The Legal 500

Bonelli Erede Pappalardo ‘takes a commercial approach and fee structures are appropriate’. Recent highlights include acting in ad hoc arbitrations, environmental litigation, and claims concerning investments in derivative instruments. Department head Vittorio Allavena is ‘an exceptional lawyer: he is extremely experienced and astute, as well as being a pleasure to deal with on a personal level’.

Lombardi Molinari e Associati recently represented the city of Milan in an action against four foreign banks relating to financial derivative contracts pertaining to a bond issue. Giuseppe Lombardi, Ugo Molinari, Manuela Soligo and Lotario Dittrich are the key contacts.

Pedersoli e Associati ‘speedily proposes alternative solutions’. Highlights included acting for Intesa, and its subsidiaries, in a series of clawback actions; and winning a case for Progetto Venezia, in extraordinary administration, against two companies that claimed damages relating to a contract involving the conversion of a hospital into a luxury hotel. Filippo Casò is ‘perceptive and precise’, Andrea Magliani ‘rapidly understands the legal consequences of different situations’, and Valeria Mazzoletti is also recommended. The firm recruited junior partner Arturo Maniaci from Studio Legale De Nova.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP recently represented Sky Italia in winning an ICC arbitration instituted by RTI, which sought compensation for alleged breach of commitments to the EC. Rome-based Ferdinando Emanuele has developed an international litigation and arbitration practice, and is expert in multi-plaintiff and class action litigation. Emanuele is ‘always available to discuss issues with clients’. Milan-based Carlo Santoro was promoted to the partnership.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is recommended for complex litigation and arbitration concerning financial matters, regulatory or criminal investigations, international commercial and investment treaty arbitration, and transnational disputes. Milan-based Enrico Castellani is ‘a good professional and client-oriented’, and Giuseppe Curtò and Massimo Benedettelli are also recommended. Fabrizio Arossa and counsel Lluís Paradell are the key contacts in Rome.

Clifford Chance broadened its expertise by acting in securities litigation, regulatory investigations, fraud and crimes. Milan-based Antonio Golino was trial counsel to the former chairman and CEO of Standard & Poor’s Italy, and three of its analysts, in the high-profile criminal investigation into market abuse, arising from the ratings agency’s downgrade of Italian sovereign debt. Practice head Fabio Guastadisegni and Carlo Felice Giampaolino are recommended.

Studio Legale De Nova is highly rated for its experience in litigation. Giorgio De Nova is ‘an outstanding practitioner’. Arturo Maniaci joined Pedersoli e Associati.

Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners represented Credit Suisse International in litigation between CSI and Alitalia, in extraordinary administration, relating to a clawback action. GianBattista Origoni, Federico Busatta, Alberto Nanni, and Daniele Vecchi are key advisers in Milan, and Rome-based Antonio Auricchio, Augusta Ciminelli and Decio Mattei are experienced practitioners. Rome-based of counsel Giovanni Polvani, who is an expert in international arbitration, joined from Grimaldi e Associati.

Legance Studio Legale Associato’s lawyers are experienced in large-scale disputes relating to corporate and commercial matters, banking, insurance and financial law, real estate, privacy, defamation, patent infringements, unfair competition, M&A, tort liabilities, product liability and regulatory investigations. Rome-based Stefano Parlatore is well regarded, as are Milan-based Paolo Pototschnig and Silvano Enne.

Allen & Overy – Studio Legale Associato’s recent cases include commercial, finance, IP and employment litigation, as well as criminal investigations. The team represented an international bank in high-profile litigation concerning claims for damages allegedly suffered as a result of a derivatives agreement. Milan-based Pasquale Cardellicchio and Italian litigation and arbitration practice head Massimo Greco are the key contacts.

Ashurst acted for Deutsche Bank (London branch) in civil proceedings against another bank, concerning the sale of asset-backed securities relating to sub-prime mortgages. Milan-based department head Ilario Giangrossi ‘performs instructions in a timely manner’. Rome-based Francesco De Gennaro is also recommended.

Studio Professionale Associato a Baker & McKenzie acted for Voith Siemens in an arbitration matter concerning a large construction contract. Milan-based Gianfranco Di Garbo heads the Italian dispute resolution department. Claudio Camilli has successfully represented corporate clients in arbitration proceedings and corporate litigation.

Chiomenti Studio Legale recently acted in class actions and commercial arbitrations, as well as litigation concerning the pricing of a going concern. Silvio Martuccelli and Sebastiano Zimmitti are the key advisers in Milan, while Andrea Bernava and Ennio Cicconi are the main figures in Rome.

DLA Piper LLP is ‘excellent for quality work, timing and appropriate advice’. The dispute resolution practice covers corporate and commercial matters, insolvency, financial services, insurance law, and infrastructure. Milan-based Bruno Giuffrè has ‘great business acumen’, and Stefano Modenesi and David Maria Marino are also recommended, as are Rome-based Francesco Cerasi and Raffaella Quintana.

De Berti Jacchia Franchini Forlani recently acted for a foreign bank in relation to breach of contract cases relating to the financing of projects. Diesel, GlaxoSmithKline and IKEA are clients. Litigation head Maria Cristina Franchini and head of arbitration Giovanni De Berti are recommended, and the practice also has a strong mediation team. Michelangelo Cicogna is another key contact.

Hogan Lovells Studio Legale ‘assists in making business decisions rather than just providing legal advice’. The practice is experienced in product liability and product safety litigation, contentious insolvency, insurance and reinsurance litigation, general commercial disputes, investigations and white-collar criminal cases, corporate and banking litigation, and a range of arbitration. Milan-based department head Francesca Rolla is ‘available and thorough’, and Rome-based Massimiliano Marinozzi is also well regarded.

Labruna Mazziotti Segni’s practice spans the spectrum of commercial and corporate litigation before the Italian courts, as well as arbitration, and EC litigation. The group also handles contentious bankruptcy matters.

NCTM Studio Legale Associato, which has been particularly active in international disputes, recently represented a foreign bank in a case concerning a financial transaction. Milan-based Gian Carlo Sessa and practice head Alberto Toffoletto are recommended, as is Anthony Perotto, who divides his time between London and Milan.

Studio Santa Maria provides ‘impeccable service’. The practice recently represented a UK hedge fund in proceedings against a bank for its alleged violation of an obligation to inform the market about its activities, risks and financial results in relation to an IPO prospectus and other documents. Alberto Santa Maria and Claudio Biscaretti di Ruffia are experienced advisers.

Studio Legale Schlesinger – Anelli’s Piero Schlesinger and Franco Anelli are highly experienced dispute resolution experts.

Studio Legale Associato in affiliation with Simmons & Simmons LLP has traditionally assisted with financial, banking, commercial and corporate litigation, contentious insolvency, criminal fraud cases and investigations, and product liability, EU competition and regulatory cases, but its service now also covers insurance and reinsurance, IP, and public law litigation, as well as domestic and international arbitration. Milan-based Luca Basilio is ‘very competent’, Cristina Pagni is also recommended, and managing associate Francesco Maruffi’s ‘strengths are his communication skills and the appropriateness of his advice, as well as his litigation acumen and understanding of clients’ needs’.

Bird & Bird is ‘very good in terms of quality, speed and pricing’. The team represented a Swiss company in a case concerning breaches of obligations in a distribution agreement with an Italian company. Milan-based Giovanni Piazza is ‘responsive and pragmatic, as well as being an excellent litigator’, and Edoardo Courir is also recommended. Osvaldo Lombardi and Arturo Leone jointly head the Italian dispute resolution practice.

Carnelutti Studio Legale Associato successfully defended Banca Euromobiliare against a lawsuit brought by Udp, a design, graphics and communications company, claiming breach of exclusive rights that were allegedly granted by the bank for the design and establishment of new branches. Margherita Barié and Salvatore Nolasco are the principal contacts. The firm recruited Federico Banti from Jenny & Partners in 2012.

Studio Legale Irti is well known for its experience in litigation and arbitration, and is particularly active in civil, commercial and administrative matters. Natalino Irti heads the team.

Counsels Cesare Degli Occhi and Antonio Distefano lead Latham & Watkins LLP’s litigation practice. Degli Occhi is experienced in civil and corporate law judicial and arbitral proceedings, and has been involved in disputes over share purchase agreements and M&A. Distefano handles civil and company disputes, as well as insolvency proceedings.

Milan-based Silvia Lazzeretti heads Macchi di Cellere Gangemi’s department, which defended UBS, and UBS Italia SIM, in multi-defendant litigation commenced by the city of Milan over a bond issue and associated derivatives transactions.

Studio Mariconda’s Vincenzo Mariconda is recommended for his experience in international arbitration.

Rome-based Riccardo Troiano leads Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe’s practice, and is experienced in arbitration, litigation and bankruptcy proceedings. Milan-based Giovanni Carcaterra is ‘a detail-focused, hard worker’, who has assisted major clients in commercial, M&A, product liability, and insolvency-related litigation and arbitration. Milan-based Luigi Colombo is also recommended.

Paul Hastings LLP represented Shell Italia in multiple litigations against a group of clients for the violation of supply contracts. Francesca Petronio and Bernadette Accili are key contacts, and Bruno Cova is ‘an excellent lawyer’.

Pavia e Ansaldo recently represented Benedetta Corsini in litigation relating to the estate of her late father, Piero Corsini, which included Supreme Court recognition of Italy’s jurisdiction over the matter.

Tonucci & Partners recently acted for the plaintiffs in civil litigation seeking Italian recognition of a ruling by Cayman Islands judges. Rome-based Giorgio Altieri heads the litigation and arbitration team, and Piergiorgio Della Porta Rodiani focuses on bankruptcy and insolvency matters.