The Legal 500

For some clients, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is ‘the top firm in Italy’. It advised the minority shareholders of Weather Investment during its €16bn share-swap acquisition by VimpelCom. Alessandro Balp heads this strong practice, in which Sergio Erede is ‘an outstanding corporate lawyer’, Stefano Cacchi Pessani is ‘a very impressive professional’, and Eliana Catalano is ‘experienced in assisting international companies’. Paolo Oliviero is ‘outstanding at managing complicated deals’, and Roberto Pistorelli is ‘a strong lawyer’. Mario Roli, Alberto Saravalle and Andrea Carta Mantiglia are also recommended. Genoa-based Marco Arato has ‘a good business approach’.

Chiomenti Studio Legale’s Francesco Tedeschini and Michele Carpinelli are strongly recommended. The practice assisted the Bulgari-Trapani family and Bulgari in the €3.9bn sale of a majority stake to Louis Vuitton Möet Hennessy. The practice also advised on Great Brands Holdings and GB Holdings’ minority investment in ICON 1, whose indirect subsidiary, ICON acquired a majority interest in Gruppo Coin.

Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners is ‘within the select elite of Italian law firms that distinguishes itself for consistent quality of service’. Recently the firm secured the coup of welcoming the highly regarded Roberto Cappelli from the now-dissolved firm of Grimaldi e Associati. The practice acted on VimpelCom’s agreement to acquire Weather Investments in a combined cash and share-swap transaction, and was counsel to Lazard, the financial adviser to the sellers, regarding Groupe Lactalis’ acquisition of a 15.34% stake in Parmalat. The team also assisted Gruppo Coin’s management with the sale of 78.7% of share capital to BC Partners. In Rome, senior partner Francesco Gianni gives ‘great availability for somebody of his seniority, and has excellent relationships with the Italian community’s decision-makers’. Milan-based head of industrial M&A and corporate Alessandro Giuliani is ‘one of the best corporate lawyers in Italy’. Richard Hamilton joined from Clifford Chance, but Fabio del Bene and two associates moved to DLA Piper.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP was counsel to Cima Claddings on the €600m sale of Permasteelisa to JS Group, and advised A2A in its negotiations with EDF regarding the possible industrial and corporate reorganisation of Edison. The team also acted for Wind Telecom in its $6.5bn merger with VimpelCom, creating one of the world’s largest mobile telecoms carriers. Roberto Casati heads the practice, which includes Roberto Bonsignore, Pietro Fioruzzi and Rome-based Giuseppe Scassellati-Sforzolini, who are recommended. Stefano Sciolla joined Latham & Watkins LLP’s Rome office.

Dewey & LeBoeuf Studio Legale brings to bear ‘senior-level lawyers’. The team represented US-based private equity firm Bain Capital on the €565m sale of Teamsystem. Bruno Gattai, former SJ Berwin LLP Italy managing partner Alberto Morano and Stefano Speroni are key contacts. Stefano Catenacci is ‘creative and focused on the goals’, and Luca Minoli and Rome-based Tiziana Del Prete are also recommended.

Latham & Watkins LLP advised Financière Tintoretto and PAI Partners on the divestiture of a majority stake in Gruppo Coin to BC Partners, and represented European private equity firm Bridgepoint on its acquisition of Infront Sports & Media. Fabio Coppola is ‘a strong negotiator’, and Tommaso Amirante and Antonio Coletti are also recommended. Simone Monesi, Maria Cristina Storchi and counsel Daniela Frascella are experienced lawyers. Rome-based Stefano Sciolla joined from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.

Legance Studio Legale Associato is ‘a great law firm’. The team acted for Dicembre 2007 in divesting 7.3% of shares in Gruppo Coin, and represented Costa Crociere in its joint venture with Alpitour. In Rome, Filippo Troisi is recommended and Giovanni Nardulli is ‘an excellent co-ordinator of different groups’. Milan-based Bruno Bartocci is also a key contact.

Linklaters has ‘a roll-up-your-sleeves approach’. The group advised AXA on its 30% investment in Perimetro Gestioni Proprietà Immobiliari. The practice also acted for Investindustrial on its co-investment with BC Partners to acquire Gruppo Coin from PAI, which was one of the largest private equity deals in 2011. Luca Picone ‘can manage complex transactions very effectively’, Francesco Stella is ‘a skilled negotiator and adviser’, and Giovanni Pedersoli is also recommended.

Pedersoli e Associati ‘combines the highest international professional standards with deep knowledge of the local market’. It is widely praised for its M&A expertise in the banking sector, and recently advised longstanding client Intesa Sanpaolo on the €629m sale of a 25% stake in Findomestic Banca. The firm’s merger with Marena D’Angelo & Fagotto added to the ranks Davide D’Angelo, Alessandro Marena, who is ‘great for negotiation and analysis’, and Elio Marena. Carlo Pedersoli is ‘an outstanding lawyer’, Antonio Pedersoli has ‘great business acumen’, Alessandro Dubini is ‘particularly good’, and Ascanio Cibrario and Piero Albertario are also recommended.

Allen & Overy – Studio Legale Associato’s ‘responsive and commercial’ team assisted BAA with the disposal of its 65% stake in Gesac, the operator of Naples Airport, and advised TowerBrook Capital Partners on the sale of its portfolio company Archimica Group. Giovanni Gazzaniga is ‘an excellent lawyer’ and Paolo Ghiglione is ‘commercial and client-driven’.

Clifford Chance represented Central Department Store in the acquisition of Italian luxury retail chain La Rinascente, and assisted E.ON with the auction sale of its Italian gas pipeline network to F2i and AXA Private Equity. Practice head Paolo Sersale, Alberta Figari, Umberto Penco Salvi and Paolo Rulli are recommended. Claudio Cerabolini joined from Bonelli Erede Pappalardo and Sabrina Borocci was promoted to counsel.

DLA Piper is ‘client-focused and has global coverage’. The team advised ACAM on its merger with Hera, KGAL on the purchase of five photovoltaic power projects, and Evanthe on the acquisition of Malo from Itierre in extraordinary administration. In Milan, Wolf Michael Kühne is ‘accountable and effective’, and private equity head Goffredo Guerra is ‘responsive and practical’. Rome-based Antonio Lombardo is also recommended. Fabio del Bene joined from Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners, and Alessandro Piermanni arrived from Hogan Lovells Studio Legale.

d’Urso Gatti e Bianchi Studio Legale Associato acted for Groupe Lactalis on the acquisition of 29% of Parmalat, and advised Premafin Finanziaria on selling 7% of the share capital of Fondaria-SAI. Andrea Giardino and Stefano Valerio are recommended.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advised Prysmian on the mixed cash and public exchange offer for all the issued and outstanding ordinary shares in Draka Holding, and assisted Gefco, a subsidiary of PSA Peugeot Citroën, with the acquisition of 70% of Gruppo Mercurio. In Milan, team head Nicola Asti is recommended along with Nicola Barra Caracciolo, Enrico Bazzano, Massimo Benedettelli, Mario Ortu and Luigi Verga. Rome-based Fabrizio Arossa and Raffaele Lener are also well regarded.

Hogan Lovells Studio Legale maintains a ‘high level of service’. It advised Cassa di Risparmio di Teramo on the acquisition of 95% of Banca Caripe; and Compagnia Italpetroli on the sale of its controlling interest in AS Roma. Antonio Di Pasquale has ‘the necessary skills to focus on the issues in the right way’, and Paolo Ricci ‘identifies creative, effective solutions to problems’. Leah Dunlop, Roberto Culicchi and Gianroberto de Giovanni are also recommended. Alessandro Piermanni joined DLA Piper.

Labruna Mazziotti Segni provides ‘tailor-made advice’. It advised Pirelli & C. on the sale to Advanced Digital Broadcast Holdings of 100% of the voting share capital of Pirelli Broadband Solutions. Fabio Labruna and Antonio Segni are the key partners along with Andrea Mazziotti Di Celso, who has ‘outstanding business acumen’.

Lombardi Molinari e Associati advised the board of directors of Parmalat on Groupe Lactalis’ unsolicited voluntary public tender offer on Parmalat shares, and assisted Venice, an investment holding company belonging to the Palladio Finanziaria Group, in selling its stake in Gruppo Mercurio. Ugo Molinari is recommended.

NCTM Studio Legale Associato’s ‘service is at a high level’. The team advised Yule Catto on Italian aspects of the acquisition of Group PolymerLatex from Towerbrook Capital Partners. Head of M&A Filippo Cesaris and head of corporate Paolo Gallarati are recommended. Giuliano Lanzavecchia, who leads on private equity M&A, is ‘a very good lawyer, with a calm and competent character’. Senior partner Paolo Montironi shows ‘excellent judgement’, Vittorio Noseda is ‘great for commercial matters’, and Sante Ricci and Alberto Toffoletto are also praised.

Norton Rose Studio Legale advised Xenon Private Equity on the acquisition of CST Machine Speciali and CST Meccanica. Nicolò Juvara and Paolo Daviddi are recommended. Private equity specialist Davide Proverbio departed for SJ Berwin LLP.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe acted as deal counsel in the transaction that created Banca Sistema following the acquisition of Banca Sintesi’s shareholding, and advised Sinterama and Indorama Ventures on acquiring the share capital of Trevira, a manufacturer of synthetic fibres. Senior partner Alessandro De Nicola and Marco Nicolini are recommended, as are Milan-based Luca Fabbrini and Guido Testa.

Pavesi Gitti Verzoni handles public and private M&A, and has developed strong expertise in the banking, aerospace, aviation, utilities and energy sectors, as well as in insurance, real estate, healthcare and pharmaceuticals.

Ashurst added a new Rome office to its Milan team, and bolstered the Italian practice by bringing in Fabio Pizzoccheri from its London office and of counsel Aian Abbas from Giliberti Pappalettera Triscornia e Associati. The practice advised HealthCity South Europe on its acquisition of Fitness First Italia. Francesco De Gennaro is ‘reliable, skilled and a very good negotiator’, and Ilario Giangrossi ‘performs requests in a good and timely manner’. London-based Mark Sperotto is also a key contact.

Studio Professionale Associato a Baker & McKenzie represented Delifrance in its purchase of an Italian company operating in the food industry. Alberto Semeria in Milan and Raffaele Giarda in Rome are recommended.

CMS Adonnino Ascoli & Cavasola Scamoni’s industry experience encompasses energy, pharmaceuticals, media, defence, electronics and distribution. It recently acted on the acquisition of two Italian pharmaceuticals companies. Pietro Cavasola is recommended.

Carnelutti Studio Legale Associato is recommended for its ‘business acumen and industry knowledge’. It recently assisted Mark IV and Dayco Europe with selling a leading air intake and engine cooling systems manufacturer to Sogefi. Luca Arnaboldi is ‘a professional and business-oriented lawyer’.

De Berti Jacchia Franchini Forlani has notable, longstanding corporate clients, and also attracts clients seeking to expand in Russia because of its presence in Moscow. The practice advised Advanced Digital Broadcast Holdings on the acquisition of Pirelli Broadband Solutions. Cristina Fussi and Gianni Forlani are the principal contacts.

At Jones Day, Stefano Crosio has ‘strong technical knowledge and reads deals well’, of counsel Fabrizio Faina has ‘excellent drafting skills’, and Bruno Castellini is also well regarded. The team advised Schneider Electric Group on the acquisition of Uniflair.

Giliberti Pappalettera Triscornia e Associati assists in corporate and private equity M&A, spin-offs, corporate restructurings, and the sales of shareholdings, businesses and assets, as well as public tender offers and public offers of exchange.

McDermott Will & Emery Studio Legale Associato has a noteworthy strength in its renewable energy focus, and is expanding its corporate restructuring practice. Recent instructions include advising MEAG, Munich Re’s asset management company, on the acquisition of a portfolio of four photovoltaic power plants. Practice head Massimo Trentino provides ‘top-level quality’, and Filippo Mazza and Carsten Steinhauer are also experienced lawyers.

Paul Hastings LLP’s ‘advice is always linked to business needs’. The practice advised Exor, the holding company of Fiat, on the proposed sale of one of its portfolio companies, Alpitour. Alessandro Stoppa has ‘a deal-making, commercial approach’, Bruno Cova is adept at ‘tremendously complex negotiations’, and Antonio Azzarà is also recommended.

Pavia e Ansaldo advised Stirling Square Capital Partners on the sale of Microtecnica, a global provider of engineered products to the aerospace industry. Swedish Group SKF is also a client.

Pirola Pennuto Zei & Associati assisted Bain Capital with the sale of TeamSystems Group, and acted for Peugeot Citroen Group on corporate restructuring that involved a spin-off and ensuing demerger. Massimo Cremona is recommended.

Studio Legale Associato in affiliation with Simmons & Simmons LLP is ‘a well-organised firm with lawyers experienced in specific areas’. The team represented Refresco Group on the acquisition of drinks manufacturer Spumador. Milan-based Andrea Accornero heads the corporate practice, within which Marco Franzini is responsible for the ‘vastly experienced’ Italian private equity team. Paolo De Carlo is well regarded, Riccardo Papetti ‘quickly understands the complex issues’, and Rome-based Daniela Sabelli is ‘prepared for any matter in which she is involved’.

Tonucci & Partners in alliance with Mayer Brown LLP advised bread and eggs producer Gruppo Novelli on its acquisition of Panem. Fincantieri-Cantieri Navali Italiani is a regular client for corporate matters. Team heads Mario Tonucci and Mauro Baldissoni are recommended, as is Umberto Baldi.

Bird & Bird, which ‘performs well’, recently advised Assietta Private Equity on its acquisition of 75% of Millefiori. Milan-based Alberto Salvadè and Edoardo Courir are recommended.

CBA Studio Legale e Tributario is known for structuring deals with tax-driven corporate schemes, and Alessandro Varrenti is recommended. The practice lost Claudio Giordano to Studio Legale Associato con Withers LLP, and Fabrizio Colonna to LCA Lega Colucci & Associati .

Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP’s Ian Tully is ‘excellent at advising foreign clients on their Italian operations’. Recent key matters include acting for Italian nuclear medical group Comecer in negotiations concerning an investment and shareholders agreement with Fondo Italiano di Investimento.

Eversheds Bianchini advised US-based MeadWestVaco on its acquisition of Spray Plast. Managing partner Riccardo Bianchini Riccardi has ‘good, in-depth knowledge’, and Alvise Donà dalle Rose is also recommended.

Macchi di Cellere Gangemi advised Alfa Laval Corporate on its acquisition of Olmi, and assisted Gruppo Tucceri with corporate reorganisation. Luigi Macchi di Cellere is a corporate governance expert, and the ‘very responsive’ Andrea de Santis has ‘excellent legal knowledge and problem-solving skills’.

Portolano Colella Cavallo Studio Legale assisted an Italian provider of IT solutions to the healthcare sector on the sale of its group of companies. Manuela Cavallo is ‘very attuned to client requirements and commercial perspectives’, and Francesco Portolano is an expert in TMT sector M&A.

R&P Legal – Rossotto, Colombatto & Partners ‘knows its clients’ businesses’. The team assisted a client operating in the chemicals distribution sector on its acquisition of an Italian competitor, and advised on a merger between two Italian banks. Claudio Elestici’s ‘responses are fast and the quality is high’, and Mario Colombatto is also recommended.

Studio Legale Riolo Calderaro Crisostomo e Associati advised Mediobanca as financial adviser of Lottomatica Group on the structuring of a €100m investment by UniCredit Group in the Italian Scratch & Win business. Michele Crisostomo is the key contact.

SLA Osborne Clarke (Member of the Osborne Clarke Alliance) advised Swiss private equity fund Springwater Capital on an Italian investment. Managing partner Riccardo Roversi is a renewable energy specialist who shows ‘speed of thought and business acumen’. ‘Reliable adviser’ Umberto Piattelli is experienced in private equity.

Studio Santa Maria assisted Bracco Imaging in the acquisition of all the shares in Swiss Medical Care. Luigi Santa Maria and Mario Santa Maria are the key contacts.

Shearman & Sterling LLP’s managing partner Domenico Fanuele heads the Italian corporate practice, and divides his time between Rome and Milan. Recent work includes advising Aabar Investments on the purchase of a 3.3% stake in Atlantia from Corporate Partecipazioni, a company ultimately controlled by banking group UniCredit. Rome partner Michael Bosco is well regarded.