Herbert Smith Freehills has hired a team of energy and infrastructure lawyers in Milan.

Partners Lorenzo Parola and Francesca Morra are among six lawyers hired from Paul Hastings. Parola was head of Paul Hastings' EU energy and infrastructure practice. He focuses on a mix of M&A, project development and project finance transactions in the energy and natural resources sectors. Morra is a corporate lawyer who focuses on energy and competition law advising on contractual, regulatory and competition matters.

The departures leave Paul Hastings with just two partners, having lost funds lawyer Eriprando Guerritore and finance lawyer Marc-Alexandre Courtejoie to Gatti Pavesi Bianchi earlier in the year.