The Legal 500

Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is fully versed in employment-related agreements, disciplinary sanctions, dismissals, trade union consultations, and non-competition covenants. Marcello Giustiniani’s team ‘provides excellent service’.

LABLAW – Studio Legale Failla Rotondi & Partners welcomed Allen & Overy – Studio Legale Associato’s entire Italian employment law department, including ‘keen problem solver’ Piergiovanni Mandruzzato. Giordano Franchi arrived from Toffoletto e Soci, member of Ius Laboris and Nicolò Schittone, Carla Zarlatti, and Filippo Zazzera joined from Rome boutique Gerardo Vesci & Partners. Corporate restructurings have dominated the firm’s recent workload, including redundancies and collective dismissal procedures. Luca Failla and Francesco Rotondi are key contacts.

Toffoletto e Soci, member of Ius Laboris ‘provides excellent support’. Franco Toffoletto is the incumbent chairman of Ius Laboris, an alliance of leading human resources law practitioners. Highlights included acting on IMS Health’s restructuring, including overseeing all phases of the redundancy procedure.

Trifirò & Partners’ broad practice encompasses employment contracts, termination issues, the transfer of company divisions, trade union rights, agency relationships and due diligence. Salvatore Trifirò and Giacinto Favalli are widely respected.

Headed by the ‘precise and focused’ Aldo Calza, DLA Piper recently worked on redundancy issues, collective dismissal procedures and international business transfers. The ‘accurate and fast’ Giampiero Falasca joined from Simmons & Simmons.

The ‘widely respected’ boutique Maresca Morrico Boccia & Associati has offices in Milan, Rome and Modena. Arturo Maresca is recommended.

Studio Legale Pessi is recommended for a broad labour law practice that incorporates social security issues and union negotiations. Name partner Roberto Pessi is praised by clients.

Studio Legale Stanchi e Associati is praised for its litigation strengths, as well as its advice in social security matters, restructuring issues and redundancies. Andrea Stanchi is recommended.

Led by ex-LABLAW – Studio Legale Failla Rotondi & Partners founding partner Angelo Zambelli, Dewey & LeBoeuf Studio Legale represented Hachette Rusconi in restructuring matters and advised Versace in complex negotiations with the unions concerning the planned dismissal of 200 employees.

Gianni, Origoni, Grippo & Partners’ Matteo Fusillo focuses on transfers and undertakings, layoffs, and reorganisations, as well as restructuring processes within companies, immigration issues, employee benefits and stock option plans. Saverio Schiavone is also recommended. GE Betz was assisted with collective dismissal issues.

Studio Legale Ichino-Brugnatelli e Associati regularly litigates on bargaining practices, social security matters, terminations and harassment cases. The non-contentious practice advises on pension funds, employment agreements and workplace regulations. Currently a member of the Italian senate, Pietro Ichino is recommended for trade union matters.

Legance Studio Legale Associato’s integrated team recently advised Roche in connection with downsizing processes. ‘Great team builder’ Alberto Maggi ‘stays close to his clients’ needs’.

Scorcelli Rosa & Partners’ recent work includes advising manufacturing and IT companies on reorganisation issues and collective redundancies, as well as litigation arising from the dismissal of top executives. Renato Scorcelli ‘gives the best piece of advice to the client even if this is less economically advantageous for his law firm’.

Simmons & Simmons’ Davide Sportelli leads the Italian employment practice from Milan. The practice distinguishes itself through its negotiating skills with trade unions, advising on the outsourcing of contract staff, reorganisations and employment litigation. The team is also strong in agency contracts. Giuseppe Menegazzi is recommended.

Studio Professionale Associato a Baker & McKenzie’s Gianfranco Di Garbo assisted Stream with collective redundancies. Uberto Percivalle heads the team.

Co-led by the ‘very helpful’ Caterina Rucci and Amedeo Rampolla, Bird & Bird LLP’s recent work was characterised by restructuring and redundancies processes, many of which involved settlement agreements, delayed terminations and Cassa Integrazione Guadagni interventions. The team also advised a multinational pharmaceutical company on negotiations with the unions in relation to the transfer of an undertaking. Clients praise Rucci’s ‘ability to understand the internal dynamics of a company’.

Carnelutti Studio Legale Associato assisted Roland Berger Strategy Consultants with the termination process of its co-managing partner and subsequent litigation. Blockbuster is a client.

Clifford Chance’s highlights included large personnel restructuring projects and litigation. The practice advised Permira in relation to the labour issues connected to the acquisition of Findus Italia from Unilever.

De Berti Jacchia Franchini Forlani recently advised Henry Schein (Krugg) on the reorganisation of its Italian workforce.

Led by counsel Luca Capone, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has built a noteworthy employment, pensions and benefits practice. State Street was assisted with the labour aspects of the acquisition of Intesa Sanpaolo’s securities services business.

Hogan Lovells Studio Legale’s Vittorio Moresco ‘possesses the ability to investigate not only the legal side to an issue but also the business pros and cons’. The practice recently assisted clients with the downsizing of operations in Italy, the termination of top-level employees and the reviewing of stock option plans.

Jones Day advised Bell Microproducts on the voluntary liquidation of its Italian subsidiary and consequent dismissal of the whole workforce. Of counsel Adelio Riva is appreciated for his ‘negotiating skills and his knowledge of Italian labour law’.

Macchi di Cellere Gangemi’s Federico Torzo is ‘particularly good at understanding the needs of clients from UK and US law firms’. Expedia was assisted with a collective redundancy process.

NCTM Studio Legale Associato expanded with the arrival of Michele Bignami and a team of four from CBM & Partners. The team recently acted on transfers of undertakings, restructuring matters and collective dismissals. Team head Filippo Disertori ‘gives great advice’.

Niche firm Studio Legale Persiani advises on all aspects of trade union, employment and social security law, as well as acting on transfers of undertakings and staff mobility procedures.

Piergrossi Bianchini Eversheds’ Sergio Barozzi advised QVC in its start-up process, involving the hiring of more than 500 employees. The practice also acts in trade union matters, including litigation.