The Legal 500

Within Administrative law, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Clifford Chance’s practice, headed by Cristina Martorana and Aristide Police, provides advisory and litigation services in all fields of administrative law, with particular regard to national, EU and international law, regulation and compliance. The team also handles public law and procurement, energy, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, planning and environmental, infrastructure, PPP projects and project finance matters.

Within Banking and finance, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Clifford Chance has been busy with investment-grade financings, major corporate acquisition financings and large LBOs, and was particularly active in financing projects and real estate transactions. Highlights included advising J.P. Morgan on the bridge-to-bond financing of the acquisition of Bormioli Group. Banking and project finance head Giuseppe De Palma and Charles Adams are ‘extremely well regarded’ practitioners.

Within Debt, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Notwithstanding volatile market conditions, Clifford Chance has acted on EMTN establishments, updates and drawdowns, debt securities issues, passporting, corporate Eurobonds, US bonds, high yield, secured debt issuance and tier 1 instruments. It advised the joint lead managers Banca IMI and UniCredit on the retail bond issued by GE Capital European Funding. Franco Grilli and Filippo Emanuele are recommended.

Within Equity, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Clifford Chance combines Italian, English and US law capabilities. It advised the underwriters of Prada’s $2.1bn IPO, the first ever listing by an Italian registered company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and acted on BPM’s rights issue. Filippo Emanuele, Alberta Figari and Paolo Sersale are well regarded.

Within Corporate and M&A: Milan and Rome, Clifford Chance is a third tier firm,

Clifford Chance represented Central Department Store in the acquisition of Italian luxury retail chain La Rinascente, and assisted E.ON with the auction sale of its Italian gas pipeline network to F2i and AXA Private Equity. Practice head Paolo Sersale, Alberta Figari, Umberto Penco Salvi and Paolo Rulli are recommended. Claudio Cerabolini joined from Bonelli Erede Pappalardo and Sabrina Borocci was promoted to counsel.

Within Dispute resolution, Clifford Chance is a third tier firm,

Clifford Chance successfully defended Citibank in criminal proceedings relating to market rigging in the Parmalat case, in which the bank and its executives were fully acquitted. Team head Fabio Guastadisegni and Carlo Felice Giampaolino are recommended. Recently promoted partner Antonio Golino leads the regulatory investigations, fraud and crime team.

Within EU, regulatory and competition law, Clifford Chance is a third tier firm,

Clifford Chance assisted Buzzi Unicem in competition proceedings brought by the EC against several cement manufacturers for suspected illegal restrictive business practices. Cristoforo Osti heads the group.

Within Employment, tier 4

Clifford Chance defended Barclays in an action brought by an Italian bank before the Court of Milan’s Employment Division. Simonetta Candela and Marina Mobiglia are the key contacts.

Within Energy, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Clifford Chance’s Cristina Martorana and Umberto Penco Salvi are key contacts. The team advised E.ON on the disposal of its Italian gas network.

Within Real estate, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Clifford Chance’s recent highlights include advising Central Department Store on its acquisition of Italian luxury retail chain La Rinascente. The team also advised Carrefour on the potential acquisition of a group of companies that own two commercial malls in northern Italy. Paolo Rulli is well respected.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Clifford Chance is a third tier firm,

Clifford Chance advised Intesa Sanpaolo and five other banks on the restructuring of senior and mezzanine facilities granted to the Cantiere del Pardo/Dufour Group, one of the first pre-packed, court-approved restructurings in Italy. Charles Adams is well regarded.

Within Tax, tier 4

Clifford Chance advised Central Retail Corporation on tax aspects of its bid for La Rinascente. Carlo Galli is recommended, and senior associate Marco Palanca is also an experienced practitioner. The team welcomed associate Sara Mancinelli from Di Tanno e Associati.