Berlusconi to bolster trade

ELECTION: Withers celebrates victory of its Italian client

City firm Withers has greeted the change of government in Italy as a potential catalyst for economic liberation in the country, and will participate in a London Stock Exchange roadshow in Milan in early June.Corporate department partner Anthony Indaimo, head of the firm's 20-strong Italian group, said thevictory of Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party may pave the way for further private finance initiative work, securitisation and equity buy-outs in Italy, creating more work for lawyers.

Withers acts for Mr Berlusconi.Mr Indaimo will attend a London Stock Exchange roadshow in Milan in early June as a co-moderator.

The roadshows, which take place all over Europe on a rolling basis, seek to increase the profile of AIM and TechMARK - the London exchanges for young companies and technology firms respectively.

City firm Bird & Bird is a headline sponsor.Francesco Ago, a leading corporate lawyer with Italian firm Chiomenti, said that if the new government fulfilled its manifesto, there would be a big increase in project finance work in the country.

He said this kind of work is normally done in Italy by UK and US lawyers from London and New York.Mr Ago said firms with existing relationships with government officers would not automatically benefit.He said: 'I don't think prior relationships are a key factor.

We work with Mediaset [Berlusconi's media company], but the government will require beauty contests, and will go on competence and prior experience.'Jeremy Fleming