Bird & Bird has hired a team of lawyers from Ernst & Young (E&Y) to set up an Italian practice – securing the launch of the sixth continental practice for the City technology leader in just three years.

The deal will see four lawyers from E&Y's Italian law arm, led by IP/IT head Massimiliano Mostardini, launch a Milan practice for the UK firm in April. Mostardini will also become the firm's Italian managing partner.

"It is unique for the Italian market to have a firm so specifically renowned for IP and technology operating in the country," Mostardini told Legal Week. "Bird & Bird is dedicated to the practice and it fits in with our team."

Mostardini spent four years at Andersen Legal and moved to E&Y last year following the merger of the two accountancy-tied practices. His clients include Tele2, UPS, Bayer and Benetton.

Also joining Bird & Bird is a three-associate E&Y team and two of counsels: Paola Frassi, from the University of Milan, and Silvia Giudici, from the University of Como.

Mostardini added: "We will also be hiring other people in M&A, labour law and litigation and we hope to have them by the summer, if not the April launch."