Leading French law firm Gide Loyrette Nouel has lost high-profile employment partner Joel Grange along with a six-lawyer team to labour and employment law boutique Flichy Avocats.

Grange, who has co-ordinated the employment law department at Gide, will become a name partner at the boutique, which will now rebrand as Flichy Grange Avocats. Marine Conche, Blandine Allix and Nabila El Aougri will also join as partners.

Grange's practice focuses on employment and social security law, advising on M&A, restructuring, transfer of companies, collective negotiation and litigation. Conche, Allix and El Aougri all specialise in labour law.

Flichy Avocats was formed ten years ago by collective litigations specialist Hubert Flichy. The new hires bring the number of lawyers in the firm to around 40, including 13 partners.

Flichy commented: "We are delighted to have Joel and his immediate team among us. We have the ambitious project of being recognised for the quality of our services, the diversity of our expertise and the excellence of our teams. The arrival of Joel and his team is determinant in this respect."

Grange added: "We are very pleased to join a firm of distinguished reputation with a strong international approach, where employment law is at the heart of the strategy. I know this team well as I have worked with several of its partners in the past."