Italian firm BonelliErede has set up a competition litigation task force, a move it says is the first of its kind in the country.

The task force will combine the firm’s civil litigation and competition law departments to support clients seeking support with antitrust issues and unfair commercial practices, helping them bring damages actions, actions to obtain interim measures and actions concerning the validity of contracts.

In a joint statement Giuseppe Lombardi, litigation co-practice manager, and Francesco Anglani, antitrust practice manager, said: “We combined two of our strongest areas of expertise because we believe clients will increasingly require a targeted approach to civil litigation and competition law as markets continue to change.”

They added: “Our team of professionals, several of whom also have extensive academic experience in these areas of law, will ensure clients multidisciplinary assistance and effective management of litigation cases across multiple EU jurisdictions, including by leveraging our international network.”

The task force is being spearheaded by a group of nine partners and counsel including Lombardi and Anglani, plus Vittorio Allavena, Sara Lembo, Massimo Merola, Laura Salvaneschi, Manuela Soligo, Marina Tavassi and Claudio Tesauro. Additional BonelliErede lawyers will provide sectoral expertise to the task force as needed.

Tavassi, the former president of Milan’s appeals court, joined the firm last month to bolster its commercial, competition and industrial law practice groups. She is also currently president of the Association of European Competition Law Judges and vice president of the Intellectual Property Judges Association. 

Other firms are also beefing up the European antitrust capabilities. Last month McDermott Will & Emery hired competition partner Hendrik Viaene from Deloitte Legal, where he headed up its global antitrust and regulatory hub. 

In December, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett hired Allen & Overy’s former antitrust global co-head Antonio Bavasso, who is set to lead the Wall Street firm’s Brussels office when it opens later this year, focusing on European merger control and competition law.

Also in December, Mayer Brown raided Baker McKenzie in Düsseldorf for a team of five competition lawyers, led by partners Christian Horstkotte and Johannes Weichbrodt. Last November Baker McKenzie hired a team of antitrust lawyers in Warsaw from DWF, including partner Marcin Trepka.