Radcliffes to gain lucrative Italian work with City senior lawyer hire

London firm Radcliffes is poised to win work in Italy, potentially worth millions, after strengthening its cross-border capability by luring a dual-qualified senior lawyer to join the practice as a consultant.

The Italian group comprises associate Nello Pasquini, a dual-qualified corporate lawyer, and founder and head Michael Nathanson. Nathanson anticipates that sole practitioner Arturio Barone's presence as a consultant will give Radcliffes an edge in Italy. He brings assistant Daniella Saretti with him.

Radcliffes is making significant inroads in the Italian market - the move will strengthen its position against rival Withers and the comparable work carried out by London-based firm Pinibingham & Partners, which is headed by Dominic Pini.

Nathanson says: "We're not competing with the big five, -although we've seen them on the other side, like on the Lotus deal [in which Lotus was sold to Proton] we came across Slaughter and May, Clifford Chance and finally Lovells."

Barone boasts an array of impressive clients, including the Consorzio Del Prosciutto di Parma, the Italian Trade Commission and the Italian Embassy. This will enable the firm to extend its client base and expand outside its Milanese base, which is has built up through its close relationship with a Milan firm. Barone also has strong links in Rome and the areas surrounding Bologna and Milan.

Nathanson says: "Arturio's contacts in corporate will complement our contacts and consolidates those relationships. In return he'll have the back-up of 95 lawyers."

The firm has already developed international links with Lyddon Simon across South Africa and Switzerland, Thomas Crawley in Hong Kong and Stephen von Peltz in Singapore.