27 Jan 2026
Bip Law & Tax among firms leading 2025 lateral moves as 170 hires shift €115 million
"Bip Law & Tax completed 17 lateral hires and will expand across energy, labour, tax and competition/antitrust as part of 170 lateral moves that shifted about €115M in 2025."
Bip Law & Tax completed 17 lateral hires under the leadership of lawyer Stefania Radoccia. The start‑up firm, connected to the consultancy Bip, has invested across areas including energy, labour, tax and competition/antitrust through a series of entries from firms such as EY SLT, Lexia and Wi Legal.
Hogan Lovells, led by managing partner Patrizio Messina, has integrated a nucleus of partners from White & Case, among them Ferigo Foscari and Iacopo Canino. The firm also secured the move of Domenico Gullo from DLA Piper in an operation focused on competition/antitrust.
Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici (Gpbl) concluded seven lateral hires. The firm welcomed a group of four former BonelliErede partners, including M&A lawyer Nanni Costa and litigator Renato Bocca, as well as recruits from other firms including an ex Giliberti Triscornia, Stefano Alberto Villata and IP specialist Anna Gardini, who arrived from Chiomenti.
Gianni & Origoni (Gop) added four new arrivals, including Norman Pepe and Ciro Pellegrino, who joined with their respective firms iLS and Studio Ciro Pellegrino. Separately, tax specialist Giulio Andreani moved from PwC TLS to Gianni & Origoni.
Chiomenti strengthened its finance practice by recruiting a team from Simmons & Simmons led by partners Davide D’Affronto and Nicholas Lasagna, reinforcing the firm’s capabilities in debt finance and private capital. Chiomenti also added administrative law specialist Pina Lombardi from L&B Partners.
BonelliErede re‑engaged partners Andrea Novarese and Maria Cristina Storchi, who returned alongside Francesco Pirisi to consolidate the firm’s corporate finance bench. The firm also expanded its litigation and arbitration capabilities with the entry of partner Ferdinando Emanuele from Cleary Gottlieb and the subsequent arrival of of counsel Enrico Castellani, formerly a long‑standing partner at Freshfields.
Cappelli Riolo Calderaro Crisostomo Del Din (CRCCD) recruited Antonio (Nino) Lombardo from DLA Piper.
Fivers strengthened its corporate M&A practice by bringing in Giorgio Fantacchiotti from Linklaters and Silvia Romanelli from BonelliErede.
The US firm Ropes & Gray launched an Italian presence by hiring a trio of lawyers from Latham & Watkins — Cataldo Piccarreta, Giorgia Lugli and Luca Maranetto — and subsequently added partner Alessandro Capogrosso from PedersoliGattai.
Morri Rossetti & Franzosi welcomed Federica Santonocito together with professor Mario Franzosi, who joined the firm as of counsel.
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer received partner Emanuela Da Rin from BonelliErede.
Clifford Chance added Francesca Gesualdi to its team.
The moves described fit within a market‑wide pattern: Legalcommunity and MAG recorded 170 lateral hires in 2025 (165 in 2024), with an estimated €115 million of fee revenue shifting between firms. Corporate M&A remained the most targeted practice (23.5% of moves), followed by tax (12.3%), litigation/arbitration (11.2%), banking & finance and labour (around 10% each), energy (5.9%) and restructuring, administrative and competition/antitrust areas. The survey also notes that approximately 26% of lateral hires were women, with female representation increasing in practices such as labour, IP, administrative law and corporate finance.
Overall, the year saw not only individual partner moves but also package hires and the launch of new professional projects and offices, signaling an ongoing redefinition of market positioning among Italian and international law firms.