Allen & Overy (A&O) is hoping to see off tensions in its Italian practice with its first pan-Italian managing partner and a new strategy to foster integration between its Milan, Rome and Turin offices.
The management restructuring triggered a spate of rumours that high-profile partners were set to quit, but the firm has so far avoided the kind of fallout experienced by Clifford Chance in Italy.
The restructuring, led by European managing partner
Stephen Denyer, has seen Rome managing partner Massimiliano Danusso become Italian managing partner. Denyer will share the role while the new Italian structure is cemented.
Separate managing partners and practice leaders for each office have been scrapped in favour of four new pan-Italian practice area heads.
Roberto Casati, who was instrumental in negotiating the association of Brosio Casati e Associati with A&O in 1998, has relinquished his role as one of three corporate heads in Italy and has been reappointed as Italian senior partner. He was previously rumoured to be leaving A&O, as was project finance specialist Franco Vigliano, who has been replaced as banking head by Giancarlo Castorino. However, neither Casati nor Vigliano are understood to have resigned.
The other new practice area heads are Danusso (international capital markets), Paolo Cerina (corporate) and Alberto Nanni (litigation). Vigliano will head the project finance group within banking.
Danusso aims to integrate the three offices and build on A&O’s existing market share.