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Clifford Chance

PALAZZO GENTILI, VIA SISTINA 4, 00187 ROMA
Washington DC, Warsaw, Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai, Sao Paulo , and 24 more

What we say about the firm's legal practice in Italy

Administrative law

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

Clifford Chance has 5 administrative law fee-earners in Milan, headed by Cristina Martorana dealing with transactions, and two in Rome handling the litigation side. It works in numerous sectors, from real estate to infrastructure and energy. The team recently assisted Abertis with administrative actions proposed against the Ministry of Infrastructure. The ‘extremely valuable’ Aristide Police is recommended.

Banking and finance

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

Clifford Chance’s Massimo Novo advised Stirling Square Capital Partners on the acquisition financing of Secureglobal and acted for HVB Unicredit as arrangers in relation to the €485m financing of Gruppo Argenta. Additionally, the team advised BNP Paribas on a €1bn acquisition facility for Autogrill and has worked on several wind farm financings. Charles Adams and Giuseppe De Palma are also recommended.

Capital markets Debt

Within Capital markets Debt, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Clifford Chance is a market leader for debt work, especially in Tier 1 and hybrid issues for banks and insurance companies. The ‘very practical and knowledgeable’ Michele Crisostomo and Filippo Emanuele acted for Intesa Sanpaolo on a €1.25bn issue, and Tanja Svetina represented Barclays on a €4bn securitisation of mortgage loan receivables. On debt securities, the group advises issuers, lead managers and arrangers on pre-eminent EMTN Programmes and has become a leading player in the new covered bonds market. Filippo Emanuele’s ‘approachability, commercial awareness and legal aplomb mean that typically he is my first call for Italian-related questions’, says one international banking client. Silvio Riolo is also recommended.

Capital markets Equity

Within Capital markets Equity, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Clifford Chance advised on the Prada, Ferretti and De Cecco IPOs, all of which are pending. Meanwhile, Michele Crisostomo, Alberta Figari, Paolo Sersale represented Unicredit-HVB on its €6.6bn recapitalisation plan.This global practice also acted for Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena on a €1bn share capital increase. Filippo Emanuela and Ian Tully are also recommended.

Corporate and M&A Milan and Rome

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

Clifford Chance’s key corporate lawyers are Alberta Figari, Massimo La Torre and Paolo Rulli. The practice retained a good deal flow of mid-market instructions, benefiting from its international network for certain deals. Highlights include assisting Unicredito in connection with a joint venture with Merrill Lynch to create an investment platform in Ireland, acting for Abertis on its exit from Schema 28, the holding company that controls Atlantia-Autostrade, and advising Advent on the auction sale of Venere.com to Expedia. In private equity, Paolo Sersale advised DGPA on the acquisition of a minor stake in Damiani Group, Pfizer, Carrefour and Generali are clients.

Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution, tier 4

Clifford Chance’s Fabio Guastadisegni leads litigation matters, with most work centring around Milan, but the Rome office is growing. Cases undertaken include securities and commercial disputes, insurance claims, insolvency and white collar crime.

EU, regulatory and competition

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

Clifford Chance’s Cristoforo Osti garners lavish praise. The practice assisted Shell Italia in relation to an Article 81 case, and represented Telefonica on Italian competition law and communications regulatory law. Other ongoing clients include Abertis, Assicurazioni Generali and Pfizer.

Employment

Within Employment, tier 5

Clifford Chance’s ‘particularly efficient’ and ‘excellent’ Simonetta Candela and eight dedicated labour lawyers act on complex restructurings, collective lay-offs, employment litigation and high-end transactional employment advice. Apple, Carrefour and Christie’s are clients.

Legal market

Within Legal market,

In the early days of the global economic crisis, Italy did not appear as deeply affected as other European jurisdictions. Italian banks are famously conservative and suffered less exposure to sub-prime investments than foreign counterparts. The mid-market M&A sector initially reported business as usual, yet lending between banks did falter as inter-banking confidence plummeted and international banking institutions like Unicredit-HVB and Intesa Sanpaolo suffered from their involvement with the global markets, the former requiring a €6.6bn recapitalisation plan that required the expert involvement of international firms like Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP and Clifford Chance.

Real estate

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

Clifford Chance acts for The Carlyle Group, Carrefour and Standard Life, the Milan office providing the ‘best mix of professionalism and flexibility’. Amidst turbulent market conditions, the firm noticed an increase in fund transactions. ‘True leader’ Paolo Rulli and Massimo La Torre are recommended. Tishman Speyer was advised on the acquisition and financing of a portfolio of over 60 assets.

Restructuring and insolvency

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

Clifford Chance’s cross-border team benefits from strong support from its finance, corporate and litigation departments. Recently, the practice gained significant experience with the new Italian bankruptcy procedure, thanks to its involvement in certain high-profile debt restructurings. Fabio Guastadisegni is recommended for insolvency matters.

Tax

Within Tax, tier 5

Clifford Chance’s Milan office has launched a tax practice with ex-Maisto e Associati partner Carlo Galli, whose team focuses on the tax side of capital markets, private equity structures, M&A, and transfer pricing.

What we say worldwide

Please choose another Clifford Chance office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

United Arab Emirates

Offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

Belgium

Offices in Brussels

Bahrain

China

Offices in Shanghai and Beijing

Czech Republic

Offices in Prague

Germany

Offices in Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, and Munich

Algeria

Spain

Offices in Madrid and Barcelona

France

Offices in Paris

Ghana

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

India

Italy

Offices in Rome and Milan

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

London

Offices in London and London

Luxembourg

Offices in Luxembourg

Morocco

Netherlands

Offices in Amsterdam

Oman

UK Overview

Philippines

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Qatar

Romania

Offices in Bucharest

Russia

Offices in Moscow

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

South Korea

Taiwan

Thailand

Offices in Bangkok

Tunisia

US

Offices in Washington DC, New York, and Menlo Park

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Legal Developments by:
Clifford Chance

Legal Developments worldwide

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

  • Labour & Employment

    1 What are the main statutes and regulations relating to employment? The main statutes relating to employment are the Portuguese Employment Code (approved by Law 7/2009 of 12 February 2009) and the Regulation of the Employment Code (Law 35/2004 of 29 July 2004) which is still in force notwithstanding the fact that parts have been revoked with the entry into force of the new Employment Code. Within the Employment Code, the vast majority of the rules are mandatory and, therefore, can only be modified by agreement of the parties and only if such amendment is intended to improve the position or rights of the employees.
    - F. Castelo Branco & Associados

  • Real Estate/ Property/ Infrastructure

    Norms for highway projects pact changed
    - Seth Dua & Associates

  • Projects, Energy & Natural Resources

    Power
    - Seth Dua & Associates

  • Litigation and Dispute Resolution

    Case Laws
    - Seth Dua & Associates

  • Intellectual Property Rights

    Amendments in Information Technology Act, 2000 The Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 has come into force from October 27, 2009. Some key amendments in the Information Technology Act, 2000 (“IT Act”) are highlighted below:
    - Seth Dua & Associates

  • Cross Border Investments & Transactions

     
    - Seth Dua & Associates

  • Capital Markets/ Securities

    Amendments in (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 1997
    - Seth Dua & Associates

  • Trade Laws and WTO Matters

    Certain important and recent legal developments in this area are set out below.
    - Seth Dua & Associates

  • Taxation – Direct Taxes

    Income-tax (Dispute Resolution Panel) Rules, 2009
    - Seth Dua & Associates

  • Indirect Taxes

    Goods and Service Tax
    - Seth Dua & Associates
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