Italian tax leader Camozzi & Bonissoni has merged with corporate finance boutique Varrenti, creating a firm with more than 150 fee earners, in a deal that went live today (12 January).

The new firm will practise as Camozzi Bonissoni Varrenti & Associati and brings together combines 100-lawyer Camozzi with Varrenti's 50 fee earners. The combined firm, which has offices in Milan, Rome and Bologna, will focus on tax, corporate and securities work, private equity and public utilities.

The boutique was created when name partner Alessandro Varrenti – a former managing partner of White & Case's Italian arm – left Varrenti Bassan Lenzi & Associati at the end of last year.

Varrenti, who left White & Case to start his own practice in 2004, cited achieving critical mass as a key factor in the merger.

He said: "Having worked with Camozzi & Bonissoni on many cases – including Kone, Enelpower and Toyota Motor Italia – we know that the relationship works."