The Legal 500

The following firms, which are not necessarily headquartered in Milan or Rome, are recommended either as specialist boutiques or as smaller, full-service practices catering for the small-to-mid-sized market.

Astolfo Di Amato & Associati-Avvocati is especially focused on corporate and dispute matters. The team represented approximately 400 clients in securities litigation arising from the issuance and alleged mismanagement of financial instruments. Astolfo Di Amato is ‘always available when needed. He is very knowledgeable and has an extremely good understanding of the workings of the Italian legal system’. Alessio Di Amato offers ‘excellent analysis of legal issues’.

CBM & Partners recently endured former name partner Michele Bignami leaving with a four-strong team for NCTM Studio Legale Associato. Giuseppe Calabi is recommended for private equity, M&A and acquisition finance. Calabi set up and developed the firm’s well-known heritage and art law practice. Rossella Zollino is a capital markets and financial services specialist.

Not to be confused with Carnelutti Studio Legale Associato, Carnelutti is a full-service firm with offices in Milan, Rome, Naples and Paris. The ‘wonderfully efficient’ Giuseppe Barreca specialises in M&A, corporate law, capital markets and structured finance.

Coccia DeAngelis & Associati Studio Legale E Tributario’s lawyers and tax advisors act for medium and small enterprises as well as large corporations, trade associations and governmental agencies. The practice has an excellent reputation for sports and entertainment law. The ‘widely experienced’ Massimo Coccia is a well known arbitration figure.

Studio Legale de Meo & Associati has offices in Rome, Milan and Naples. Michele de Meo is noted for litigation and shipping matters.

The legal arm to the accountancy giant, Studio Legale Associato – Deloitte provides advice on banking and finance, litigation, public law, labour matters, insolvency, M&A and, of course, tax law.

With offices in Rome and Milan, Graziadei Studio Legale focuses on corporate law, banking matters, capital markets, IP, TMT and employment law. The team ‘always provides relevant and effective replies’. Gianfranco Graziadei is a key contact, Giuseppe Rizzo is ‘a skilled and brilliant adviser’ and Benedetta Navarra ‘combines her deep legal knowledge with a pragmatic and commercial attitude’. Francesco Graziadei is praised by clients for his ‘experience and knowledge of regulatory matters in new media matters, as well as copyright’.

Milan-based Jenny & Partners is a full-service firm. The practice acted in connection with the sale of Fortech Italia. Managing partner Christoph Jenny is a key contact.

LCA Lega Colucci & Associati recently welcomed Traverso & Associati Studio Legale e Tributario to its ranks. Maurizio Traverso is experienced in commercial and corporate law, M&A and litigation. Paolo Colucci ‘inspires the utmost of respect’. Offices are run from Milan, Brussels, Beijing and Shanghai.

Delivering ‘top-rate advice in a speedy and client-friendly manner,’ La Scala & Associati has offices in Milan, Rome, Turin, Bologna, Padua and Verona. The practice is focused on banking and finance, corporate law, IT, IP, capital markets, litigation, insurance matters, regulatory issues and labour law. Daniela De Pasquale is ‘knowledgeable and hands-on’. Massimiliano Pappalardo and Marco Lamandini are also key contacts.

Nunziante Magrone is a full-service firm fielding offices from Rome, Milan and Bologna, where it offers legal services in commercial, corporate and finance, regulatory and administrative matters, domestic and international taxation, and litigation. Teleperformance Italia was assisted with the acquisition of a going concern. Gianmatteo Nunziante and Corrado Rosano are key figures.

‘No-frills, straight to the point’ Studio Legale Padovan is especially focused on the Turkish market, in respect of which it was retained by Agusta Westland, the Anglo-Italian helicopter producer. Domestically, the practice is noted for restructuring work, mid-sized M&A activity and finance work. The firm has substantially developed its international construction law practice and has had a successful year in domestic litigation. Key matters included advising the originator on the complex securitisation of leasing receivables. Marco Padovan’s ‘fluency in English and French is very helpful when negotiating contracts’.

Part of the PwC brand, TLS – Associazione Professionale di Avvocati e Commercialisti is a full-service outfit with offices and ‘competent professionals’ all over Italy.

Barenghi & Associati is especially focused on litigation matters. The firm frequently assists a national insurance company in contentious matters up to the Supreme Court of Cassation. The team also recently acted in a significant finance-related dispute. Andrea Barenghi is recommended.

Bianchi Rubino-Sammartano & Associati is the result of a recent merger between Bianchi e Associati and Rubino-Sammartano e Associati. The firm has a multinational client base, and is noted for arbitration, general litigation and corporate transactions. Mauro Rubino-Sammartano is the principal contact.

Studio Legale Cannata Pierallini e Associati has offices in Rome and Milan. The practice is full-service and founding partners Mario Cannata and Laura Pierallini are key practitioners. Giuseppe Cambareri has extensive experience in corporate law.

Rome-based Coggiatti e Associati, formerly known as Studio Legale Coggiatti, fields associated offices in Milan, Florence and Verona. The firm is noted for financial and banking issues, insurance, sports and telecommunications law. Two new departments were recently created to handle criminal and administrative law.

Colonnelli de Gasperis’ ‘overall level of service is outstanding’. The practice acted for Swedish group, Husse, in M&A matters and advised listed US corporation Caterpillar with its M&A and restructuring issues in Italy. Mattia Colonelli de Gasperis ‘knows both the Italian and European markets. He has a creative mind and immediately understands clients’ needs’.

‘Very efficient’ Bari-based law firm Loconte & Partners is noted for corporate, litigation and tax matters. Recent work includes business reorganisation issues for Gruppo Conserva. Alitalia is a client. Stefano Loconte ‘goes into problems deeply’ and clients rate Laura Armenise for M&A law.

Founded over 20 years ago, Milan practice Matera Bonaccorsi Hein & Partner aims at servicing large multinational groups, with a particular focus on cross-border acquisitions, insolvencies and disputes. Giuseppe Matera, Susanne Hein and Francesco Bonaccorsi are key practitioners.

With offices in Rome, Milan, Lecce, Lucca and Pisa, Mazzoni E Associati – Verusio E Cosmelli Studi Legali Associati is principally devoted to corporate matters, with special emphasis on banking, finance, insurance, EU law, media matters and telecommunications. The firm also has an extensive litigation practice, a securities and compliance unit, and a growing sports law practice.

Studio Legale Montanari Brescia e Associati is noted for corporate law, commercial litigation and competition matters. Alberto Montanari has led the advice on several cross-border acquisitions.

Studio Legale Olivieri Ciapetti & Partners was born from the union of Florence-based Olivieri and Modena-based Ciapetti. The practice works exclusively in international law, with a special focus on commercial and tax matters. Offices are also run from Milan and Rome.

Founded over 40 years ago, Studio Legale Sardo is experienced in civil, corporate and international commercial law. The practice is a member of United Legal Network, comprising several international law firms from all over the world. Gaetano Sardo is a principal contact.

Zambelli Luzzati Meregalli e Associati is a civil practice law firm offering advice on banking and corporate law, EU matters, TMT, labour issues, shipping, IP, real estate and tax. The client base comprises foreign entities wishing to invest in Italy. Paolo Zambelli and Daniela Meregalli are key contacts.