Italian law firm Gianni Origoni Grippo & Partners (GOP) has secured approval to launch its first Middle East office in Abu Dhabi in January 2011.

The office will be headed by real estate partner Riccardo Sensi and counsel Francesca Cesca who currently heads the firm's 'Chindia' desk– a practice launched by the firm in 2009 in response to increasing investment flows between China, India and Italy. Senior associate Gianluca Grillo and three other associates will assist the Sensi and Cesca while partners Domenico Tulli and Renato Giallombardo will provide additional support from Rome.

The firm's move into the Gulf was originally scheduled for earlier this year but was postponed after the firm hit a number of regulatory roadblocks. Nevertheless, GOP's office opening means that it will become the first of the Italian top-tier triumvirate to have a presence in the Middle East. While the other two firms– Chiomenti Studio Legale and Bonelli Erede Pappalardo– are not on the ground both service the market through their European offices.