Italy > Industry focus: TMT > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

DLA Piper's TMT practice group 'combines strong technical expertise with a deep knowledge of the local market'. Key areas of work include corporate and M&A, regulatory, litigation and IP. Practice head Giulio Coraggio and associate Giulia Zappaterra assisted Audi with the privacy, commercial, regulatory and liability aspects of its cross-jurisdictional connected car project, which involves significant digitalisation of vehicles. The firm also successfully represented Vodafone Italia in an appeal of a first instance decision to award BT compensation for an alleged abuse of a dominant position by the client in the provision of electronic communications wholesale services. Alessandro Boso Caretta is recommended for his 'incredibly thorough and multidisciplinary understanding of the telecoms sector'. The firm saw a number of new arrivals and departures this year. Former team head Giangiacomo Olivi left for Dentons in April 2018.

Hogan Lovells International LLP's practice head Marco Berliri led a group that successfully represented Wikipedia in proceedings before the Court of Appeals of Rome over allegedly defamatory information published about former Minister of Defence, Cesare Previti. In addition, Berliri, counsel Massimiliano Masnada and counsel Paola La Gumina assist eBay.it (and affiliated companies Kijiji.it and Automobile.it) with a wide range of matters, including the implementation of data protection policies and the negotiation of commercial agreements. Other work includes assisting Uber with regulatory, commercial and consumer protection issues and advising YouTube on the regulatory consequences of the new Audio Visual Media Services Directive. The firm also has strong capabilities in competition, litigation and IP matters.

Portolano Cavallo's 'depth of expertise in the TMT sector is unlike that of any other firm in the market', according to some clients. Its wide-ranging client base includes major operators in the TV, cinema, software, publishing and automotive sectors. A 'strong communication style and professionalism' are hallmarks of the practice, which is strong in corporate, regulatory, litigation, IP and data protection. Ernesto Apa, Francesco Portolano and Laura Liguori are joint heads of team. Manuela Cavallo is also highly recommended. Barbara Corsetti, Tommaso Foco and Lydia Mendola made partner in January 2018. Of counsel Giulio Novellini, who specialises in privacy, data protection and telecoms work, joined from Jones Day in April 2018.

The TMT team at Studio Professionale Associato a Baker & McKenzie is 'outstanding' and 'addresses the needs of global clients'. It is noted for its 'substantial experience in digital banking matters'. Raffaele Giarda, Lorenzo de Martinis and counsel Andrea Mezzetti assisted Sky Italia with negotiating a contract with Open Fibre allowing the client to a launch a fiber service in 2019. Other highlights include assisting Linkem with its public tender bid for for 5G communication frequencies. de Martinis is 'client friendly and provides effective advice'. Francesca Gaudino is recommended for her specialist knowledge of data protection and cybersecurity. Counsel Paolo Galli is noted for his experience of media mandates.

Chiomenti's TMT department 'offers a truly multi-disciplinary service'. Key practice areas include corporate and M&A, litigation, administrative law, competition and regulatory. Practice head Gilberto Nava led the group that successfully acted for Kaleyra in a proceeding before the Italian Competition Authority against Vodafone for abuse of a dominant position and margin squeeze on certain mobile services. The firm is representing the client in subsequent appeal proceedings started by the counter-party. Other highlights include advising RadioMediaset on its purchase of 100% of Radio Subasio and Radio Aut. Antonio Sascaro is 'a top-level professional'. Senior associate Giulio Vecchi is also recommended.

Corporate, regulatory and litigation matters are cornerstones of Orsingher Ortu – Avvocati Associati's practice, which is jointly led by Marco Consonni and Domenico Colella. Consonni was part of a group, which assisted a major e-commerce company with its launch of a smart speaker. The team also advised Toshiba on the €110m sale of 70% of Mangiarotti to the remaining shareholder, Westinghouse Electric Company, in the context of a larger transaction. Other highlights include assisting Tagetik with structuring and negotiating business-to-business agreements with various banks, asset management companies and other financial institutions. Fabrizio Sanna is an 'outstanding partner', with 'excellent knowledge of the sector'. Counsel Federica Cinquetti, who specialises in litigation, joined from Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners in February 2018.

Bird & Bird is 'outstanding in IP matters', as is illustrated by the fact that Dailymotion is one of the firm's many notable clients. The group successfully represented Italian publishing house Hoepli in invalidity proceedings concerning a registered trade mark. Counsel Federico Marini-Balestra and Massimiliano Mostardini are key contacts. 'Competent and efficient' associate Rahul Kakkar is also highly recommended.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton's TMT team garners praise for its 'high level of competence and excellent organisational skills'. Joint practice heads Marco D’Ostuni, Mario Siragusa and Ferdinando Emanuele 'effectively manage' the group, which is particularly active in litigation. Highlights included acting for Vivendi in three sets of civil proceedings arising from its decision to terminate its proposed acquisition of Mediaset Premium.

Dentons significantly strengthened its TMT practice by hiring Giangiacomo Olivi and a team of five practitioners from DLA Piper in April 2018. Recent highlights include assisting an American media company with launching a television channel. Senior Counsel Saverio Cavalcanti is another notable individual in the group. Clients include QVC and Vodafone.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's TMT team, which is managed by regulatory expert Luca Ulissi, focuses on corporate (including M&A), regulatory and administrative law matters. Recent highlights include assisting Wind Tre with its participation in the public bid for 5G bandwidths, and advising Paddy Power Betfair on gambling regulation. Rai Way, Interoute and CK Hutchison are among other active clients.

Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners's TMT department is led by  Francesco Gianni  and Nino Di Bella. Recent highlights include assisting a consortium of lenders - including Unicredit and BNP Paribas - with a  €510m bridge financing for Open Fiber's construction of ultra-broadband infrastructures. Additionally, the group successfully acted for Digicom in patent infringement proceedings concerning geolocation systems in gaming equipment. Luca Rinaldi is another name to note.

CMS’ technology, media and communications group has specialist expertise in fintech and telemedicine mandates. Italo de Feo is the head of the practice, which handles a varied mix of corporate (including M&A), regulatory and antitrust matters. Marco Leone, who made counsel in January 2018, is also recommended.

Cugia Cuomo & Associati 's main services in the TMT field include regulatory advice and analysis, IT contracts, production and distribution contracts, copyright work, and agency and production contracts. Fabrizio Cugia is the key contact for the firm.

The team at Gallavotti Bernardini & Partners specialises in mandates involving the sports, media, cinema and television industries. Recent highlights include advising Warner Bros. Entertainment Italia on co-production and distribution agreements, and assisting Turner Broadcasting System Europe with contractual and regulatory issues. Antonio Bernardini and Mario Gallavotti are names to note, along with associates Stefano La Porta and Chiara Dellacasa.

Legance - Avvocati Associati’s TMT department primarily assists clients with corporate and M&A, litigation and administrative law. Led by managing associate Valerio Mosca, who heads up the practice, the group acts for clients active in industries such as media and entertainment, and telecoms. Mosca led a cross-practice group that assisted Iliad with its entry into the Italian mobile phone market. Work included obtaining authorisations and advising on contractual, regulatory and compliance issues.

Notable clients of Mondini Rusconi Studio Legale's TMT practice group include Warner Bros. and Warner Music Group. The firm advised an online audio distributor on advertising and marketing regulation, and IP issues. Giorgio Mondini is the head of the team, which includes Silvia Mondini Vitiello and associate Omar Cesana.

The 'thorough and punctual' team at Nctm Studio Legale assisted Fujitsu Technology Solutions with outsourcing a strategic line of business for the on-site installation and maintenance of the company's products. Other clients include Experian Group, Acer Group and Soundreef. The group, which is led by Vittorio Noseda, includes Lorenzo Attolico, who 'takes a fresh approach to complex problems', and Carlo Grignani.

Osborne Clarke covers all areas of the TMT space, with a particularly strong capability in mandates connected with the media and entertainment industry. Federico Ferrara successfully represented Sony Music Entertainment at the Supreme Court of Italy in litigation against RAI over the synchronisation of songs. The practice has undergone significant expansion; in one notable development, data protection and privacy specialist Gianluigi Marino joined as practice head from DLA Piper in September 2017.

Trevisan & Cuonzo is highly active in technology sector work, and it also has a strong client following in the media and telecoms industries. Highlights included advising a consumer electronics and mobile communication company on its entry into the Italian market, and acting for the estate of a pop singer in a plagiarism dispute. Co-founding partners Luca Trevisan and Gabriel Cuonzo are key contacts.