Two law firms will lease space at The Mercato in Naples.

Salvatori & Wood will occupy approximately 11,000 square feet on the top floor of a four-story professional office building. And Wicker Smith will use about 8,000 square feet on the second floor of the Merrill Lynch Building. Construction is underway on both of the office buildings with the legal practices anticipated to open in early 2009.

Headquartered in Naples, Florida, Salvatori & Wood was founded in 2003 by attorneys Leo J. Salvatori and C. Lane Wood after working together at a highly regarded national law firm of more than 450 attorneys.

Founded in 1952 by Idus Q. Wicker and James A. Smith, Wicker, Smith, O’Hara, McCoy & Ford, is a trial firm that handles “significant and complex” litigation for a variety of clients, from multi-national corporations to individuals. The has seven locaitons around Florida, including on in Naples.

The Mercato, a mixed-use development at U.S. 41 North and Vanderbilt Beach Road, is scheduled to open in early 2009. The project is a joint venture of The Lutgert Companies and the Barron Collier Companies of Naples.

When completed, The Mercato will provide nearly 330,000 square feet of main street-style retail and restaurants, 140,000 square feet of Class A office space and 175 luxury residential units. Convenient deck parking will interconnect to the various buildings.