Bird & Bird > Rome, Italy > Firm Profile

Bird & Bird > The Legal 500 Rankings

Italy > Industry focus: Food Tier 1

Bird & Bird is well versed in matters spanning the entire food industry. Specialists are brought together from corporate, regulatory, IP, tax and competition to provide clients from food producers, packaging manufacturers and distributors to retailers and investors in the sector. The group also assists well-known associations with the protection of geographical indications and is experienced in the peculiarities of the sector, such as the use of agriculture chemicals, health and safety regulations and the introduction of novel foods. Massimiliano Mostardini and Giovanni Galimberti (who is also head of the IP group) lead the group – Mostardini’s expertise spans IP and unfair competition.

Italy > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 1

Bird & Bird provide a complete service to its clients in the healthcare and life sciences sectors. It advises on IP, regulatory, transactional corporate, EU and competition, data protection and dispute resolution matters. Massimiliano Mostardini and Giovanni Galimberti head the practice, both focusing on IP matters affecting the sector including trademarks, copyright and unfair competition. Within the practice, Antonella De Gregori utilises her specialist knowledge in the pharmaceutical sector, and Claudia Ricciardi drafts and negotiates patent/know how licences and assignment agreements. Evelina Marchesoni and Mauro Turrini are also of note. In May 2023, Elisabetta Bandera and Rita Tardiolo were made partners.

Italy > Industry focus: Manufacturing Tier 1

Bird & Bird has a group dedicated to the industry with expertise in a wide range of matters, including corporate, commercial, IP, IT, tax, employment, regulatory, compliance and real estate matters. The firm is especially strong in relation to the automotive sector, with experience in innovative aspects of the industry such as autonomous driving. It also utilises its international footprint to assist clients on cross-border disputes involving a broad number of jurisdictions. Stefano Silvestri spearheads the practice, advising on M&A matters for major global organisations and financial investors.

Italy > Industry focus: Retail Tier 1

Bird & Bird assists clients in retail matters concerning a wide range of issues, such as brand management, franchising, e-commerce, data protection, employment, consumer regulation and dispute resolution. The firm is accustomed to assisting in multi-jurisdictional matters with offices across the globe able to enhance its advice to clients. Stefano Silvestri, the co-head of the practice has extensive experience in the retail industry with a focus on corporate and commercial transactions. Managing partner Giovanni Galimberti co-heads the practice and adds his expertise in IP law to the dedicated group.

Italy > Intellectual property

Bird & Bird stands out in the market for its expertise in IP law, with experience across tech-centric sectors including communications, life sciences, healthcare, aviation and defence, as well as energy and utilities. The team is particularly active in the retail, consumer, media, entertainment and sports sectors. Giovanni Galimberti is routinely engaged by clients for his expertise in patents, trademarks, designs, trade secrets, copyright and unfair competition, while Massimiliano Mostardini notably focuses on both litigation and non-contentious IP, IT and regulatory issues. Other key names include Arturo Leone, recognised for his knowledge of advertising issues and brand reputation, and Antonella De Gregori, whose broad practice encompasses contentious and non-contentious patent and design-related matters, especially in the chemicals and pharma sectors. Of particular note are Rita Tardiolo’s specialisation in Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), advertising and unfair competition, and Edoardo Bàrbera’s focus on trade secrets, software, trademarks and designs.

Italy > Banking and finance: Bank regulatory Tier 2

Bird & Bird's wide-ranging expertise covers investment services, compliance with capital requirements, marketing investment funds and issuing financial products. Other key areas range from market abuse, insurance distribution and fintech, to sustainable finance regulation, AML, derivatives, consumer credit and payment services. Financial regulation specialist Raimondo Maggiore heads the banking and financial markets regulation department, which features Stefano Febbi, an expert in banking, financial services and insurance regulation; and Rossella Sansone, who routinely advises on asset management and financial services. Other active practitioners are Annapaola Schino, Diego Bobbo and Diego Cefaro.

Italy > Compliance Tier 2

Advising on the entire spectrum of compliance work, Bird & Bird's Italy practice houses experts in regulatory compliance, corporate 231 matters, data protection, cybersecurity and product compliance. The team's expertise also covers advertising pre-clearance, consumer protection and antitrust. Key figures include financial regulation specialist Raimondo Maggiore; Stefano Febbi, a regulatory compliance adviser; and Simone Caddedu, who focuses on EU and Italian administrative regulation. In addition, the department features Rossella Sansone, who is experienced in asset management and financial services, and Federico Marini Balestra, a former legal officer at the Italian Communications Authority.

Italy > Investment funds Tier 2

Including former officers from the Supervisory Authorities, Bird & Bird‘s banking and financial markets regulation team practice is experienced in UCITS, as well as real estate, credit, and private equity alternative investment funds. The group is jointly headed by financial regulation specialist Raimondo Maggiore, an active adviser to Italian and international asset management companies on structuring real estate and private equity funds; and asset management and financial services expert Rossella Sansone. Sansone and Giovanni Bevilacqua, who assists fund managers with structuring investment products, are 'remarkable for their deep legal expertise'.

Italy > Administrative and public law Tier 3

Bird & Bird’s public law department is routinely entrusted by national and international clients from the infrastructure, energy and utilities, TMT, life sciences, aerospace and defence sectors, both on regulatory matters and administrative litigation. Simone Cadeddu heads the practice and is noted for his expertise in dispute resolution before administrative courts and regulatory authorities, and also advises leading international companies on infrastructure, concessions and state aid. The team also includes Jacopo Nardelli, whose practice spans public procurement contracts, public incentives and pharmaceutical regulatory matters, and Paola Bologna, who specialises in environmental issues.

Italy > Data privacy and data protection Tier 3

Bird & Bird's dedicated team advises on a wide range of cybersecurity and data protection matters, from transactions, crisis management, data breaches and regulatory and internal investigations to disputes and incident-related preventions and responses. The department is co-led by privacy, data protection and security specialist Adriano D’Ottavio and Debora Stella, who brings extensive experience in data protection and IT issues.

Italy > Dispute resolution Tier 3

Bird & Bird's team is able to draw on the firm's global network to handle a range of contentious matters with the group also able to offer clients access to its disputes resolution knowhow portal, Disputes+. The team advises on domestic and international commercial disputes, white-collar criminal law, arbitrations, and non-adjudicative ADR methods. Managing partner Giovanni Galimberti heads the practice and has particular expertise in IP, pharmaceutical and automotive disputes.

Italy > Employment Tier 3

Bird & Bird acts for clients on contentious and non-contentious, domestic and international employment law matters. The firm is experienced in hiring and disciplinary procedures, incentives plans and disputes as well as individual and collective dismissals. The practice is headed by HR management expert Amedeo Rampolla and Cristiano Pambianchi, who advises on daily employment matters as well as on dismissals and employment litigation and arbitration. In May 2023, Daphne Diorio Borri was promoted to counsel within the practice.

Italy > Industry focus: Energy Tier 3

With strong expertise in renewable energies and PPAs, gas distribution and energy storage, Bird & Bird’s cross-practice team routinely assists in M&A, project financing, project development and regulatory issues, and also has a track record in administrative litigation before the Italian Administrative Courts. Project finance expert Pierpaolo Mastromarini is noted for advising on complex hydrogen projects and offshore wind farms in Italy, while regulatory, antitrust and public procurement specialist Simone Cadeddu represents leading international companies in infrastructure and concessions, as well as renewables and oil and gas installations. Andrea Semmola notably focuses on the renewable energy sector.

Italy > Industry focus: Luxury goods Tier 3

The luxury goods-focused team at Bird & Bird assists a broad array of organisations in the luxury, fashion and retail space. The team leverages its connections with the firm’s international offices to provide expertise on multi-jurisdictional matters. Massimiliano Mostardini maintains a focus on IP litigation connected to trademarks, copyright and advertising for its luxury goods clients. Rita Tardiolo has a particular strength in advising clients on advertising campaigns in the digital and non-digital spaces. Giovanni Galimberti further complements the practice with experience in domestic and international litigation.

Italy > Industry focus: TMT Tier 3

Bird & Bird’s team works closely with the firm’s antitrust, commercial and corporate law experts to advise clients on the full spectrum of TMT activities, ranging from regulatory and commercial advice to data protection and dispute resolution. Massimiliano Mostardini represents clients in non-contentious regulatory matters related to IT, maintenance, outsourcing, disruptive technologies and pre-clearance advertising. TMT law and regulations expert Federico Marini-Balestra and corporate and commercial transactions specialist Stefano Silvestri are also recommended. Giovanni Galimberti and Simone Cadeddu are other names to note.

Italy > Capital markets: Equity Tier 4

The Milan team at Bird & Bird advises on a range of capital markets transactions, including public offerings, listings, secondary offerings and public takeover bids. The group is jointly led by ECM specialist Federico Valle, who acts for major commercial banks and Italian Stock Exchange-listed companies; and fellow partner Alberto Salvadè.

Italy > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 4

Key areas for Bird & Bird’s Italian corporate team are M&A, private equity, venture capital, restructuring, joint ventures, and commercial and company law. Alberto Salvadè focuses on M&A and private equity transactions, while Stefano Silvestri acts for technology, fashion, luxury, retail and consumer businesses. Edoardo Courir is another experienced practitioner.

Italy > EU and competition law Tier 4

Spanning merger control filings, state aid and anticompetitive agreements, as well as high-profile international and national cartel investigations, Bird & Bird’s antitrust practice team regularly appears before both the EU Courts and national courts. Practice head Federico Marini-Balestra is recognised for his expertise in antitrust and regulatory proceedings, as well as administrative and commercial litigation. Nicola Cearolo has recently joined the team from Nunziante Magrone, bringing in new expertise especially in energy law and regulation, information technology, and utilities.

Italy > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 4

Bird & Bird assists clients in a wide range of insolvency procedures, including bankruptcy litigation, claw-back actions, restructurings and liability advisory work. The team is experienced in advising clients across industries, with banks, leasing companies and financial creditors regularly approaching the firm for assistance. Alberto Salvadè heads the firm’s restructuring practice in Italy and regularly supports clients through the acquisition of distressed assets.

Italy > Banking and finance: Borrower side Tier 5

Active in corporate, real estate and project-related structured finance deals, Bird & Bird's Italy team advises development companies, sponsors, public entities and contractors on infrastructure-related financings and refinancings. Pierpaolo Mastromarini is an energy and utilities sector expert, while Michele Arruzzolo specialises in project finance.

Italy > Banking and finance: lender or arranger side Tier 5

Bird & Bird's Italy team routinely acts for banks and financial institutions on both financing and refinancing transactions. The group, which is headed up by energy and utilities sector expert Pierpaolo Mastromarini, is particularly focused on the traditional and renewable energy sectors, including the realisation of public and private works.

Italy > Real estate and construction Tier 5

Bird & Bird's multidisciplinary expertise complements its real estate practice, allowing the firm to handle a broad range of matters. In particular, it is familiar with real estate and development finance. Antonella Ceschi leads the real estate practice and assists clients with the development of retail, logistics, hotel and entertainment assets.

Italy > Tax Tier 5

Bird & Bird’s Italian tax department advises individuals and private companies across a wide range of the taxation life cycle, including planning, compliance and litigation. The group, which is led by Gaetano Salvioli, also has longstanding experience in international tax and transfer pricing. Giuliana Polacco was made partner in May 2023.

Italy > Private equity