Squire Patton Boggs is to open in Italy with a four-lawyer team secured from US rival Curtis’s Milan office. Its Milan base will be its 15th in Europe and its 45th overall. A spokesman for the firm said it was hoping more hires would follow ‘in the near future’ at the office, which is due to open shortly.

The outpost will be led by Galileo Pozzoli, who was Italy managing partner at Curtis and a member of its European management committee. Also joining as partners are corporate specialists Daniela Sabelli, Ian Tully and Fabrizio Vismara.

Pozzoli is a highly rated arbitration lawyer whose practice focuses on Africa energy related cases: his clients include oil companies, governments and state-owned entities.

Sabelli also boasts particular expertise advising within Africa’s energy sector, especially in North Africa and the Maghreb. 

“This is an exciting opportunity to add a fully integrated Italian practice into the global firm and expand its already sizable Africa practice,” said Pozzoli

Steve Mahon, global managing partner for clients and strategy at Squire Patton Boggs, added: “Galileo is a respected and well-connected practitioner with a strong track record for building talented teams. He will play an important role on our expansion efforts across both Italy and Africa.”

This is Squire Patton Boggs’ second major international team hire from a US rival this year.

Earlier this month it secured a three-partner team from Winston & Strawn in Dubai following its rival’s decision to close its office and instead service its Middle East clients from Europe.

AmLaw 200 firm Curtis officially opened for business in Milan in 2008 after joining forces with a local firm it had forged an association with. It currently lists 16 Milan-based lawyers on its website.

The firm also has an office in Rome, which it opened in 2014.

Curtis has an unusually widespread network of international offices for an Am Law 200 law firm. Just three of its network of 16 offices are in the US, including its New York headquarters, which was founded in 1830.

Squire Patton Boggs' launch in Milan follows that of Littler and Greenberg Traurig last year.