MJ Hudson, the asset management consultancy founded by former SJ Berwin, Proskauer Rose and O'Melveny & Myers partner Matthew Hudson, has launched a new legal arm in Milan.

Alessandro Corno, a former Milan partner at DLA Piper and Jones Day, (pictured right) has taken the role of managing partner of the new Italian firm.

He will work alongside Marco Zechini (pictured below), who joins the new operation from US firm Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe's Rome office, where he was a partner and head of the Italian banking and financial regulations group.

The office, which operates as MJ Hudson Alma, opened earlier this month. It will focus on fund formation and financial regulatory mandates, combining Corno and Zechini's expertise in alternative investment funds, financial regulation and fintech.

Their combined client base includes companies such as Amex, AXA and Fondo Italiano d'Investimento.

Corno said: "We already support some of the same fund managers and investors and we are working hard to deliver the benefits of the obvious synergies across our teams to all of our clients, both in Europe and further afield. The plan is to build out the MJ Hudson Alma team rapidly, working with fund managers, pension plans, asset owners and banks."

The new operation will work in tandem with MJ Hudson's other European bases in London, Guernsey, Jersey, Luxembourg and Zurich.

The firm was launched by Hudson in 2010 with the financial backing of a number of private equity houses.

Hudson said: "With well-established operations in both Luxembourg and Zurich, the Italian market has long been on our radar, as we seek to expand and build a network of expert legal practices across Europe … We are excited to have a new and dynamic team on board as we continue to build out the dominant multi-service platform for asset management, asset owners and funds."

Hudson left SJ Berwin in 1998, after which he spent a number of years working at private equity firms. He joined O'Melveny in 2004 as London chief, before joining Proskauer Rose in 2007 to launch its base in the City.

Consultancy firms launching or growing their legal arms has been seen elsewhere in the market in recent years, as the Big Four continually strengthen their legal offerings and are now making an impact on the legal market on a global level.

After announcing it intends to double the size of its legal arm in November last year, KPMG has since expanded its Australia arm, and has launched in Hong Kong, with plans to open in Shanghai later this year.