAP – despite the fact that Portuguese law allows one year for the removal of a departing partner's name from a company's title – claiming that it was causing confusion for clients.

He claimed the judge in the Civil Courts of Lisbon last month ordered the "immediate termination of the use of the name Alves Pereira by the law firm".

However, his former partner Manuel Barrocas hit back saying the case was preliminary and subject to appeal.

In spite of the protracted spat, BAP has removed the Alves Pereira name – taking up the Barrocas Sarmento & Rocha brand – and drawn a line under the public argument.