Leading Individuals

Next Generation Partners

Rising Stars

Industry focus: Retail in Italy

Bird & Bird

The department at Bird & Bird advises leading retail and consumer goods brands, including luxury brands and high-street retailers, on consumer law matters including refund policies, terms of sales and subscription terms. The team has also closely collaborated with fashion designers and consumer product manufacturers on the expansion of their online presence. Giovanni Galimberti co-leads the team with Stefano Silvestri, who is often engaged in retail M&A transactions.

Practice head(s):

Stefano Silvestri; Giovanni Galimberti


Testimonials

‘A very pragmatic approach in dealing with legal cases.’

‘Very quick responses.’

Work highlights


  • Assisted Snaidero with protecting its trade mark rights abroad.
  • Assisted Crocs with its acquisition of HEYDUDE, an Italian casual shoe brand, with corporate entities and supply chains mainly in Hong Kong and China at an acquisition price of $2.5bn.

Chiomenti

Chiomenti assists domestic and international businesses and significant brands with major acquisitions, product integrations and new product launches, as well as the globalisation of large holding companies. The department is also home to practitioners with extensive knowledge of food and consumer goods issues, IP work, corporate law and antitrust matters. Massimiliano Nitti is head of the M&A group as well as the retail department, which he leads the team alongside Patrizia Liguti.

Practice head(s):

Massimiliano Nitti; Patrizia Liguti


Testimonials

‘Availability, competence, and negotiation skills.’

Key clients

Casoni Fabbricazione Liquori S.p.A.


IF- Mariano Stelliferi S.r.l.


Investindustrial


MiScusi S.r.l.


Morato Pane S.p.A.


NUO Capital S.A.


Pasta Zara


DUFRY INTERNATIONAL AG


Pini Group


Brooks Brothers Europe S.r.l. in liquidation


Take Off


Delizia S.r.l.


Work highlights


  • Advised DUFRY INTERNATIONAL AG in relation to the strategic business combination of Dufry’s and Autogrill’s businesses.
  • Advised Pasta Zara S.p.A. in relation to the implementation of its homologated concordato preventivo plan and proposal on an ongoing basis, including, in relation to the drafting, negotiation and execution of a €25m super-senior mortgage loan with AMCO.
  • Advised Pini Group on a potential acquisition of the company Ferrarini S.p.A. which is currently subject to a pre-insolvency workout agreement with creditors proceeding.

DLA Piper

The department at DLA Piper is extensively experienced in overseeing cross-border projects, and often assists significant fashion brands, food and beverage clients, and retailers with M&A transactions. The team also often advises clients on franchising and distribution network issues, as well as advertising compliance work. Davide Rossetti is a litigator with notable experience in the fashion and retail sectors; he oversees the department with Elena Varese, who is knowledgeable of IP issues, fashion law, unfair competition work and consumer law.

Practice head(s):

Davide Rossetti; Elena Varese


Testimonials

‘The team is very knowledgeable and fast in their reply. Their advice is always clear and business oriented, even for complex multi-jurisdictional/practice matters.’

‘Trusted advisers.’

‘Elena Varese stands-out for the high quality of her advice in a wide variety of matters both in IP and advertising and contentious/non-contentious work.’

‘Elena Varese anticipates our needs, has great business acumen and always provides tailored solutions also for the most complex issues. She is one of the best IP lawyers I have ever worked with.’

‘The team is very professional and knows the details and peculiarities of the local market really well.’

‘Davide Rosetti is a great adviser and top negotiator.’

‘The team is very well prepared legally and proposes a strategy that is always aimed at best satisfying the customer’s needs.’

‘A great willingness to understand the customer’s needs.’

Key clients

Valentino


Prada


Hugo Boss


Golden Goose


Dolce Gabbana


Loro Piana


Ermenegildo Zegna


Poltrona Frau


La Rinascente


Manolo Blahnik


Henry Cotton’s


Marina Yachting


MCS


Zanotti


Bally


Calzedonia


Missoni


Pernod Ricard


LIDL


IPER


Prologis


Bacardi


Nike


Givi Italia


Technogym


Coca-Cola Italia


Montenegro


Corneliani


Converse Inc.


Work highlights


  • Assisted Zwilling Ballarini with the drafting and negotiation of a collaboration agreements with a Michelin starred chef. The agreement included the transfer of image rights as well as the preparation by the chef of a dedicated menu by using the Ballarini pans.
  • Defended Corum Asset Management successfully in a claim put forward by the tenant of a large real estate rented to be the head quarter of the tenant’s group of companies. The tenant claimed Covid containment methods restricted the business activities of the tenant, so that the tenant had the right to terminate lease agreements.
  • Assisted IPER successfully in the proceedings before the Court of Milan instigated by IPER’s former service provider (Polymer) for damages’ compensation in excess of €3.6m.

Dentons

The department at Dentons closely collaborates with the firm's real estate, TMT, IP and corporate lawyers and works with retail clients on digital transformation projects, cybersecurity issues, IoT mandates and digital media work. The practice also represents retail clients in litigation before the civil and administrative courts and is proficient in arbitration proceedings. Giangiacomo Olivi leads the practice and also co-heads the IP, data and technology group.

Practice head(s):

Giangiacomo Olivi


Testimonials

‘The team is business oriented.’

‘The coordination made by the Italian team with other teams based in several different countries made the difference in terms of efficiency and timing.’

Key clients

Kering


The Mall


Luxottica


QVC


Bolton Group


Vodafone


Whirlpool


Ralph Lauren


Brunello Cucinelli


Pepco Poland SP. Z.O.O


FIOL


Supermarkets Italiani S.p.A.


Coca Cola


Eutelsat


Work highlights


  • Assisted Kering with several strategic TMT and retail projects.
  • Assisted Whirlpool with various matters relating to data management and innovative technology solutions and a new offer to its customer base.

Legance - Avvocati Associati

The retail department at Legance - Avvocati Associati is part of the firm's multidisciplinary real estate group. Gabriele Capecchi is experienced in the real estate sector and jointly leads the group with Giuseppe Abbruzzese, who is proficient in administrative law matters. Alberto Giampieri assists corporate clients with M&A transactions in the domestic market.

Practice head(s):

Gabriele Capecchi; Giuseppe Abbruzzese


Other key lawyers:

Alberto Giampieri


Testimonials

‘Responsiveness and flexibility are the features that we as clients value the most and Legance always met our expectations.’

‘The team showed a good understanding of the business and of the related commercial needs providing out-of-the-box solutions.’

‘People really make the difference when it comes to every kind of business, including legal services. In the end, the ability to create a human connection ensures fluent communication and a profitable cooperation.’

‘We have been assisted by different teams and each of them was brilliant, they are fully committed to the job and yet capable of creating a nice working environment.’

‘The Legance team in the retail sector is professional with a high knowledge of the sector.’

Key clients

Batipart


Borletti Group


Kryalos SGR


Starbucks


Unipol Gruppo S.p.A.


OVS S.p.A.


Work highlights


  • Assisted UniCredit in the context of an exit, involving the transfer of 32.5% shareholding held by UniCredit in the share capital of La Villata S.p.A., a real estate company of the Esselunga Group that owns over 80 assets used by Esselunga as large-scale distribution stores.
  • Assisted the Israeli investment fund MDSR Investments with acquiring a portfolio of nine hypermarkets.
  • Assisted Gucci with the opening of the new temporary store in via Bigli, Milan.

Gianni & Origoni

Able to draw upon the knowledge of lawyers across the firm's IP, finance and M&A groups, the team at Gianni & Origoni has assisted clients with sales and business combinations, and routinely advises companies on financial plans concerning relaunches.

Key clients

Safilo Group


Sugherificio Ganau


BOOST S.p.A.


Osborne Clarke

The department at Osborne Clarke acts for domestic and international retailers, luxury brands and high street retailers in disputes and also handles real estate and IP work. The practice is renowned for its expertise in consumer law and product marketing and advertising issues. Angelo Molinaro is proficient in consumer law and unfair commercial practices; he frequently advises international companies on e-commerce mandates and represents companies in proceedings before the European Commission and the Italian Antitrust Authority.

Practice head(s):

Angelo Molinaro


Testimonials

‘We appreciate the team’s innovation.’

‘The team’s willingness and flexibility combined with a broad knowledge of specific industry issues, proactivity in identifying, even in advance, issues of interest and preparation of dedicated case studies or guidelines on certain issues make the professionals of the team consultants of great support.’

‘The versatility and the ability to get in tune with the customer and understand the business needs makes lawyer Angelo Molinaro a highly valued professional, oriented towards problem solving and the definition of legal support strategies for the business.’

Key clients

Autotorino S.p.A


Binda Italia S.r.l.


Cisalpina Tours S.p.A. / Bluvacanze S.p.A. / Going S.r.l.


Diageo plc


GBFoods


Giordano Vini


Klépierre Management Italia S.r.l.


Re-Forme S.r.l.


Samsonite S.p.A.


Sonae Sierra


Sony Music Entertainment Italy S.p.A.


We Are Social S.r.l. / This is Hello


Wyler Vetta S.r.l.


Work highlights


  • Acted for Autotorino on its acquisition of an important car sales franchise, Idea Uno S.r.l., a company owning eight Mercedes-Benz branches, operating under the Autocentauro brand, in Lombardy and Piedmont.
  • Advised Sonae Sierra, a Portuguese multinational that manages 27 shopping centres worldwide, on its acquisition of the majority share of La Galleria S.r.l, the owner of the former covered market in Reggio nell’Emilia, which will be transformed into an urban market with 17 new premises.
  • Advised Binda Italia, a successful Italian watch and jewellery manufacturer and retailer, on a range of matters, including court proceedings concerning lease of business agreements, complex copyright issues and software licensing cases.

Trevisan & Cuonzo

Trevisan & Cuonzo is active on the full spectrum of retail matters including issues in the food, electronics, personal care, and fashion arenas. The team also assists international retail corporations, medium-sized retailers, and non-profit organisations with trade mark disputes, mergers, openings and unfair competition work. Gabriel Cuonzo is well versed in complex IP and commercial work, and jointly leads the team alongside Luca Trevisan.

Practice head(s):

Gabriel Cuonzo; Luca Trevisan


Work highlights


  • Assisted 3M with an enforcement programme to actively protect 3M’s trade mark rights in Italy.
  • Assisted Tessilform SpA (Patrizia Pepe) with several issues, including trade mark protection, advertisement, copyright, licensing, distribution and agency, as well as pre-litigation and litigation work.