Linklaters has continued its bid to build its fledgling Italian practice with the hire of Pedersoli banking partners Andrea Arosio and Dario Longo.

The pair, who are currently discussing an exit date, will join Linklaters' Milan office.

Both Arosio and Longo joined Pedersoli in 2005 from Allen & Overy's (A&O) local arm. The respected independent Italian firm acts for banking clients such as Banche Popolari and Banca Intesa and has taken a number of roles on major banking mergers in the country during recent years.

The appointments will take the number of partners in the magic circle firm's Italian practice to five – three of whom are locally qualified – and follow the hire of A&O finance partner Davide Mencacci last month.

Mencacci was the first Italian-qualified partner the firm had taken on since its alliance with local leader Gianni Origoni Grippo & Partners collapsed in 2002.