Shearman & Sterling has announced it will open a second Italian office in Milan in January 2010. Together with lawyers in the firm’s existing Rome office, Shearman & Sterling’s Milan-based lawyers will enhance the firm’s coverage of both Italian and international clients.

European Managing Partner Creighton Condon commented: “We believe that the market for Italian law transactional work is expanding. Northern Italy is one of the most dynamic economic environments within the country. We already have a strong client base in Milan and, with our new office, we will be even better placed to support clients in Milan and Rome with their domestic and cross-border work.”

Rome partners Fabio Fauceglia and Tobia Croff will relocate to Milan, together with several associates from Rome. Fauceglia, Croff, current Rome Managing Partner Michael Bosco and partner Domenico Fanuele will work closely together to serve clients throughout Italy.

The firm’s Italy-based lawyers offer dual Italian and US law capability, focusing on public and private mergers and acquisitions, international joint ventures, equity and debt offerings, privatisations and general corporate work. The firm also covers bank finance, restructuring and real estate transactions.

Shearman & Sterling’s Italian team advised on many of the largest, most complex and most innovative transactions completed in the Italian market in recent years, including various market firsts. The firm has recently advised on the largest Italian rights offering in 2009; the first-ever competing public tender offer for units of Italian real estate funds; inbound and outbound acquisitions and joint ventures for Italian listed clients; public reverse mergers between Italian real estate listed companies; and the cross-border merger resulting in the creation of the first listed European Company.