Slaughter and May best friend Bonelli Erede Pappalardo has sidelined plans to address succession issues facing the firm after it failed to reach a consensus to overhaul its payment structure at a recent partnership meeting.

The leading Italian firm was unable to agree on the proposed changes, which would have seen it overhaul its profit-sharing model to place less emphasis on individual performance.

It is now likely that the proposals, initially unveiled in March by a five-partner remuneration committee, will be put on hold until the next partnership meeting at the end of the year.

Bonelli's current remuneration model sees 65% of drawings based on partners' equity points, 25% based on billings and 10% awarded on a discretionary basis by senior management.

Under the proposed system, the billings-based element would be scrapped, with the lockstep and discretionary elements expanded accordingly.

Bonelli corporate partner Alberto Saravalle commented: "Changing the pay structure is an important decision and there is no need to rush. Before making any changes we want to make sure every opinion is taken into account, as well as making sure all demands and worries are properly answered."

He added: "We have got to a top position with our current pay structure but we are now making plans for the future and we must make sure they are thoroughly discussed for a smooth implementation."

The changes are designed to reward younger partners more evenly as the firm bids to retain more up-and-coming talent.

Although many of Italy's top corporate lawyers have remained with Italian independents, local outfits have also suffered from predatory recruitment of their younger partners from international firms which can offer better partnership prospects and the security that profits will not remain in the hands of a few senior partners.

Bonelli is not alone in attempting to address succession issues. Earlier this month Italian rival Gianni Origoni Grippo & Partners introduced the role of senior partner in a shake-up of its management structure.

Former managing partner Francesco Gianni stepped up to take on the newly-created role of senior partner, with Rome-based M&A specialist Giovanni Nardulli succeeding him as managing partner.

The change is an attempt to institutionalise the firm's decision-making processes.