Boies Schiller hires a team from the Italian independent

Boies Schiller hires a team from the Italian independent

Partners and attorneys from RP Legal & Tax to launch an office in Milan

New York-based litigation firm Boies Schiller Flexner (BSF) has added four partners and 11 attorneys from the Italian law firm RP Legal & Tax (RP L&T). It will launch the European Union (EU)-focused office in Milan.

The move marks the first new office for BSF, co-founded and chaired by famed litigator David Boies, since it set up shop in London eight years ago.

RP partner trio Luigi Macioce, Alessia Allegretti and Stefano Zonca have joined as founding partners of the Milan office, named Boies Schiller Flexner Italy, with Macioce set to lead the effort.

Partner Giancarlo Morelli has also joined BSF along with nine associates and two counsels.

BSF said the new office strengthens its existing capabilities in areas including international arbitration and litigation, as well as the representation of high-net-worth individuals in their most pressing business and legal issues.

Alan Vickery, the co-managing partner at BSF, said the office also gave the firm "a gateway to the EU, something of particular importance post-Brexit, and a location in the strong Italian market."

He added that the lawyers from RP "expand our practice capabilities, including for international arbitration work, and create opportunities for BSF to advise Italian and EU companies in their US-based work."

Co-managing partner Sigrid McCawley added, "The Milan office gives us a seat in one of the EU's largest economies, and our new colleagues are a strong complement to our platform and existing capabilities. With our new office and partners, the firm is well-positioned to handle US-based litigation for Italian clients, and we anticipate that our existing clients with legal challenges in the region will benefit from BSF having an established presence in Italy."

On joining the new firm, Macioce said, "My Italian colleagues and I are looking forward to integrating our work with that of our BSF colleagues. Together we will offer a unique combination for clients that are expanding their businesses and interests or protecting their rights in court or arbitration."

Macioce left RP after working for seven years. He represents private clients and multinational companies in cross-border and domestic matters, including tax and mergers and acquisitions. He was a senior member of RP's corporate and tax departments and was also a partner in charge of its art law practice.

Meanwhile, Allegretti advises foreign clients with respect to their businesses in Italy, as well as Italian entrepreneurs in their businesses abroad. Her experience includes advising high-net-worth clients, closely held entities and family offices.

Zonca has experience in international trade law and competition, advising clients on commercial litigation and international arbitration, corporate governance and shareholder issues.

The launch comes after a difficult two years for BSF, once counted among the most profitable law firms in the US. It swept up in the controversy surrounding David Boies' work for disgraced public figures Harvey Weinstein, former film producer and convicted sex offender and Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos.