The latest moves, appointments and personnel changes among wealth management and related organisations in the UK, the rest of Europe, the Middle East, Africa and select international locations

Canaccord Wealth
UK wealth manager Canaccord Wealth, has appointed Gary Steel as a senior wealth planner, based in London. He will report to David Goodfellow, head of wealth planning.

Previously, Steel (main picture) was at Brewin Dolphin, where he was divisional director providing financial planning advice and associated investment solutions to wealthy individuals and their families. He has worked in financial services for 25 years, in particular concentrating on lifestyle financial planning.

“His extensive experience and dedication to lifestyle financial planning will be invaluable as we continue to expand our wealth planning services,” Goodfellow said. “Gary’s approach aligns perfectly with our commitment to helping clients achieve their financial goals and maintain their ideal lifestyle.”

LMS Studio Legale
Milan-headquartered LMS Studio Legale has bolstered its banking and finance and corporate practices with the appointments of Mario Lisanti and Fabio Niccoli as partners, effective 1 May 2025.

Lisanti (pictured below), who has joined as head of banking and finance, has more than 25 years’ experience advising lenders and borrowers on a wide range of banking and finance transactions including private credit, real estate, corporate loans and special situations. Besides being a banking partner at Ashurst, Lisanti was a banking partner at Norton Rose Fulbright for 11 years and, prior to that, he worked at Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman) in their London and Milan offices, and BonelliErede. Dual qualified in Italy and in England and Wales, he is currently chair of the credit committee of Assoimmobiliare and a member of AIFI’s legal committee.

Mario Lisanti

Niccoli (pictured below), with a similarly strong track record, covers private equity, cross-border M&A and corporate law. Previously, he served as general counsel of Fondo Strategico Italiano (now CDP Equity), where he also served in investment committee and board roles.

Fabio Niccoli

Prior to joining LMS Studio Legale, Niccoli was a partner in the corporate transactions and private equity department at Ashurst for five years, based in Milan. Niccoli also served as general counsel of Fondo Strategico Italiano (currently CDP Equity), one of the main Italian investment companies, and played a key role in its early development. In addition to his general counsel position, he sat on the investment committee and was member of the board of directors of several portfolio companies, as well as chairman of a number of co-investment companies with primary Italian and international partners, including sovereign wealth funds. He began his career at BonelliErede and Gianni & Origoni, and was a founding partner at LMS Studio Legale in 2006.

“We are delighted that Mario Lisanti has joined our partnership and to welcome back Fabio Niccoli. Mario’s exceptional track record will significantly enhance the firm’s offering in key strategic areas such as banking and finance, and his pioneering work in private debt will allow us to support lenders and borrowers in a fast-growing segment of the market,” Fabio Labruna, founder of LMS Studio Legale said. “Fabio’s return reinforces our private equity practice and will see him bring additional valuable experience from his unique perspective as general counsel of a primary investment fund.”

Founded in 2006, LMS is an independent law firm, with a team of 70 professionals, including 20 partners. The firm is recognised in the Italian and international market for its ability to handle complex M&A and corporate finance transactions and sophisticated legal cases.