Cleary Gottlieb finally bags A&O Italian rainmaker

High profile Allen & Overy (A&O) Italian senior partner Roberto Casati has at long last confirmed his long-awaited departure to Cleary Gottleib Steen & Hamilton’s Milan office.

As first revealed by The Lawyer on January 12, Casati, who is believed to be taking two or three assistants with him, has been in discussions with Cleary for some time, following the US firm’s decision to boost its presence in Milan.

At the beginning of this year it took 1200sq metres in a central city building, which gives it space for around 25 lawyers.

Meanwhile A&O has been suffering something of an upheaval in Italy. Two weeks ago The Lawyer reported that A&O corporate partner Giovanni Marini was leaving for Jones Day.

Last year the magic circle firm restructured the management of the office by sidelining Casati and bringing in Rome managing partner Massimiliano Danusso as Italian managing partner. He has been sharing the role with Stephen Denyer, A&O’s European managing partner.

Casati was instrumental in negotiating the association of Brosio Casati e Associati with A&O in 1998.