The Legal 500

Within Administrative law, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is a first tier firm,

Rome-based Fabio Cintioli leads Bonelli Erede Pappalardo’s practice, which acted on a public tender for water purification plant management. In Milan, Domenico Ielo and Cristina Mezzabarba are recommended.

Within Banking and finance, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy – Studio Legale Associato is ‘well versed in both the Italian legal framework and the international markets, which results in relevant and appropriate advice on transactions’. The practice attracted important mandates in new-money deals, and was involved in various innovative and large-scale refinancings for borrowers and banks. It also continues to advise on project finance deals despite Catia Tomasetti’s departure to Bonelli Erede Pappalardo. Highlights included advising the arrangers of the €3.9bn senior facilities for Wind Telecomunicazioni, which was the largest refinancing in Italy and Europe since 2007. The group also represented the syndicate of banks on providing a €4bn credit facility to Fiat to finance the demerger of its truck and heavy equipment operations from its car unit into a new listed company called Fiat Industrial Group. Managing partner Paul Flanagan is praised for his ‘legal knowledge and business experience’, and Stefano Sennhauser ‘gives excellent support when negotiating complex deals’.

Within Debt, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is a third tier firm,

Bonelli Erede Pappalardo advised a client on the issue of floating rate perpetual subordinated notes as tier 1 capital, and acted on a floating rate notes issue as part of a medium term notes programme. Emanuela Da Rin is recommended.

Within Equity, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is a first tier firm,

‘Loved by issuers’, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo advised Prada on its offering and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. It advised Banca IMI, Morgan Stanley International, J.P. Morgan Securities, Deutsche Bank (London), and Barclays Capital on Avio’s proposed IPO and private placement to institutional investors, with a concurrent listing on the Milan Stock Exchange. Carlo Montagna is recommended.

Within Corporate and M&A: Milan and Rome, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is a first tier firm,

For some clients, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is ‘the top firm in Italy’. It advised the minority shareholders of Weather Investment during its €16bn share-swap acquisition by VimpelCom. Alessandro Balp heads this strong practice, in which Sergio Erede is ‘an outstanding corporate lawyer’, Stefano Cacchi Pessani is ‘a very impressive professional’, and Eliana Catalano is ‘experienced in assisting international companies’. Paolo Oliviero is ‘outstanding at managing complicated deals’, and Roberto Pistorelli is ‘a strong lawyer’. Mario Roli, Alberto Saravalle and Andrea Carta Mantiglia are also recommended. Genoa-based Marco Arato has ‘a good business approach’.

Within Dispute resolution, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is a first tier firm,

Bonelli Erede Pappalardo has ‘deep teams providing superior service’. The group recently acted in a high-value share capital dispute, and is especially strong in international arbitration. Genova-based Vittorio Allavena heads the team.

Within EU, regulatory and competition law, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is a second tier firm,

Bonelli Erede Pappalardo recently advised on restraint of competition and abuse of dominant position allegations, assisted with EC merger control notifications, and advised in state aid regulation cases. Practice head Claudio Tesauro and Brussels-based Massimo Merola are recommended.

Within Employment, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is a first tier firm,

Bonelli Erede Pappalardo provides ‘high levels of professional competence’. It has recently advised on stock option plans, transfer of business issues and high-profile contract terminations. Marcello Giustiniani heads the department. Antonella Negri is ‘extremely available’, and Marco Maniscalco’s ‘answers are practical, as well as correct from a legal perspective’.

Within Energy, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is a second tier firm,

Bonelli Erede Pappalardo advised GDF Suez on the sale of G6 Rete Gas’ share capital to a consortium. Roberto Pistorelli is the team co-ordinator, and Catia Tomasetti is ‘a solar business expert’.

Within Intellectual property, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is a third tier firm,

Bonelli Erede Pappalardo’s recent instructions include trade mark cases, passing off actions, and misleading advertising claims. Additionally, the practice has advised on unauthorised parallel imports. Giovanni Guglielmetti is recommended.

Within Genoa, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is a first tier firm,

Bonelli Erede Pappalardo’s Franco Bonelli is the office’s best known personality. Bonelli has advised major corporations and government bodies on a wide range of corporate matters and strategic transactions. He is especially well regarded for M&A, restructuring and privatisation, and also practises litigation and arbitration.

Within Real estate, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is a first tier firm,

Bonelli Erede Pappalardo’s ‘consistently impressive’ real estate group pools the expertise of 12 partners from its administrative, banking and finance, corporate/M&A, and tax departments, and is co-ordinated by ‘superb lawyer’ Alessandro Balp. It represented Prelios in the headline €470m sale of the La Rinascente department store in Milan.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is a first tier firm,

‘In addition to extremely strong technical capabilities’, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo has ‘great insight into Italian businesses’. The team advised Bank of America Merrill Lynch on the restructuring of Regent Property’s indebtedness, and assisted BM Shipping Group with debt restructuring issues. Genoa-based Marco Arato co-ordinates the insolvency and restructuring group, and Vittoria Giustiniani heads the corporate restructuring sub-department.

Within TMT, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is a third tier firm,

Bonelli Erede Pappalardo frequently acts on outsourcing matters. Recently the team advised Apax Partners, TA Associates and Madison Dearborn Partners – as minority shareholders of Weather Investments – on VimpelCom’s acquisition of Weather Investments through a share-swap transaction.

Within Tax, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is a second tier firm,

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.