White & Case wins Italian heavyweight for Milan rebirth

White & Case has snared the name partner of Italian independent Morano e Associati and a team of 20 lawyers for the US firm’s Milan practice.

As exclusively revealed by The Lawyer (2 August) Alberto Morano, a private equity and acquisition finance specialist, has been in talks with the US firm for some months.

On moving to White & Case, Morano will become a partner while four lawyers from his 20-person team joining the US firm will be awarded local partner status.

Morano’s arrival is a boost for White & Case Italy following the departure of executive partner Alessandro Varrenti, who quit the firm in June along with two local partners.

Varrenti led his five-partner firm Varrenti e Associati into a merger with White & Case three years ago.

White & Case’s Italian interim executive partner John Riggs, who jetted into Rome last year to troubleshoot the Italian practice, oversaw negotiations with Morano.