Clifford Chance (CC) has seen the departure of two partners in Milan, with corporate partners Ian Tully and Massimo La Torre both leaving last week after seven years in the firm's partnership.

Tully will join US firm Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle at the start of September as a partner in Milan. He will focus on corporate energy work and M&A. He is the fourth lateral partner hire the firm has made in Europe since January.

Meanwhile, La Torre has left CC along with four associates to launch his own practice in the Italian city.

The departures leave CC with 15 partners in Milan. Earlier this year, CC saw a three-partner team quit to launch their own practice, with capital markets partners Paolo Calderaro, Michele Crisostomo and Silvio Riolo all leaving the firm.

In Rome, former Italian managing partner Luigi Chessa resigned from the practice earlier this year.

Commenting on Tully's move, Curtis Mallet-Prevost Milan managing partner Michele Tamburini said: "With Ian on board, our Milan office is better equipped to provide businesses in the region with the international corporate advice they require."