The Legal 500

Within Administrative law, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advised Cassa Depositi e Prestiti on the concession to manage an Italian highway, and represented Siemens in an appeal filed with TAR Lombardia against a remediation order of the Municipality of Milan and the Province of Milan. Rome-based Marcello Clarich is recommended.

Within Banking and finance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advised the lenders – Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, HSBC France, and Natixis – on the €4bn financing granted to BSA Finances in relation to Groupe Lactalis’ public offer on all ordinary shares of Parmalat. The practice also acted for Prysmian as borrowers and/or guarantors on a €800m credit agreement granted for the debt refinancing of Draka Holding. Team head Corrado Angelelli ‘always acts in his clients’ interests’. Emiliano Conio is also recommended.

Within Debt, tier 4

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Corrado Angelelli and Emiliano Conio are the principal contacts. The team advised J.P. Morgan Securities on a securitisation transaction of residential mortgage loans originated by UGF Banca.

Within Corporate and M&A: Milan and Rome, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advised Prysmian on the mixed cash and public exchange offer for all the issued and outstanding ordinary shares in Draka Holding, and assisted Gefco, a subsidiary of PSA Peugeot Citroën, with the acquisition of 70% of Gruppo Mercurio. In Milan, team head Nicola Asti is recommended along with Nicola Barra Caracciolo, Enrico Bazzano, Massimo Benedettelli, Mario Ortu and Luigi Verga. Rome-based Fabrizio Arossa and Raffaele Lener are also well regarded.

Within Dispute resolution, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer successfully acted for an international bank in the first Parmalat-related clawback case to reach verdict. Rome-based Fabrizio Arossa is a key contact, and in Milan Enrico Castellani and Giuseppe Curtò are praised.

Within EU, regulatory and competition law, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s ‘lawyers are reliable and client-oriented’. The team successfully advised Ardagh Group on the complex antitrust aspects of its acquisition of the Fi.Par Group, and acted for an international bank in a cartel investigation commenced by the Italian Antitrust Authority (IAA). Department head Tommaso Salonico picks up an impressive volume of energy-related work, and Gian Luca Zampa focuses on complex merger control and cartel investigations. Fabrizio Arossa is ‘a very good communicator’.

Within Employment, tier 4

‘Timely, reliable and competent’, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advised Mediobanca on employment aspects of its reorganisation. Newly promoted partner Luca Capone is recommended by clients for his ‘support and knowledge’.

Within Energy, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advised Agc Glass Europe on the regulatory, corporate, finance, administrative and tax issues relating to the implementation of a joint venture for a rooftop photovoltaic power plant. Tommaso Salonico is recommended.

Within Real estate, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advised Crédit Agricole on the lease of its new headquarters in Milan, and acted for Inter Ikea Centre Italia on the development of a shopping centre. The practice also assists with real estate finance and litigation. Marzio Longo provides ‘high-quality service levels, including daily availability’.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advised Deutsche Bank on the Italian security package connected to the restructuring of Carl Zeiss Vision’s corporate finance debt. In Milan, Corrado Angelelli ‘solves problems instead of creating them’, and Enrico Castellani ‘matches his ability with punctual analysis and knowledge of judicial matters’. Emiliano Conio and Rome-based Raffaele Lener are also recommended. Lener was appointed by the Bank of Italy to assist it in the extraordinary administration of Banca UBAE (in which Libyan Foreign Bank holds a 67% stake) as a consequence of the freezing of Libyan assets.

Within TMT, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acts for TMT clients in corporate, litigation, antitrust and IP matters, and also assists with regulatory matters such as filings and proceedings before the regulators. It assisted 3 Italia with regulatory issues and proceedings relating to the construction of its mobile network and antenna sites, and advised Bally Technologies on the framework for the supply of video lottery terminals and gambling systems. The team represented BBC Worldwide on negotiations with Mediaset group to launch a TV channel on a Mediaset Premium Pay TV platform, the leasing of digital terrestrial television transmission capacity, and its relationship with Italy’s regulatory authority. Luca Ulissi is ‘prepared, fast and helpful’.

Within Tax, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

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.