Elite Italian law firm Chiomenti is absorbing the full operations of domestic firm EJC-Roberti & Associati to create a European practice, which the firm hopes will take advantage of the "growing 'federalisation' of large areas of the legal practice" in Europe.

Name partner Gian Michele Roberti, who specializes in competition and data, will lead a new European law department at Chiomenti, working closely with Chiomenti partner and competition law head Cristoforo Osti, the firm said in a statement.

EJC-Roberti is based in Rome and has an office in Brussels. In addition to Roberti, partners Guido Bellitti and Marco Serpone will join Chiomenti in Rome, and partner Isabella Perego will join in Brussels, all with their respective teams.

The new department will also focus on European financial services and capital markets law, corporate and tax law – all areas that will benefit from a "multidisciplinary perspective," the statement added.

With the definitive exit of the U.K. from the EU, European law firms are starting to zero in on how best to respond to client needs the post-Brexit environment. Solutions range from marketing "Brexit-readiness" packages to forming internal teams of specialists to creating multidisciplinary departments.

Firms have told Law.com International that while some practice areas, such as commercial litigation and contract enforcement, are of immediate concern to clients with operations in the U.K. and Europe, Brexit will touch practically every area of law and business by the time trade terms are finalised, probably not until sometime in 2021 at the earliest.

Chiomenti's move is the latest example of consolidation in Italy. Last year, rival firms BonelliErede and Lombardi e Associati agreed a merger.

The news also builds on continued expansion by Chiomenti, which recently hired a seven-strong team from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in Rome.

With 300 lawyers and eight offices in Europe, Asia and the U.S., Chiomenti is a member of the European Network of independent law firms, along with Gide Loyrette Nouel in France, Cuatrecasas in Spain and Gleiss Lutz in Germany.

With reporting by Varsha Patel.