Baker & McKenzie is parting company with its office in Bologna, with the majority of the six lawyers based in the Italian office spinning off to launch a standalone firm.

Bakers acquired its Bologna office after taking over nine-lawyer arbitration and competition boutique Bernini e Associati in April 2002.

Office head Giorgio Bernini became a special counsel at Bakers as a result of the tie-up, while the eight other lawyers becoming associates. Since then, Bernini's daughter, Anna Maria Bernini, has become a partner at Bakers.

At the time of the merger, Giorgio Bernini had told Legal Week: "Our office has always had an international vocation. The formula for the future of the Italian market is on a big scale and with international law firms. I needed an increased team to help the practice develop internationally."

However, the office will now go it alone, with one Bakers associate relocating to the international giant's office in Milan. Bernini declined to comment.

Prior to the split, Bakers had around 120 lawyers based in Italy, where the firm operates as Studio Professionale Associato a Baker & McKenzie. Earlier this year the firm lost antitrust partner Davide Balboni, who was based in Milan and opted to the join the local arm of top 30 UK firm SJ Berwin.

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