Italy > Banking and finance: Bank regulatory > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

BonelliErede is 'really appreciated for the dedication of the team and the fact that it accomplishes a project's objectives on time'. It assists with the regulatory issues surrounding M&A and banking transactions, including filings with public authorities and regulators as well as the impact of regulations on the organisation of banks and investment firms. The practice also has significant expertise in the asset management sector and handles regulatory-related litigation. Giuseppe Rumi leads the financial regulatory practice; and Federico Vezzani assisted with the regulatory aspects surrounding the establishment of Impact SIM as a NewCo, which was to be authorised as an investment firm.

'Very professional and an expert in banking law', Chiomenti advises banks and insurance companies, as well as banking and insurance groups and financial conglomerates, on regulatory matters. The practice assisted N26, a German bank that specialises in the provision of online payment and account management services, with the regulatory, corporate, contractual and operational aspects surrounding its activities in Italy. 'One of the best banking lawyers in Italy', Alessandro Portolano was appointed head of the financial regulation department in 2018, Vincenzo Troiano is also highly rated and Gabriele Buratti was promoted to counsel. The senior associates to note are Felice Azzollini and Giovanni Giuliani. Alessandro Zappasodi left for Pedersoli Studio Legale.

Clifford Chance regularly advises leading domestic and international clients, including Italian and international banks, as well as Italian-headquartered global funds and corporations. Lucio Bonavitacola led advice to a number of Italian entrepreneurs on the provision of cryptocurrency-related services and the set-up of ad hoc platforms for the exchange of cryptocurrencies and tokens. Gioacchino Foti was promoted to partner and Riccardo Coassin and Alberto Claretta Assandri are key senior associates.

Bird & Bird advises on anti-money laundering (AML), consumer credit, financial products, investment funds, fintech and investment services. Other areas of strength are insurance and bancassurance, market abuse, and payment services and e-money. The team assisted several banks and an IT service provider with assessing an EU payment services directive's impact on business models. Raimondo Maggiore heads the banking and financial services regulatory department; other key advisers are Stefano Febbi, recently promoted partner Rossella Sansone and senior counsel Luigi Spada.

Hogan Lovells International LLP's 'lawyers are on top of the latest developments in the market and have unparalleled access to regulators, along with a fine commercial mindset'. The regulatory practice covers banking regulatory issues, payment services, AML matters, Markets in Financial Instruments Directive-related issues, fintech, and asset management. Jeffrey Greenbaum is highly rated for European and Italian financial regulation and 'excels in his delivery and knowledge of the market and the regulators'; Claudia Colomba is an experienced senior associate.

Linklaters recently advised on the regulatory aspects of bank deleveraging deals, including pre-sale restructurings, portfolio disposals and asset transfers as well as acting for international private equity houses on the buy side. The team has also increasingly assisted primary financial institutions with their Brexit-related reorganisations. It advised TCW Europe on the establishment of its Italian branch. Dario Longo heads the Italian structured finance and financial regulation practices; Anna Ferraresso and Emanuele Umberto Aurilia are the managing associates to note.

Simmons & Simmons' financial services regulatory practice advises on the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and relevant EU legislation and strategic regulatory issues, as well as investigations, disputes and disciplinary matters, derivatives and commodity trading. It has also advised on the legal consequences of Brexit. Highlights included assisting UniCredit with the establishment of a new corporate and investment banking branch in Abu Dhabi. Romeo Battigaglia leads the financial services and regulatory team; Maria Giusy Naccarato is an experienced of counsel.

CMS provides ongoing regulatory assistance to Aareal Bank in relation to its Italian branch’s operations. Paolo Bonolis is the banking and finance department head and Pietro Cavasola and Massimo Trentino are also highly regarded. Domenico Gaudiello, who is responsible for the public finance department, and counsel and alternative investments department head Andrea Arcangeli joined from DLA Piper and Simmons & Simmons, respectively.

FIVELEX Studio Legale's Edoardo Guffanti is 'focused on clients' needs' and founding and managing partner Francesco Di Carlo is 'committed, motivated, personable and knowledgeable'. The team acted for Credito Emiliano on the regulatory aspects surrounding the reorganisation of its wealth management business. Matteo Catenacci is a key managing associate.

Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners is 'highly rated for its business acumen, sheer knowledge, attitude and connections'. The practice's specific areas of expertise include innovative payments and fintech projects, including crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending platforms, as well as banking sector-related contentious issues. It assisted FinecoBank with the set-up of a new company in Dublin called Fineco Asset Management. Paolo Bordi and Paolo Iemma are key advisers and Emanuele Grippo 'has been instrumental in driving regulatory discussions in Italy'; Andrea Banfi is a notable managing associate.

Legance - Avvocati Associati fields a team of lawyers who specialise in the regulatory aspects of banking, financial and insurance matters. It assisted doBank with the admission to trading of its shares on the Italian Stock Exchange, which involved a complex analysis of the listing's regulatory implications. Marco Penna is particularly focused on investment services, securities offerings and off-site offerings.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe recently advised a banking group on a complex outsourcing of IT systems, which involved the drafting and negotiation of an outsourcing contract that was in compliance with both Italian and EU regulations. Italy managing partner Patrizio Messina heads the Italian banking and finance team. Former Italian banking and financial regulation practice head Marco Zechini exited for MJ Hudson Alma.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP advises both EU and non-EU clients on a broad range of EU financial regulatory and compliance matters. Giuseppe Scassellati-Sforzolini and Carlo de Vito Piscicelli, the latter splitting his time between Milan and London, are also key contacts.

Dentons hired Alessandro Engst, who splits his time between Milan and Rome, from Eversheds Sutherland Associazione Professionale (where he was in charge of financial services) to strengthen the firm’s financial regulatory offering; Engst advises banks, asset managers, insurance companies, pension funds and social security institutions. Michele Odello was promoted to partner in March 2019.

DLA Piper's 'team comprises high-value, talented professionals who are very experienced'. It provides regulatory advice on banking, securities brokerage and investment services, asset management, electronic money and payment services, and AML matter. Rome’s Agostino Papa, Vincenzo La Malfa and of counsel Danilo Quattrocchi are key practitioners.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is experienced in advising on setting up banks, asset management companies, investment funds, investment firms and insurance companies, as well as financial intermediaries that provide regulated services. It advised Allianz on capital requirement rules. Raffaele Lener, counsel Grazia Bonante and senior associate Sonia Locantore are the contacts to note.

Grimaldi SL LLP’s 'competent and precise' bank regulatory team advises domestic and international banks and financial institutions on the regulatory aspects surrounding their operations, including managing relations with the banking and financial authorities. It advises, on an ongoing basis, Banca IMI on the regulatory aspects surrounding the provision of investment services. Davide Contini is highly rated and Luigi Baglivo is 'highly competent, clever and available'.

Molinari e Associati hired Nicolò  Juvara in 2017 from Norton Rose Fulbright, where he was Italy head. Juvara has extensive experience of advising on regulatory matters involving insurers, banks and financial institutions.

Osborne Clarke's 'Italian team quickly finds solutions to clients' problems'. Umberto Piattelli heads the Italian financial services team; PIattelli is an expert in financial regulation, particularly regarding alternative forms of finance, payments and fintech.

Pedersoli Studio Legale's 'highly professional team adds value to matters'. The practice hired Alessandro Zappasodi from Chiomenti Studio Legale; Zappasodi focuses on banks’ lending and wealth management activities and extraordinary transactions involving banks, as well as banks’ funds, capital requirements and governance structures.