Lovells' Italian managing partner Paolo Criscione has reacted angrily to being asked to leave the firm, claiming he was kicked out because of partner complaints made to senior management, it has emerged.

Milan-based Criscione, who will leave the firm on 31 October, has spoken out over the issue, claiming the firm's decision was based on unfounded accusations.

He also emphasised that none of the complaints, made by other partners in the firm's Italian practice, came to him directly and that he was only informed of them by the firm's senior London management.

Criscione, who co-founded Lovells' Italian practice six years ago after joining from Italian leader Gianni Origoni Grippo & Partners, told Legal Week: "The firm's management did not check the grounds of the accusations and the way the firm has handled the whole situation has been very unfair. [Management] told me there have been partners complaining about me for 18 months, but they never thought to pick up the phone before this."

Lovells senior partner John Young confirmed Criscione had been asked to leave but said the firm was satisfied the appropriate procedures were followed. He declined to comment on whether management had received complaints.

Criscione has stated he now intends to retire from the legal profession. Rome-based corporate partner Leah Dunlop will take over the reins as managing partner while real estate partner Marco Rota Candiani will take charge of the Milan office. The change is the latest in a series of departures from the Italian offices of UK firms over recent years. London firms have a long history of problems in the country.

Clifford Chance saw founding Italian partner Vittorio Grimaldi split off to form his own practice with around 30 lawyers in 2002, while Allen & Overy lost founding partner and rainmaker Roberto Casati to US giant Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton in 2004.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters have not fared any better. Linklaters' alliance with Gianni was severed in 2002 and Freshfields lost founding partners Paolo Colucci and Giovanni Lega, who set up Lega Colucci Morri & Associati in 2004.

Reported on legalweek.com (6 October).