Ashurst is bulking up its Italian practice with three new recruits, including a Dewey & LeBoeuf partner duo.

Dewey partners Ugo Giordano and Fabio Pizzoccheri are both set to join Ashurst's banking and capital markets team, along with partner Ilario Giangrossi, who joins from Milan's Pedersoli & Associati.

Giangrossi, who specialises in corporate, restructuring and litigation, joins Ashurst today (18 February), while Giordano and Pizzoccheri's start dates are yet to be confirmed.

Giordano and Pizzoccheri will be based in Ashurst's City HQ, while Giangrossi has joined the firm's Milan office.

Ashurst's Milan head Franco Vigliano said: "We are delighted to welcome Ugo, Fabio and Ilario to the firm. They will strengthen our market offering in a number of strategic practice areas and augment the range of high quality Italian law services which we can deliver to clients internationally."

Ashurst senior partner Charlie Geffen added: "The hiring of our new Italian partners represents a significant step forward for Ashurst as we expand the firm's Italian practice. I am very much looking forward to the arrival of the new team and I am confident that they will be a great success."

The hires come in response to the loss of a four-partner quartet from Ashurst's Milan base last August, including the local office's two leaders, Riccardo Agostinelli – who left to join Latham & Watkins – and Daniele Raynaud, who quit to set up set up his own boutique firm, Raynaud and Partners.

The senior departures were replaced by Milan-based energy partner Franco Vigiliano, who took the office head role, and corporate partner Mark Sperotto, who filled the role of managing partner.