Hunt for gangland lawyer's killer

The killer of a Melbourne gangland lawyer who was executed outside his ice cream parlour is still on the run.

Joseph "Pino" Acquaro's body was found on a footpath in East Brunswick by a rubbish-truck driver about 2.30am on Tuesday.

The 55-year-old was gunned down in an apparent professional hit as he walked to his car after closing the Gelobar about 12.40am, police say.

Police, on Tuesday, told reporters that Mr Acquaro appeared to have been the subject of a targeted attack.