Simmons & Simmons has boosted its financial markets practice in Milan with a double hire from White & Case.

Capital markets partner Paola Leocani and capital markets local partner Nicholas Lasagna join Simmons today (7 October).

Leocani, a top-ranked debt capital markets partner in the Italian market, focuses on debt and securitised derivatives, liability management transactions and equity capital markets. She had been a partner at White & Case since 2013, when she joined from Allen & Overy (A&O) as part of a seven-strong team. She made partner at A&O in 2006.

Meanwhile, Lasagna advises clients on a broad range of bank finance and capital markets transactions, including leveraged finance, acquisition finance, bond private placements, syndicated loans and debt restructurings finance matters.

Simmons international financial markets group head Jonathan Hammond said: "The arrival of Paola and Nicholas emphasises our continued commitment to developing our international capital markets offering and brings the number of partners who have joined our international financial markets practice so far this year to 10."

The Italian hires come after the recent closure of Simmons' Rome office. The UK firm opted to consolidate its Italian operations in Milan, following a review of its business in the country.