After four years of  David Thorn's service as the American Ambassador in Rome, President Obama decided to pass the baton to John R. Phillips.

The famous lawyer from Washington, expert in class action and known especially for his successful battles against fiscal frauds, Phillips is one of the principal financiers of Obama's last political campaign. 

Phillips graduated from the prestigious University of Berkeley, in California, and is founder of the important Washington law firm Phillips & Coen. From now on he will  manage the relations between Italy and the US, and all during a very delicate situation both countries are facing, not only because of the Datagate scandal, but also because of the period of political instability that Italy is currently going through.  What also makes the situation difficult is the economic crisis that in Europe is far from seeing an end.

Married to the ex collaborator of the White House Linda Douglass, Phillips has another important advantage that might have brought Obama to nominate him Ambassador in Rome. In fact, his grandparents were Italians who emigrated to the United States. Their name was "Filippi," which then became "Phillips."

His family's past explains also the bond that the new Ambassador has with the "Bel Paese" and that he wanted to reinforce in 2001, when he bought and restructured a villa from the XIV century located near Siena, in Tuscany, which is now a luxurious Hotel. The new US Ambassador will arrive in Rome in the next couple of weeks.