Italy > Private equity > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

BonelliErede is experienced in creating and executing sophisticated leveraged finance structures and acquisitions. Umberto Nicodano and Eliana Catalano advised CP7 Beauty Luxco, which is part of L Catterton, on the sale of a minority stake in Intercos, globally known for colour cosmetics and skin care; and Mario Roli advised Astorg Partners, a France-based private equity firm, on the acquisition of Surfaces Technological Abrasives. Other key advisers include Andrea Carta Mantiglia, Vittorio Pomarici, Stefano Micheli and Carlo Montagna, along with Alessandra Piersimoni and recently promoted partner Giulia Bianchi Frangipane.

Chiomenti Studio Legale has specialist industry knowledge in financial institutions, healthcare and chemicals, as well as automotive, luxury, retail and infrastructure, and assists with structuring and organising funds, and executing investments and exit transactions. Luigi Vaccaro advised Italian private equity firm Investindustrial and private equity group L Catterton, which led a shareholder group on the sale of their investment in Stroili Oro. Franco Agopyan, Luca Fossati, Carlo Croff and Antonio Sascaro are also highly rated.

Gattai Minoli Agostinelli & Partners ‘builds bridges during negotiations that materially contribute to a deal’s success’. The practice acts in large and mid-sized private equity deals and recently advised Clessidra on the sale of a majority stake in Buccellati. Bruno Gattai’s ‘business approach is perfect’, Gerardo Gabrielli is ‘very detailed’, Riccardo Agostinelli is ‘smart and commercial’ and Nicola Brunetti ‘finds solutions’; Lorenzo Vernetti is ‘one of the brightest lawyers in Milan’ and Stefano Catenacci, Sebastiano Cassani and Laura Ortali, along with Alessandro Dolce and Giovan Battista Santangelo and recently promoted Federico Bal are also recommended. Cataldo Piccarreta joined Latham & Watkins LLP.

Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners’ ‘excellent practice’ is particularly active in the retail, fashion and luxury, infrastructure, healthcare and pharma sectors. Gianluca Ghersini, who ‘has a strong commercial attitude’, assisted Ergon Capital Partners, a private equity arm of Groupe Bruxelles Lambert, with the sale of an Italian luxury lifestyle fashion company and Stefano Bucci advised Charterhouse Capital Partners on the acquisition of Optima. Stefano Ambrosioni ‘has great insight’; practice head Francesco Gianni, Roberto Cappelli and Renato Giallombardo are also highly rated.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is highly regarded for high-end private equity transactions and regularly advises on energy, TMT, infrastructure, financial institutions and consumer goods deals. Matteo Montanaro, who is ‘greatly respected’, advised investment vehicle Peninsula Capital on the acquisition of a minority stake in Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori and Giuseppe Scassellati-Sforzolini assisted JC Flowers & Co. with its sale of a controlling stake in Eurovita Assicurazioni. Roberto Casati is widely praised and Roberto Bonsignore and Carlo de Vito Piscicelli are other key contacts.

Clifford Chance brings corporate, finance, tax and capital markets expertise to complex transactions. The practice advises on setting up funds; structuring, financing and completing investments; the management and restructuring of portfolio companies; and final divestments through IPOs and auction sales. Claudio Cerabolini and Paolo Sersale assisted ERGO Previdenza, an insurance company controlled by Gruppo Assicurativo Flavia (which is owned by international private equity firm Cinven), with the acquisition of Eurovita Assicurazioni. Alberta Figari is also highly regarded.

Latham & Watkins LLP’s practice assists fund sponsors on fund raisings and formations as well as investments and divestments and recently advised The Carlyle Group on corporate and finance matters, regarding the acquisition of Irca. Antonio Coletti ‘has deep experience’ and Stefano Sciolla, Jeffrey Lawlis and Giovanni Sandicchi are other key names; counsel Isabella Porchia ‘solves complex issues’. Cataldo Piccarreta, who advises private equity sponsors and companies on domestic and cross-border transactions, joined from Gattai Minoli Agostinelli & Partners.

A ‘great value-for-money firm’, Legance - Avvocati Associati is experienced in assisting private equity funds, sovereign wealth funds, corporations and financial conglomerates with transactions. Andrea Fedi advised Kryalos, on behalf of the Camelot Fund, and Blackstone on the acquisition of a real estate portfolio. Filippo Troisi ‘has excellent technical skills’; Giovanni Nardulli and Bruno Bartocci are other highly regarded advisers.

Linklaters’ private equity expertise spans corporate and M&A matters, banking and capital markets, and tax issues. The team acted for KKR Capital Markets in the acquisition of an Italian debt servicing business and also assisted Ambienta with the sale of IP Cleaning. The principal names are Giorgio Fantacchiotti, Pietro Belloni, Andrea Arosio and Claudia Parzani; Anna Gagliardi is a highly regarded managing associate.

NCTM Studio Legale assists private equity and venture capital houses with fund formation, new money and private equity investments, financings, IPOs and M&A deals as well as strategic partnerships and trade sale exits. Paolo Montironi and Pietro Zanoni, who ‘always protects his clients’, advised private equity firm L Catterton on its acquisition of Pinarello. The recommended advisers are Simone De Carli, Piero Corigliano, Matteo Trapani and Mario Giambò.

DLA Piper’s ‘outstanding practice’ hired private equity specialist Matteo Almini from Bird & Bird. Goffredo Guerra advised Oakley Capital Private Equity on the acquisition of the REA Group’s Europe-based companies. Alessandro Piermanni and Fabio del Bene are also highly regarded.

Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Studio Legale Associato’s ‘excellent practice assists with high-profile deals’: in recent highlights, Carlo Pavesi advised Synergo on the sale of Bozzetto to Chequers Capital, a pan-European private equity firm and ‘the very experienced’ Andrea Giardino acted for European private equity fund Ambienta in its investment in Restiani. Gianni Martoglia ‘has outstanding legal skills’ and Francesco Gatti, Stefano Valerio and Franco Barucci are other key contacts.

Considered a ‘great entry point for foreign investors’, Pedersoli Studio Legale assists with divestments and fund formation in the retail, fashion, media, manufacturing, luxury goods and food industries. Carlo Pedersoli and Alessandro Marena assisted the De Nora family with the sale of a minority stake in Industrie De Nora, to Blackstone Tactical Opportunities funds. Luca Saraceni is ‘committed to clients’ needs’ and Carlo Re is ‘a supportive partner throughout’. Other notable advisers are Ascanio Cibrario, Elio Marena, and Antonio Pedersoli.

Simmons & Simmons’ private equity practice has sector knowledge in asset management, financial institutions, TMT, life sciences, and energy. Practice head Andrea Accornero advised Wise, which specialises in the management of private equity closed-end funds investing in small and medium-sized companies, on the acquisition of a majority stake in Tatuus Racing. Bernadetta Troisi is a highly regarded managing associate.

Allen & Overy - Studio Legale Associato advises on private equity matters across industry sectors, such as TMT, food and beverages, energy, real estate, and financial services. Giovanni Gazzaniga is ‘a strong transactions lawyer’ and Paolo Ghiglione is also highly regarded.

Dentons focuses predominantly on the middle-market segment. Alessandro Dubini assisted Alto Capital III with the sale of its majority stake in Dolciaria Val D’Enza. Stefano Speroni is highly rated.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s ‘lawyers know what to do’. The team assisted Ergo Previdenza, a portfolio company of private equity firm Cinven, with the acquisition of Old Mutual Wealth Italy. Luigi Verga and Nicola Asti are highly rated.

Giovannelli e Associati Studio Legale’s Alessandro Giovannelli and Fabrizio Scaparro recently advised French private equity investment firm Ardian on the sale of its majority stake in Irca. Matteo Delucchi is also highly regarded.

Hogan Lovells Studio Legale’s ‘advice is always appropriate’. Francesco Stella assisted ORCA Developpement, majority owned by private equity fund IDI, with its acquisition of Fait Plast. Leah Dunlop and Luca Picone are the key advisers.

Lombardi Segni e Associati assists Italian and foreign private equity funds with complex transactions, including financings and collateral security. The main contacts are Stefano Nanni Costa, Carla Mambretti, Antonio Segni and Federico Vermicelli.

Pavia e Ansaldo is experienced in advising on the structuring and negotiation of private equity and venture capital transactions. Stefano Bianchi and Roberto Zanchi are highly rated.

White & Case (Europe) LLP’s ‘commercially oriented team’ advises on private equity M&A, financing, and debt capital market issues. Iacopo Canino, Leonardo Graffi and Michael Immordino are the key names.