DLA Piper has strengthened its Italian intellectual property (IP) practice with the hire of founding partner of IP boutique LGV.

Roberto Valenti joins the transatlantic giant's Milan office on 1 July and will head up its Italian IP group, working closely with local technology, media and commercial chief Giangiacomo Olivi.

Valenti set up his boutique in 2003 after spending nine years with Milan firm Trevisan & Cuonzo. He focuses on registered and unregistered trade marks, copyright and new technologies, industrial property, advertising, e-commerce, privacy and security information and civil law.

The hire is the latest move by DLA Piper to beef up its Italian practice. Last November the firm took on a total of 10 lawyers in the jurisdiction, including two new partners – financial services lawyer Luigi Rizzi, who joined the Rome office from Simmons & Simmons, and private equity specialist Alessandro Corno, who switched from local leader Gianni Origoni Grippo & Partners.

DLA Piper now has 70 lawyers in Italy, including 16 partners, with offices in the core legal markets of Rome and Milan.