The Legal 500

Maisto e Associati’s ‘first-class tax advisers’ assist in tax planning, with special emphasis on complex M&A. The practice advises IT, telecoms and media clients, and also represents fashion and luxury goods companies, as well as financial institutions. Guglielmo Maisto is recommended, as is Paolo Ludovici for international tax planning and reorganisations.

Vitali Romagnoli Piccardi E Associati is experienced in the tax aspects of M&A, corporate reorganisations, banking and finance, and real estate, as well as transfer pricing. It also has a strong reputation for tax litigation. Enrico Vitali, Dario Romagnoli and Lorenzo Piccardi are recommended.

Bonelli Erede Pappalardo provides ‘unparalleled levels of industry knowledge’. The practice provides tax advice on M&A and restructuring, banking and finance matters, and equity capital markets transactions, as well as real estate fund structuring. The practice is also known for transfer pricing and litigation. Team leader Andrea Silvestri is ‘a well-rounded adviser’, and Stefano Simontacchi is ‘open-minded and creative’. Andrea Manzitti and Riccardo Ubaldini are also recommended.

Chiomenti Studio Legale ‘makes clients feel that success in their business really matters to them’. The team assisted Bulgari and the Bulgari family on the tax aspects of the sale of the majority stake to Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy. Paolo Giacometti is ‘brilliant’.

Di Tanno e Associati is ‘excellent for quality, appropriateness of advice and timeliness’. It assisted Argos Soditic with Italian tax aspects of establishing private equity fund Euroknights VI. Tommaso Di Tanno and the ‘competent and balanced’ Fabio Brunelli are recommended.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s ‘professionals are capable of meeting all legal needs’. Renato Paternollo represented a bank during tax investigations into funding and hedging transactions. Vittorio Salvadori di Wiesenhoff advised a bank on tax aspects of reorganisation of the group and its Italian operations.

CMS Adonnino Ascoli & Cavasola Scamoni advised Toshiba on tax aspects of evaluating photovoltaic power projects. Pietro Adonnino is recommended. Giuseppe Ascoli heads the practice.

Studio Tributario Associato Facchini Rossi Scarioni is a tax boutique recommended for litigation and transactional advice. Banca Popolare di Milano is a client. Luca Rossi is recommended.

Fantozzi e Associati provides tax advice on investments and financial transactions, on domestic and international taxation, and represents clients before the courts. It also acts on transfer pricing. Augusto Fantozzi is known for company and group taxation, international and indirect taxation, tax disputes, and tax planning for individuals.

Studio Associato Legale Tributario fondato da Franco Gallo is recommended for corporate taxation, the fiscal issues concerning corporate reorganisations, national and international tax planning and cross-border transactions, the taxation of financial institutions, and indirect taxation.

Legance Studio Legale Associato’s ‘advice is always technically perfect and business-like’. It advised Venice Shipping and Logistics and Perseveranz on a joint venture, involving sophisticated corporate income tax issues, including the tax-efficient structuring of returns on the investment. Claudia Gregori is well regarded and Marco Graziani ‘easily combines the skills of a lawyer with those that we expect to find in a chartered accountant’.

Pirola Pennuto Zei & Associati handles domestic and international tax compliance and planning, transfer pricing, and VAT, and advises banking and financial services clients as well as expatriates and other individuals. It also represents clients in tax litigation.

Studio Professionale Associato a Baker & McKenzie advised Amplifon on the cross-border tax structuring of its €325m acquisition of NHC Group, and Saipem on a global transfer pricing project. Massimo Giaconia is well regarded.

Biscozzi Nobili is recommended for its transactional tax structuring, and also acts in tax litigation, including appeals before the Tax Commissions.

CBA Studio Legale e Tributario’s spectrum of services includes domestic and international tax consultancy, and assistance with income tax, VAT and other direct and indirect taxes. The practice also represents clients in settling tax disputes.

At Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, Rome-based Vania Petrella focuses on the tax side to capital markets, M&A, financial products, and domestic and cross-border transactions. Petrella assisted Wind Telecom with tax aspects of its merger with VimpelCom.

Clifford Chance advised Central Retail Corporation on tax aspects of its bid for La Rinascente. Carlo Galli is recommended, and senior associate Marco Palanca is also an experienced practitioner. The team welcomed associate Sara Mancinelli from Di Tanno e Associati.

DLA Piper provides ‘outstanding levels of service’. It saw a marked increase in contentious tax matters in 2011 and attracted several transfer pricing instructions. Direct and indirect tax assistance continues to be the mainstay of the practice. Antonio Tomassini and practice head Maricla Pennesi are ‘always committed to meeting their clients’ needs’.

Dewey & LeBoeuf Studio Legale advised Finmeccanica on tax aspects of its €1.2bn joint venture with First Reserve to acquire Ansaldo Energia. Luca Dezzani heads the tax team in Italy. Of counsel Silvia Medici specialises in transactional tax matters.

Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners advised VimpelCom on tax aspects of the merger with Weather Investments. Rome-based team head Luciano Acciari ‘understands our business’. Fabio Chiarenza and Milan-based Alessandro Zalonis are praised, and Stefano Grilli joined as of counsel from Di Tanno e Associati.

Hogan Lovells Studio Legale’s ‘professional and technically skilled’ team advised Ferrovie dello Stato on the tax issues concerning €1.5bn revolving and committed credits. Team leader Fulvia Astolfi is ‘very good’, and of counsel Serena Pietrosanti ‘mixes competence with a friendly approach’.

Jones Day ‘incorporates an American client focus into an Italian law practice’. The group advised Crédit Agricole CIB on the transfer and assumption of a VAT financing. Marco Lombardi is recommended.

Labruna Mazziotti Segni’s Felice D’Acquisto is ‘a solid, versatile lawyer’. The team advised Change Capital Partners on the entire tax structure for its acquisition of Vesevo Group’s holding company.

Macchi di Cellere Gangemi is noted for tax litigation, M&A and corporate reorganisations, the tax aspects of renewable energy projects, investment funds and employment law issues, estate planning, and complex VAT issues. Bruno Gangemi is ‘pragmatic and knowledgeable’, and Paolo Vignando is ‘efficient and accountable’. Maurizio Di Marcotullio, Claudio Giordano and Arnaldo Salvatore are also key contacts.

McDermott Will & Emery Studio Legale Associato’s ‘sharp-minded’ partner Carlo Maria Paolella leads the Italian tax practice and is based in Rome. He focuses on domestic and international tax issues relating to M&A, corporate reorganisations, cross-border transactions, capital markets and collective investment vehicles. Paolella also advises on employee incentive plans, debt restructuring and financial products, joint ventures and partnerships. Mario Martinelli is another key contact, along with the reliable Andrea Tempestini in Milan.

NCTM Studio Legale Associato provided tax assistance to STMicroelectronics on the formation of a joint venture with Enel Green Power and Sharp, and advised BP Italia, Sogefi, STMicroelectronics, TeleTu, Energizer and Petronas on transfer pricing matters. Federico Trutalli heads the practice.

Studio Legale Associato in affiliation with Simmons & Simmons LLP assisted Luxottica with the tax aspects of a major welfare project. Michele Citarella is the key contact.

Clients appreciate Allen & Overy – Studio Legale Associato’s ‘prompt replies’. The team advised Andromeda on tax aspects of Italy’s first rated project bond. Rome-based Francesco Bonichi’s ‘knowledge is thorough’, and Francesco Guelfi in Milan is well regarded.

Belluzzo & Associati specialises in direct and indirect taxation, including VAT, stamp duty, inheritance and tax transfers. It also handles tax litigation and tax aspects of transactions.

Carnelutti Studio Legale Associato assists Conbipel with tax matters, and also advised Sony’s Italian branch on transfer pricing. Gilberto Comi is recommended.

Studio Legale Tributario Fiorentini is known for transactional tax assistance, tax disputes and tax planning.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe experienced an increase in tax litigation, as well as international tax planning and transfer pricing. The tax department also supports the corporate and global finance team in transactions.

Paul Hastings LLP adopts ‘a straightforward approach’. The group advised Exor on tax aspects of the proposed sale of portfolio company Alpitour. Bernadette Accili is ‘responsive and proposes solutions’.

Pedersoli e Associati advised a pool of banks on tax aspects of a refinancing granted to Barilla G & R Fratelli. Giovanni Bandera is well regarded.

Portolano Colella Cavallo Studio Legale is experienced in tax-related M&A, as well as tax-efficient corporate structures, tax litigation, and tax planning. Of counsel Antonello Lupo is recommended.

SJ Berwin LLP’s ‘responses use the appropriate language in each case’. It assisted with local tax aspects of the structuring of a private equity fund. Emidio Cacciapuoti ‘gives the advice we need’, say clients.

Tonucci & Partners in alliance with Mayer Brown LLP’s Piero Alonzo acts on the tax side to LBOs, including due diligence and structuring work, and financing issues. Gian Marco Committeri is also a key contact.

Studio Uckmar is well established in the fields of domestic and international taxation.