DLA Piper has boosted its Rome litigation and regulatory team with the hire of Alfonso Celotto, the former head of the legislative office at the Ministry of European Affairs.

Celotto is an expert in public law and has lectured at institutions including the Luiss University in Rome. He has represented clients at Italy's supreme administrative court, the Consiglio di Stato, and the constitutional court.

Celotto also focuses on areas including constitutional law, public procurement and the energy and water sectors.

Commenting on the appointment, Federico Sutti, DLA Piper's regional managing partner in Italy, said: "Administrative law is an important area for us and we fully intend to expand our capabilities in order to meet client demand in this domain. Alfonso has an excellent reputation in administrative law and he will be a valuable addition to the team as we strengthen our offering."

DLA Piper's Italian practice features offices in Rome and Milan, with the latest hire bringing its local partner tally to around 20.

Meanwhile, Lovells has also hired a European academic, adding bankruptcy law specialist Jose Ignacio Tirado Marti, a professor of corporate law at Madrid Autonomous University, as counsel. He will continue his academic activities whilst working with the firm.

Lovells Spanish disputes chief Jose Luis Huerta commented: "The incorporation of an academic [of Tirado's stature] permits us to offer our domestic and international clients the best legal assessment possible in the area of business restructurings."