A&O relocation sees Roman banking practice rise from ashes

Allen & Overy (A&O) is rebuilding its Roman banking practice with the transfer of project finance partner Catia Tomasetti to the Italian capital from Milan.

Tomasetti, whose practice focuses on project finance, public-private partnerships and restructuring, is among the team advising on
the €4.5bn (£2.95bn) Sicily to Italy bridge project.

Her banking clients include Goldman Sachs, Rabo-bank, which she is advising on the Parmalat restructuring, and Société Générale.
Tomasetti is joined in Rome by three associates.

The move comes a year after ‘local’, or non-equity, banking partner Riccardo Sallustio quit for Bonelli Ererde Pappalardo, leaving A&O with no banking capability in Rome.

Italy managing partner Massimiliano Danusso, himself a Roman, said the relocation is also designed to capitalise on Rome’s status as the strategic centre for Italian projects and home to government and regulators.

Last year, the Rome office advised British American Tobacco on the privatisation of Italian tobacco company ETI. However, Danusso insisted Milan would remain the firm’s main centre. “Milan and Rome are both very important offices. Our headquarters has always been Milan and will remain Milan,” he said.