Recently viewed firm rankings
Recently viewed firm profiles
Recently viewed lawyer profiles
The Legal 500 is conducting its first global survey of how corporate counsel and law firms use The Legal 500. We would be grateful if you could spend 10 minutes answering the survey questions to aid us in improving our research and how we deliver it. Click here to give us your feedback.
Legal market overview
Following Dewey & LeBoeuf Studio Legale’s liquidation in 2012, most of the firm’s attorneys entered into an agreement with Vittorio Grimaldi, formerly of Grimaldi e Associati, who authorised the branding of the new name Grimaldi Studio Legale. Despite the rebranding, Grimaldi Studio Legale also then endured the departure of 35 lawyers after managing partner Bruno Gattai, a driver behind the relaunch, exited with eleven partners, including equity partners Luca Minoli, Nicola Brunetti, Gaetano Carrello and Stefano Catenacci, to launch Gattai, Minoli & Partners in January 2013; and antitrust expert Rino Caiazzo left to join CDP Studio Legale Associato.
Other changes included CBA Studio Legale e Tributario’s Claudio Guccione departing to found public utilities and infrastructure boutique, P&I – Studio Legale Guccione E Associati; Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners hiring banking and finance partner Luigi Chessa, as well as finance partners Giuseppe Schiavello and Stefano Agnoli, from CDP Studio Legale Associato; and corporate and equity capital markets partner Michael Bosco joining DLA Piper LLP from Shearman & Sterling LLP.
In addition, Chiomenti Studio Legale’s former administrative team head, Luca Perfetti, joined Villata Degli Esposti e Associati; Bonelli Erede Pappalardo’s administrative department head Fabio Cintioli departed to establish his own boutique, Cintioli & Associati; public law firm Satta & Associati changed its name to Satta Romano & Associati; and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Milan-based Nicola Barra Caracciolo and Mario Ortu established a corporate practice at Orsingher Ortu – Avvocati Associati, formerly known as Orsingher Avvocati Associati.
The weakening economy has translated into further reductions in big-ticket M&A, merger clearances, leveraged financings, and IPOs, as well as a stagnant real estate sector, but new entrants continue to brave the Italian legal landscape. For example, global law firm K&L Gates reached agreement to merge with Italian firm Marini Salsi Picciau Studio Legale; and Francesco Sanna left DLA Piper LLP to head K&L Gates’ real estate practice.
Italian firms also continue to venture overseas. Legance Studio Legale Associato plans to open an office in London in early 2013, having hired Marco Gubitosi, a corporate and private equity specialist, from Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners.