The Legal 500

Within Administrative law, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a second tier firm,

Hogan Lovells Studio Legale’s ‘prompt and accurate’ administrative law group receives standalone instructions on public law issues, but also works closely with the firm’s M&A, energy, real estate, finance and antitrust teams. The practice largely focuses on energy-related project finance matters and acted on the administrative law aspects of the development, construction, operation and maintenance of a solar energy park.

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

Hogan Lovells Studio Legale’s balanced practice acts for lenders, borrowers, private equity funds and corporations alike. Recent highlights include advising Audley Capital Management and TAS on the restructuring of TAS’ financial indebtedness, and acting for Barclays on the banking and regulatory aspects of the acquisition of Citigroup’s credit card business in Italy. Antonio Di Pasquale is a key practitioner, and financial regulation expert Jeffrey Greenbaum ‘obtains outstanding results for his clients’. Ex-banking head Francesco Curreli left for Studio Legal Associato a Watson, Farley & Williams.

Within Capital markets: Debt, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a third tier firm,

Since Corrado Fiscale and Federico Del Monte’s arrival in 2009 from Simmons & Simmons, Hogan Lovells Studio Legale has increased its involvement in structured finance transactions. BNP Paribas and Finanziaria Internazionale were assisted as arrangers in connection with a securitisation of a portfolio of mortgage loans receivables. This marked one of the first-ever mortgage-backed Italian securitisations in which no hedging agreement was entered into in order to hedge the issuer’s interest rate exposure in relation to the ABS notes. RBS is a client. Del Monte is ‘precise and thoughtful in his document preparation’.

Within Capital markets: Equity, tier 4

Hogan Lovells Studio Legale’s ECM team recently advised GEM Investment Advisors in the terms of subscription and share lending agreements related to an equity line of credit provided to Fremil International. The practice also advised Tecnologia Avanzata dei Sitemi Spa in relation to its rights issue and listing of shares on the Italian Stock Exchange. Practice head Roberto Culicchi is recommended.

Within Corporate and M&A Milan and Rome, tier 4

Clients praise Hogan Lovells Studio Legale’s ‘immediate responses, full availability, strong work ethics and the ability to address unexpected issues. No matter the amount of pressure or the aggressiveness of counterparts, its reaction is always instant, concrete and professional’. The renewable energy market continued to be an excellent source of work for the practice, as well as the fashion and luxury goods sectors, and its M&A position strengthened within the financial services, IT and pharmaceutical industries. Recent highlights include acting for Barclays on the acquisition of Citibank’s Italian credit card business. Esso Italiana was assisted on the sale to Autogrill of the business unit relating to the operation and management of 80 service stations in Italy. Leah Dunlop leads the team, Italian insurance head Paolo Ricci is ‘great at finding solutions, even when an impasse appears to have been reached’, and Gianroberto de Giovanni has ‘deep knowledge of market mechanisms’. Antonio Di Pasquale is also a key figure.

Within Dispute resolution, tier 4

The recent merger to form Hogan Lovells Studio Legale added to the group’s list of major clients, instructions and spectrum of activities covered. It has strengths in product liability, product safety and commercial disputes, as well as banking and corporate disputes, insurance and arbitration, The practice assisted Google in various actions brought by Italian users concerning online services such as YouTube and Google Streetview. Product liability head Francesca Rolla is ‘flexible and responsive’, and ex-Norton Rose Studio Legale litigation head Cristina Pagni is well respected. Senior associate Filippo Chiaves is noted for contentious insolvency.

Within EU, regulatory and competition law, tier 5

Led by Gianluca Belotti, Hogan Lovells Studio Legale is particularly focused on the IT, pharmaceuticals, energy and transport sectors, as well as the distribution of goods and vertical issues. The practice represented Siderurgica Latina Martin in an alleged EU price-fixing cartel case. Google and eBay are also clients.

Within Employment, tier 4

Hogan Lovells Studio Legale’s Vittorio Moresco ‘possesses the ability to investigate not only the legal side to an issue but also the business pros and cons’. The practice recently assisted clients with the downsizing of operations in Italy, the termination of top-level employees and the reviewing of stock option plans.

Within Energy, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a first tier firm,

Hogan Lovells Studio Legale ‘understands the energy sector’. The practice works across a broad spectrum of energy-related industries, including natural gas, oil, nuclear, electric, renewable, and petrochemical. Gianroberto de Giovanni is recommended.

Within Intellectual property, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a second tier firm,

Praised for its ‘international attitude’, Hogan Lovells Studio Legale’s ‘brilliant and effective team’ further expanded with the recruitment of associate Riccardo Fruscalzo from Franzosi Dal Negro Pensato Setti. The practice provided strategic assistance to Google in various copyright matters. Sony is also a client. Team head Luigi Mansani ‘demonstrates strong business acumen’. Giovanni Ghirardi is ‘strategic and timely’.

Within Real estate, tier 4

Hogan Lovells Studio Legale’s Milan managing partner Marco Rota Candiani is a corporate M&A lawyer with extensive experience in the real estate sector. The practice recently advised on the acquisition of two companies that respectively own two commercial centres. Senior associate Edoardo Disetti joined from Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker (Europe) LLP.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, tier 4

Hogan Lovells Studio Legale advised Audley Capital Management on the novel restructuring of TAS’s financial indebtedness, marking one of the first-ever Italian transactions in which a listed Italian company entered into a restructuring agreement pursuant to article 182-bis of the Italian Insolvency Law.

Within TMT, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a second tier firm,

Hogan Lovells Studio Legale ‘never misses a deadline and provides preemptive advice as needed’. The practice recently expanded its media and telecoms offering, as well as consolidating its leading position within the IT sector. Google was assisted with the launch of new products such as eBooks and the negotiation of commercial agreements with its Italian partners, and eBay was advised in the day-to-day management of its website. PayPal and YouTube are clients. Marco Berliri is a ‘superb, savvy and competent professional, who is tremendously effective at providing complex legal opinions’. Giulio Coraggio left for DLA Piper.

Within Tax, tier 4

Hogan Lovells Studio Legale ‘offers the best service in terms of availability, price and knowledge of tax matters’. The practice recently acted on a series of capital markets transactions for clients such as Ford Credit Europe Bank and BNP Paribas. On the disputes side, the practice assisted Micron Technologies Italia with customs litigation and Roma Soccer in VAT claims. Fulvia Astolfi is recommended. Domenico Borzumato left the firm.