An organisation representing Italy's largest law firms is set to appoint its first-ever president in the form of Lega Colucci & Associati name partner Giovanni Lega.

The ASLA is widely expected to name Lega – Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's former Italian founding partner – in the role as part of a wider shake-up of the body.

The body, which was formed in 2004 to represent Italy's growing band of commercial firms, will also create a 13-member advisory council to oversee strategic issues. Its executive committee, which handles day-to-day management, will be reduced from seven to five people.

The changes, which gained approval from the executive committee last night (25 October), will be rolled out at the end of November subject to member's approval on the 30 November.

Lega is currently the general secretary and ASLA will appoint a replacement for the role on 30 November.

ALSA is currently preparing to put forward candidates for the Bar Council elections in February. The organisation saw Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe's Guido Bardelli and Piergrossi Bianchini Eversheds' Sergio Barozzi successfully represent it on the Milan Bar this year.

Although both lawyers already sit on the council as independents, this year's poll was the first time they had stood as representatives of ASLA.

Early last year ASLA pledged to double its membership, which stood at 3,000 at the time