Italian lawyers have played down claims that Bonelli Erede Pappalardo’s move to overhaul its payment structure could spark a trend among local firms to restructure in order to hold on to junior talent.

The Slaughter and May ally has become the latest Italian firm to unveil plans to overhaul its profit-sharing model in a move that could set off a wave of Italian firms rewarding younger partners more evenly in a bid to fight off raids from international firms.