Ashurst has lost a four-lawyer banking team in Milan to Pedersoli, with Ashurst partner Maura Magioncalda set to head the banking practice at the independent firm.

Magioncalda, who has left Ashurst after four years as a partner at the UK law firm, joins Pedersoli as an equity partner along with three associates.

She will be the second partner in Pedersoli's banking practice, with the firm as a whole comprising 50 lawyers. Her practice focuses on banking and finance, specifically in leveraged and real estate finance.

Ashurst's Milan banking group continues to be led by Riccardo Agostinelli, who is also the firm's Milan managing partner. The Ashurst banking team now counts three partners, after the firm made up Lorenzo Vernetti as a partner in the group in its May promotions round.

Ashurst's Milan office – its only Italian base – has a total of 30 lawyers, nine of which are partners. In its recent promotion round, the firm also made up corporate partner Stefano Roncoroni in Milan.

Magioncalda said: "This was a great opportunity as Pedersoli is a leading independent firm with an outstanding client base of banks and institutions. The second reason is more personal, to be given the opportunity to head a department."

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