Littler Expands European Footprint with Move into Italy
Employment and labor law Littler has expanded into Italy with the addition of a six-lawyer team in Milan led by Italian principals Carlo Majer and Edgardo Ratti.
Inn a release, the firm said this move marks the fourth European country Littler has entered in just over two years following expansion into Germany, France and the United Kingdom and brings its global footprint to more than 75 offices in 17 countries.
“Our strategy of combining forces with the best labor and employment law practitioners in key international markets has proven to be successful and we are excited to add Italy to our global platform,” said Tom Bender and Jeremy Roth, co-managing directors of Littler, in a joint statement. “In the last few years, we have established a presence in Europe’s three largest economies. Expanding into the fourth largest European economy by adding this talented team was a natural next step in deepening our services to the global employer community.”
Majer and Ratti each have nearly two decades of experience practicing labor and employment law in Italy and advising global and domestic companies. They join Littler Global with a team of four attorneys based in the Milan office.
“Littler provides an unparalleled platform to counsel Italian companies, as well as clients doing business in Italy, on all of their labor and employment needs,” said Majer and Ratti, in a joint statement. “Our deep experience in Italian labor and employment matters, coupled with Littler’s global reach, exceptional reputation for counseling multinational employers and technological capabilities, will provide significant value to our collective clients.”
Majer, who was previously a partner with the Italian labor and employment law boutique Lexellent, counsels clients on labor relations matters, corporate reorganizations and restructurings, and employment-related litigation. He is recognized as a leading labor and employment lawyer in Italy by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, and is a member of the International Bar Association’s Employment and Industrial Relations Law Committee and the Italian Association of Employment Lawyers.
Ratti joins after a 20 year successful career started at labor and employment law boutique LabLaw, where he was a partner together with Majer. With extensive experience in labor law, Ratti advises clients on labor relations matters, restructurings and litigation.
“Adding an office in Milan led by two well-known and respected attorneys in the Italian market will expand our capabilities in Europe and further solidify our reputation as an international labor and employment powerhouse,” said Stephan Swinkels, a Littler shareholder who helps lead the development and integration of the firm’s global practice. Peter Susser, Littler’s Global Practice Leader and chair of the firm’s International Employment Law practice, added that “bringing Carlo and Edgardo’s team into Littler’s global platform will provide clients with seasoned Italian labor and employment counsel and further our ability to offer a localized approach in the many jurisdictions in which they do business.”
