One hour in the office – Every weekend, a director opens his door to Le Figaro. It is the turn of Maître Laurent Merlet, associate of the Artlaw firm.
Before the office, there is the address. Some are more chic than others. This is the case of the law firm Artlaw’s address; 260 Boulevard Saint-Germain, between Rue du Bac metro station and Solférino. In the early afternoon, a white-collar worker swiftly glides on the wide sidewalk, carrying a Cojean bag, ready to devour its contents on his desk before starting a new meeting. The 260 is a building exclusively occupied by businesses; lawyers, a private bank, and on the top floor, Cassina Poltrona Frau. Maître Laurent Merlet, co-founder of the firm, welcomes us with overflowing enthusiasm on the 4th floor of the Haussmannian building. The only apartment on the floor, about 250 square meters. This address and office – as is often the case with lawyers – is a matter of sentimentality.
A career intrinsically linked to Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Since 1993, Maître Laurent Merlet leaves his home on the other side of the Seine, crossing the Tuileries garden to reach this office, which was that of his mentor, his first and only boss; Georges Kiejman, deceased in May 2023. “Everything comes from him, my career, my network,” says Me Merlet solemnly as he leads us into a large meeting room lined with books. It is the personal collection of Me Kiejman, started in the late 50s. More than a “conference room” – the name it was assigned – this room is a sanctuary. It is dedicated to the memory of the great lawyer Georges Kiejman. “Here…
