DLA adds Italy to D&P international alliance

DLA is about to sign up Italian firm De Berti Jacchia Perno & Associati to its D&P alliance.

If De Berti Jacchia agrees, as is expected by the end of the month, then the alliance will be recognised from January 2001.

The international alliance of DLA has members in France, Spain, Belgium and The Netherlands.

De Berti Jacchia was previously a European ally of City firm Stephenson Harwood, which last year announced its intention to merge with the Italian firm by the end of May 2000.

In 1998, De Berti Jacchia, Stephenson Harwood and French firm Barbé Carpentier Thibault Groener set up a continental joint venture with Stephenson Harwood's Brussels office under the name Stephenson De Berti Barbé. De Berti Jacchia has since pulled out of the alliance.

Stephenson Harwood's director of marketing and business Colin Bayley says that there are no longer any plans to merge with De Berti Jacchia.

D&P is made up of five members: DLA, Brugueras Garcia-Bragado Molinero & Associados in Spain, Price & Partners in Brussels, Ginestié Paley-Vincent & Associés in France and Schut & Grosheide in The Netherlands.

DLA was unavailable for comment.