The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s Milan-based team heads are Roberto Bonsignore and Pietro Fioruzzi, and Fioruzzi is recommended particularly for his ‘ability to solve problems’. The practice was counsel to Bavaria Yachtbau on the acquisition and related debt restructuring of Cantiere Del Pardo, the manufacturer of Grand Soleil and Dufour sail yachts.

Within Debt Other recommended firms

Within Equity, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a second tier firm,

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP acted as counsel to Banca IMI and UBS Investment Bank as underwriters of Philogen’s proposed IPO, and advised Jefferies International and Banca IMI on a rights offering. In Rome, Giuseppe Scassellati-Sforzolini and counsel Claudio Di Falco are recommended, as is Milan-based Pietro Fioruzzi.

Within Corporate and M&A: Milan and Rome, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a second tier firm,

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP was counsel to Cima Claddings on the €600m sale of Permasteelisa to JS Group, and advised A2A in its negotiations with EDF regarding the possible industrial and corporate reorganisation of Edison. The team also acted for Wind Telecom in its $6.5bn merger with VimpelCom, creating one of the world’s largest mobile telecoms carriers. Roberto Casati heads the practice, which includes Roberto Bonsignore, Pietro Fioruzzi and Rome-based Giuseppe Scassellati-Sforzolini, who are recommended. Stefano Sciolla joined Latham & Watkins LLP’s Rome office.

Within Dispute resolution, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a third tier firm,

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP ‘stays on top of the issues’. The practice represented HSBC in civil proceedings brought by an Italian asset management fund arising from the Madoff fraud. Telecom Italia is also a client. Ferdinando Emanuele and William McGurn lead the team, and Emanuele provides ‘rare clarity in his advice and a remarkable intelligence’.

Within EU, regulatory and competition law, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a first tier firm,

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s ‘service is outstanding’. The team was counsel to Eni in a successful appeal before the Council of State in an alleged exclusionary abuse of dominance in the management of a gas pipeline connecting Tunisia to Italy; the appeal resulted in a 93% reduction of what was originally the largest antitrust fine ever issued in Italy. Mario Siragusa and Marco D’Ostuni head the team, with Siragusa regarded as ‘influential, composed and perfectly prepared’. Giuseppe Scassellati-Sforzolini, and counsels Matteo Beretta, Pietro Merlino and the ‘punctual and precise’ Cesare Rizza are also recommended.

Within Energy, tier 4

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP ‘pulls in multiple resources across disciplines and jurisdictions’. The group advised ENI on the disposal of gas transportation assets.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a third tier firm,

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s key contacts are Giuseppe Scassellati-Sforzolini in Rome, and Roberto Bonsignore and Pietro Fioruzzi in Milan. The practice was counsel to RBS on the extension of senior and subordinated acquisition facilities granted to a troubled Italian borrower.

Within TMT, tier 4

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is known for its expertise in TMT-related antitrust and M&A. Telecom Italia is a client.

Within Tax, tier 4

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.