The Legal 500 > DLA Piper > Milan, ITALY

Italy

Administrative and public law

Administrative and public law - ranked: tier 2

DLA Piper

DLA Piper provides a ‘very high level of competence’ in contentious urban planning, environment and public procurement matters, as well as in civil and administrative litigation, regulatory matters and public finance, thereby catering for clients which operate in heavily regulated industrial sectors, such as energy, insurance, infrastructures, transports, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals. The ‘talented’ Giorgia Romitelli, who exhibits ‘a very high level of specific knowledge in administrative and public law’ and ‘acumen in identifying the core elements of cases’, advised St. Jude Medical Italy on two major administrative contentious matters related to public tenders launched by the regional public utility ARCA for the supply of medical devices and services. Trans Adriatic Pipeline and energy company ERG are other notable clients. Francesco Cerasi heads the practice.

Leading individuals

Giorgia Romitelli - DLA Piper

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Commercial, corporate and M&A

Commercial, corporate and M&A - ranked: tier 3

DLA Piper

DLA Piper’s ‘outstanding’ corporate and M&A department recently experienced increased work from the food, fashion, technology, manufacturing and energy sectors. Notably, senior partner Francesco Novelli acted for ERG, Total Marketing Services and TotalERG in the sale of an oil and gas downstream business. Goffredo Guerra and Giulio Maroncelli co-head the corporate department, which also includes country managing partner Wolf Michael Kühne, the ‘highly committed’ Alessandro Piermanni andthe highly regarded Fabio del Bene. Danilo Surdi made partner and Matteo Almini joined from Bird & Bird.

Next generation lawyers

Danilo Surdi - DLA Piper

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Compliance

Compliance - ranked: tier 1

DLA Piper

DLA Piper’s ‘outstanding practice’ advises individuals and legal entities on business criminal law and is adept at assisting with internal investigations as well as the planning, design and implementation of compliance programmes in accordance with Decree 231, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the UK Bribery Act. Recent matters included advising an Italian pharmaceutical company on the compliance programmes of the parent company and its Italian affiliates. Raffaella Quintana is ‘extremely knowledgeable and competent’ and Antonio Carino’s ‘depth of knowledge is amazing’.

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Dispute resolution

Dispute resolution - ranked: tier 2

DLA Piper

The sizable DLA Piper has a ‘unique blend of qualities: superior litigation skills coupled with the ability to quickly learn more’. Recent highlights include assisting UniCredit and Banco BPM with an interim summary action introduced before the Court of Milan against the clients by shareholders of Italian heavy industry, steel industry and electric power company Carlo Tassara and challenging the validity of a complex restructuring plan. The practice is headed by Stefano Modenesi and Raffaella Quintana, who ‘is passionate and never gives up’. Italy managing partner Bruno Giuffré is ‘knowledgeable, business-oriented and pugnacious’ and is recommended along with Alessandro Lanzi and Francesco Cerasi.

Leading individuals

Bruno Giuffré - DLA Piper

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EU and competition

EU and competition - ranked: tier 2

DLA Piper

DLA Piper successfully represented Vodafone Automotive in antitrust proceedings regarding alleged restrictive competition in the long-term rental and fleet management markets, and assisted Iccrea Banking Group with an ICA investigation on the interbank agreement for the provision of the SEPA-compliant Electronic Database Alignment (SEDA) service. The practice is jointly headed by Rome-based Alessandro Boso Caretta, who ‘has strong technical legal skills, in-depth knowledge of the market and an impressive ability to solve problems’, and the ‘outstanding’ Domenico Gullo, who joined the team from Ashurst in May 2016. Francesca Sutti moved to CMS in September 2016.

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Employment

Employment - ranked: tier 2

DLA Piper

DLA Piper’s employment team is co-headed by Rome-based Giampiero Falasca and the ‘very prepared and smart’ Fabrizio Morelli. Recent highlights include assistance to Italian Serie A club and listed company Juventus FC with its smart working project, and ongoing advice to fashion brand Hugo Boss on matters related to workforce management, including hiring and dismissals for reorganisation purposes.

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Intellectual property

Intellectual property - ranked: tier 2

DLA Piper

Intellectual property: Copyright - ranked: tier 1

DLA Piper

DLA Piper’s ‘great’ IP team successfully represented Italian clothing manufacturer and retailer Franklin & Marshall in a dispute against the Franklin & Marshall College related to the use of the trade mark Franklin & Marshall for clothing products in Italy. Other key clients include Bacardi, Mondelēz and Alpinestars. ‘Outstanding team coordinator’ Roberto Valenti is recommended alongside Gualtiero Dragotti, who is strong in copyright litigation. Associate Sara Balice is now with Herbert Smith Freehills.

Leading individuals

Gualtiero Dragotti - DLA Piper

Roberto Valenti - DLA Piper

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Investment funds

Investment funds - ranked: tier 2

DLA Piper

DLA Piper is known for advising asset managers on compliance and regulatory issues, and for identifying suitable investment structures for Italian and international asset managers and investors. The team further has specific experience in matters involving public real estate assets, infrastructure, healthcare, and social housing and student accommodation, as well as renewable energy, seed capital and private equity. Agostino Papa, who is ‘very good at dealing with complex issues’, advised Garnell on the establishment of a new asset management company, which specialises in the setting up and management of private equity-reserved alternative investment funds that are focused on the agri-food sector. Nicoletta Alfano is another key member of the group.

Leading individuals

Agostino Papa - DLA Piper

Next generation lawyers

Nicoletta Alfano - DLA Piper

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Private equity

Private equity - ranked: tier 3

DLA Piper

DLA Piper’s ‘outstanding practice’ hired private equity specialist Matteo Almini from Bird & Bird. Goffredo Guerra advised Oakley Capital Private Equity on the acquisition of the REA Group’s Europe-based companies. Alessandro Piermanni and Fabio del Bene are also highly regarded.

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Real estate and construction

Real estate and construction - ranked: tier 1

DLA Piper

DLA Piper’s ‘extraordinary’ team focuses on commercial and residential real estate, including advice related to student accommodation, senior housing, social housing, data centres, hospitals, schools, corporate occupiers, and hotels and leisure. Recent highlights include assisting Savills with an investment into the redevelopment project of the dismissed Milan rail ring and advising Kryalos, the investment platform of Blackstone in Italy, on a number of acquisitions for real estate funds All Star and Hortensia. Olaf Schmidt is ‘always one step ahead on his way to get the deal done’, while Paolo Foppiani has ‘great understanding of the client’s needs with the specific adjustments of the Italian system’. The Rome-based Francesco De Blasio is also recommended.

Leading individuals

Olaf Schmidt - DLA Piper

Next generation lawyers

Paolo Foppiani - DLA Piper

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Restructuring and insolvency

Restructuring and insolvency - ranked: tier 2

DLA Piper

DLA Piper’s ‘approach is proactive’. The team assists with real estate portfolio acquisitions in pre-insolvency contexts; non-performing loan transfers; the incorporation of funds for restructuring purposes; insolvency matters; and shipping sector restructuring. Francesco De Gennaro ‘meets tight deadlines’ and Antonio Lombardo ‘solves problems’. Ugo Calò and Luca Magrini are also highly rated.

Leading individuals

Antonio Lombardo - DLA Piper

Next generation lawyers

Luca Magrini - DLA Piper

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Tax

Tax - ranked: tier 3

DLA Piper

DLA Piper hired ‘impressive lawyer’ Andrea Di Dio from Chiomenti Studio Legale as its new tax head in Rome, while Fabrizio Capponi and former senior adviser Giulio Andreani joined Dentons. The practice is recommended for tax audits and litigation, cross-border reorganisation, tax restructuring, M&A-related tax issues, and transfer pricing. It also assists with Italian patent box implementation and has particular experience with start-ups as well as in advising HNW individuals on tax planning. Antonio Tomassini ‘has deep tax law knowledge’, of counsel Antonio Martino is ‘a rising star’ and Christian Montinari is also highly regarded.

Leading individuals

Antonio Tomassini - DLA Piper

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Italy: Banking and finance

Bank regulatory

Banking and finance: bank regulatory - ranked: tier 4

DLA Piper

DLA Piper is well versed in assisting with capital requirements, AML issues, investment services, payment services, and consumer credit directives, as well as the transparency regulations applicable to the distribution of banking and financial products. Agostino Papa ‘has great depth of knowledge’ and Danilo Quattrocchi, who ‘has a strong technical and professional background’, joined as of counsel from Bird & Bird.

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Borrower side

Banking and finance: borrower side - ranked: tier 3

DLA Piper

DLA Piper’s ‘high-quality professionals can cover multiple jurisdictions and provide cross-sector teams to serve banks’ needs’. The team is highly regarded for leveraged and corporate lending, and assists with syndicated lending transactions, as well as export credit agency-backed deals. Other areas include the financing of wind farms and PV plants, the refinancing of renewable plants’ portfolios, and real estate financings. Federico Zucconi Galli Fonseca is ‘very focused on client needs’; and Antonio Lombardo is ‘a great finance lawyer’. Francesco de Gennaro, Agostino Papa, Francesco Ferrari and Ugo Calò are also highly regarded, as are senior partner Francesco Novelli and Giovanni Ragnoni Bosco Lucarelli. Mario D’Ovidio joined Studio Legale Associato a Watson Farley & Williams and Domenico Gaudiello left for CMS.

Leading individuals

Antonio Lombardo - DLA Piper

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Lender or arranger side

Banking and finance: lender or arranger side - ranked: tier 3

DLA Piper

DLA Piper ‘smoothly executes deals’, particularly in relation to leveraged and corporate lending, syndicated lending, and export credit agency-backed, infrastructure and renewable energy financings as well as real estate transactions. Antonio Lombardo, who is ‘very good at dealing with difficult issues’, advised a pool of banks on the financing for two funds’ acquisition of a majority stake in Infracom Italia; and Giovanni Ragnoni Bosco Lucarelli is ‘efficient, responsive and solutions oriented’. Other experienced advisers include Francesco de Gennaro, Agostino Papa, Francesco Ferrari, Ugo Calò and Federico Zucconi Galli Fonseca, along with senior partner Francesco Novelli. Mario D’Ovidio joined Studio Legale Associato a Watson Farley & Williams.

Leading individuals

Antonio Lombardo - DLA Piper

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Italy: Capital markets

Debt

Capital markets: debt - ranked: tier 4

DLA Piper

DLA Piper’s team regularly advises on structured products, banking and corporate bonds (including mini-bonds), and structured finance, including European asset securitisation transactions. Luciano Morello led advice to Sara Assicurazioni on the issuance of its first corporate bond.

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Equity

Capital markets: equity - ranked: tier 3

DLA Piper

DLA Piper assists financial institutions and issuers with IPOs, rights issues, tender offers, secondary offerings, and convertible, equity-linked and hybrid instruments. Francesco Maria Aleandri led advice to the underwriters, Banca IMI and Banca Akros, on the IPO and listing on AIM Italia of Innova Italy 1, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).

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Italy: Industry focus

Energy

Industry focus: energy - ranked: tier 1

DLA Piper

DLA Piper handles corporate, finance, tax, regulatory, litigation, real estate, environmental, white-collar crime and labour matters in the energy sector. Recent highlights include acting as adviser for the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), a project for the transportation of Caspian Sea natural gas from Greece via Albania and the Adriatic Sea to Italy and further on to Western Europe, and advising ERG, Total Marketing Services and TotalERG on the sale of their entire oil and gas downstream business through a competitive bidding procedure. Francesco Novelli is a ‘fantastic professional’, while Giulio Maroncelli, Germana Cassar and Giovanni Ragnoni Bosco Lucarelli are recommended for M&A, administrative law and project financing respectively.

Leading individuals

Francesco Novelli - DLA Piper

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Food

Industry focus: food - ranked: tier 3

DLA Piper

The ‘very strong’ DLA Piper assists international corporate clients with legal matters concerning food and drink manufacturing, importing, supplying, selling, packaging and labelling. The client base includes PM Food, Unilever (Grom) and Gea. Corporate specialist Wolf Michael Kühne is the name to note.

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Healthcare and life sciences

Industry focus: healthcare and life sciences - ranked: tier 1

DLA Piper

The ‘absolutely superior’ DLA Piper has been advising St. Jude Medical Italy on an administrative dispute concerning the public tender launched by Azienda Regionale Centrale Acquisti (ARCA) for the supply of pacemakers and defibrillators, and has been assisting Italian pharmaceutical company Dompé with a multi-jurisdictional IP and compliance project regarding the alignment of internal policies and codes of conduct of the client’s subsidiaries worldwide to local regulations and policies. Roberto Valenti is ‘top level’, while Antonio Carino is ‘one of the most knowledgeable lawyers in this sector’. Giorgia Romitelli is recommended for administrative and public law-related matters.

Leading individuals

Roberto Valenti - DLA Piper

Next generation lawyers

Antonio Carino - DLA Piper

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Luxury goods

Industry focus: luxury goods - ranked: tier 1

DLA Piper

DLA Piper’s fashion, retail and design practice frequently assists Ralph Lauren with e-commerce matters, labelling requirements for leather goods, regulation of wearable technologies and Made in Italy, consumers’ rights of defective items replacement and termination of selective distribution agreements. Advising Hugo Boss on employment-related matters, including staff reorganisation, disciplinary procedures, change of duties and mobility, is another highlight. Giangiacomo Olivi joined Dentons in April 2018.

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Manufacturing

Industry focus: manufacturing - ranked: tier 1

DLA Piper

DLA Piper specialises in corporate and M&A transactions. Recent highlights include assisting Alfanar with the acquisition of electricity distribution systems and installations manufacturer Elettromeccanica Adriatica. Wolf Michael Kühne is the name to note.

Leading individuals

Wolf Michael Kühne - DLA Piper

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Retail

Industry focus: retail - ranked: tier 1

DLA Piper

DLA Piper’s recent highlights include assisting fashion business Skechers with a tax audit report concerning transfer pricing policies between the Italian company and its parent US company, and representing Alpinestars, a manufacturer of high-performance protective gear for motorcycle, auto racing, mountain biking and surfing, in a multi-jurisdictional patent litigation against Dainese, another leader in the sector. Giangiacomo Olivi joined Dentons in April 2018.

Leading individuals

Giangiacomo Olivi - Dentons

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TMT

Industry focus: TMT - ranked: tier 1

DLA Piper

The ‘excellent’ DLA Piper handles major transactions, regulatory matters, privacy and technological development issues across the full TMT spectrum, including Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity and open source innovations; additionally, the team is regularly retained by clients from the retail, finance, insurance and automotive sectors seeking advice on digital and technological transformation. The practice assisted Porsche with an international project concerning the use of a technological platform for IT and data management, and advised UniCredit on the disposal of its IT division and subsequent outsourcing of business services to ICT company SIA. Alessandro Boso Carretta and the ‘easy-going and experienced’ Giulio Coraggio are recommended.Giangiacomo Olivi joined Dentons in April 2018.