Foreign Law Firms Gain in Italy

Latham & Watkins’ recent Italian hires could be an indication that foreign law firms are finally succeeding in the difficult legal market.

The law firm hired five partners from Italian firm Bonelli Erede Pappalardo at the same time that U.K. law firm Linklaters has been snagging Italian lawyers in an aggressive growth effort, American Lawyer reports.

“Latham's Bonelli hire, plus Linklaters' recent Italian hiring spree, may be the early signs that U.S. and U.K. firms are succeeding in a market in which international firms have always had a hard time finding a foothold,” the legal magazine says.