Firm Profile > Chiomenti > Milan, Italy

Banking and finance: Bank regulatory Tier 1

Chiomenti advises banks, insurance companies, financial intermediaries, investment firms and asset management companies on the regulatory aspects of M&A and finance transactions. It recently assisted Intesa Sanpaolo with the set-up of a strategic partnership with Intrum Justitia, which included regulatory assistance. Alessandro Portolano's experience includes assistance with both ordinary and extraordinary transactions, proceedings before Italian and European Regulators, structuring of business models, and entry into new markets. Vincenzo Troiano advises a range of regulated entities, and counsel Gabriele Buratti specialises in banking, finance, investment, insurance, and collective asset management regulation. Senior associate Felice Azzollini is experienced in banking, insurance, and financial markets.

Banking and finance: Borrower side Tier 1

Chiomenti has longstanding experience of deals involving structured finance, restructuring and distressed assets, and real estate and acquisition financing. It is also one of the few Italian law firms that has English Law capacity. Gregorio Consoli focuses on corporate, structured and asset finance; Giulia Battaglia  is experienced in debt restructuring in the shipbuilding and healthcare industries, as well as energy matters; and Luca Bonetti advises on finance and real estate deals. Counsel Alfredo Lizio is a shipping, aviation and structured finance expert, and banking and structured finance specialist Marco Paruzzolo was made partner. Marco Cerritelli, who has infrastructure sector experience, and finance counsel Riccardo Rossi were hired from McDermott Will & Emery Studio Legale Associato and Simmons & Simmons, respectively.

Banking and finance: lender or arranger side Tier 1

Chiomenti is highly esteemed for its assistance with structured finance, restructuring and distressed assets, and real estate and acquisition financing. The practice also has English law capacity. Gregorio Consoli is noted for corporate, structured and asset finance; and Giulia Battaglia  is experienced in debt restructuring in the shipbuilding and healthcare sectors, and her practice also includes energy matters. Luca Bonetti handles finance and real estate deals, while the counsels to note are shipping, aviation and structured finance expert Alfredo Lizio and finance specialist Fraser Wood. Project and infrastructure finance expert Marco Cerritelli, and finance counsel Riccardo Rossi were new arrivals from McDermott Will & Emery Studio Legale Associato and Simmons & Simmons, respectively. In January 2020 the practice also gained Gianrico Giannesi  and his seven-strong team from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.

Capital markets: Equity Tier 1

Chiomenti is well known for playing leading roles during the privatisation of state-owned companies. The practice also stands out for its involvement in highly significant tender and exchange offers and takeover bids. Clients particularly appreciate the firm's innovative corporate, contractual and fiscal structures in relation to ECM matters. Manfredi Vianini Tolomei and Enrico Giordano's practices include public offerings and stock listings. Federico Amoroso acts on IPOs, share capital increases, institutional placements and treasury share buy-back programmes; and counsel Gianfilippo Pezzulo is an expert in IPOs, public purchase and exchange offers, capital increases and private placements.

Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Chiomenti is widely respected for its advice on bo ordinary and extraordinary Italian transactions. The practice has significant fashion market experience; other sectors in which it is currently active are pharmaceutical, infrastructure, banking and private equity. Massimiliano Nitti is a private and public M&A expert, and Carlo Croff, Francesco Tedeschini, Antonio Sascaro and Andrea Sacco Ginevri all advise on corporate and M&A transactions. Also noted is international contracts expert Franco Agopyan, while Simone Bernard De La Gatinais is 'constantly focused on understanding clients' business needs'. At senior associate level, Edoardo Canetta Rossi Palermo advises on deals in the media, technology, fashion and construction sectors, and Corrado Borghesan is regularly involved in significant M&A deals.

Industry focus: luxury goods Tier 1

Chiomenti's luxury team numbers among its clients globally recognised Italian fashion brands Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and Sergio Rossi. Headed by Emanuele Barberis, who specialises in employment law (contentious and non-contentious), the practice focuses on corporate and employment law, M&A and IP. Highlights included advising Allegra Versace on the headline sale of her entire shareholding of Gianni Versace to Michael Kors Holding.

Industry focus: Retail Tier 1

Headed by Massimiliano Nitti, the retail foods and consumer goods team at Chiomenti often advises high-profile clients in the food and fashion industries. Antonio Tavella is head of the business restructuring unit, Giulia Battaglia is active in finance, Luigi Vaccaro advises on M&A, restructuring and insurance, while Paolo Bertoni, who was made of counsel in January 2019, is a specialist in IP and cross-border IT matters. Edoardo Canetta Rossi Palermo is noted for his 'passion, dedication, real interest in solving problems and delivering value'.

Private equity Tier 1

Chiomenti advises on Italy's most significant private equity transactions. The broad practice covers large transactions, but also mid-cap and venture capital deals and distressed situations. The team is recognised for pioneering the development of LBO techniques and stands out for its finance credentials. It was recently particularly active in pharmaceutical sector deals. Franco Agopyan is an international contracts specialist, Massimiliano Nitti is a private and public M&A expert, and Luca Liistro is noted for pharmaceutical, and healthcare and life sciences matters. Carlo Croff and Antonio Sascaro advise Italian and international clients on major deals, and senior associate Edoardo Canetta Rossi Palermo's sector experience includes media, technology, fashion and construction.

Real estate and construction Tier 1

Chiomenti's activity in the real estate space includes complex transactions for investment and management companies and real estate funds - with a focus on finance, regulation (Vincenzo Troiano) and insurance. In addition, the team also handles development projects involving complex tax structures (one of Giuseppe Andrea Giannantonio's key areas of activity), while town planning and environment  advice are other key areas of strength. The team is a multidisciplinary group of highly esteemed lawyers such as Umberto Borzi and Patrizia Liguti , and was developed further still by the promotion of Katia Zulberti to counsel in January 2019.

Tax Tier 1

Chiomenti is widely respected for international tax matters, planning and corporate reorganisations. The firm also has substantial transfer pricing and tax litigation departments. Raul-Angelo Papotti  is a transfer pricing and international tax planning expert; Massimo Antonini is well-known for cross-border M&A tax issues; Marco Di Siena is a transactions and litigation expert; and Paolo Giacometti is a specialist in cross-border transactions and the taxation of financial products. Also key to the group are Giuseppe Andrea Giannantonio, a key name for real estate tax structuring; of counsel Giovanni Carpenzano, a former Intesa Sanpaolo group tax head; and counsel Antonino Guida, who acts for national and international clients.

Administrative and public law Tier 2

Chiomenti's administrative and public law department is particularly strong in banking, regulatory and contract law, and regularly works in the healthcare, energy and real estate sectors. In recent work, practice head Filippo Brunetti, who is noted for his 'effective and concrete' advice, acted for Banco BPM in an administrative dispute with local authorities regarding waste disposal at one of the company's properties; counsel Alfredo Vitale was also part of the team. Loredana Giani Maguire and Giulio Napolitano, both also professors of administrative law, are names to note at counsel level.

Capital markets: Debt Tier 2

Chiomenti advises on funding transactions for banks and corporations, securities transactions, and financial regulatory matters (with a particular focus on debt). Key areas include covered bond programmes and advising on the issuance of corporate bonds in Italy. The team is also particularly active in the securitisation market. Manfredi Vianini Tolomei heads the listed companies, corporate governance and capital markets department, and banking and finance head Gregorio Consoli also advises on capital markets deals. Giulia Battaglia's practice includes the securitisation of receivables, and recently promoted of counsel Benedetto La Russa advises on hybrid, high yield, equity-linked and exchangeable notes.

Data privacy and data protection Tier 2

Chiomenti's department, headed by regulated markets specialist Gilberto Nava, recently managed data protection issues involving the IT, telecoms, banking, insurance, energy and automotive sectors. Typical work includes day-to-day and strategic data protection issues, including transfer of data, profiling, internal investigations, online and offline policies, and the development of machine learning-based services. Recently promoted counsel Giulio Vecchi expertise in the media, technology, and entertainment sectors, and associate Adriano D’Ottavio, who is experienced in privacy, data protection and security, was a new hire from Portolano Cavallo.

Dispute resolution Tier 2

Chiomenti's dispute resolution practice is characterised by its expertise in commercial matters, insolvency, international arbitration and competition. The firm's clients include international banks, insurers, media companies, fashion houses and investment funds, all of which receive sector-specific and cross-border assistance, thanks to the firm's membership in the Lex Mundi international network. Ennio Maria Cicconi's departure in December 2018 triggered a series of changes within Silvio Martuccelli's team; Mikaela Valan and Gerolamo Vinci were made counsel, Antonio Donato was elevated to managing counsel and Massimo Proto joined as of Counsel in January 2020, contributing to the expansion of the litigation practice into sports law.

Employment Tier 2

The labour law group at Chiomenti is appreciated for its 'quick, clear and flexible advice' on the full range of specialist issues, including contracts, termination of agreements, litigation, restructuring and welfare plans - the latter being a significant focus for the department. Under the well-regarded leadership of practice head Emanuele Barberis and social security expert, litigator and arbitrator Annalisa Reale, the team grew with a series of mid-level promotions in January 2019. Associate Paolo Carbone is emerging in the field of restructuring, remuneration policies and collective bargaining.

EU and competition law Tier 2

The EU and competition team at Chiomenti represents an impressive set of high-end clients. Cristoforo Osti leads the team, advising in cases involving anti-competitive exchange of information, abuse of dominant position, cartel proceedings and, among others, unfair commercial practices. The automotive, energy, retail and finance sectors are among the most represented in the client portfolio. The practice developed further at mid-level with Alessandra Prastaro's promotion to counsel in January 2019.

Industry focus: Energy Tier 2

Carola Antonini heads the energy department at Chiomenti. Acquisitions, issuance of green bonds and energy efficiency insurance policies were all key areas of activity for the team in the past year, covering a wide range of sectors, including oil and gas, renewables and biomass. A series of counsel promotions in January 2019 strengthened the team at mid-level.

Industry focus: Manufacturing Tier 2

Commended for its 'deep knowledge' and 'business-oriented' attitude, the industrial manufacturing team at Chiomenti is known primarily for its advice on production and distribution processes, and tax matters. Team head Luca Andrea Frignani, who also heads the firm's London office, assists Italian and international clients primarily with corporate M&A and financing matters. Luigi Vaccaro is noted for his 'competence and experience', and Mario Pelli Cattaneo is another key name.

Industry focus: TMT Tier 2

Gilberto Nava heads the IP, TMT and data protection department at Chiomenti, which acts for a number of major clients in the TMT sector. The team has been active recently in M&A matters for media clients, and has also been kept busy handling administrative matters for telecoms companies. Giulio Vecchi was promoted to counsel in January 2019; he has expertise in regulatory and IT contracts, among other areas. Recent highlights include advising Discovery Italia on obtaining an exemption, from the Italian competition authority, from the broadcasting and investment obligations concerning digital terrestrial channels.

Investment funds Tier 2

Chiomenti's 'well-rounded practice' is regularly involved in transactions involving asset management agreements, incorporation of asset management companies and corporate vehicles, establishing investment funds, acquisitions and sales of investment funds' assets, and assistance with the regulatory authorities. Alessandro Portolano heads the financial regulation department and Franco Agopyan jointly heads the private equity business unit. Vincenzo Troiano is also a key adviser.

Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2

Chiomenti has substantial experience of restructuring and turnaround transactions, as well as of insolvency and pre-insolvency proceedings. Leveraging the firm’s skill range, the team works across various departments, including finance, corporate law, tax, labour law and litigation. It also stands out for its insolvency crime expertise. Clients include distressed companies and financial creditors, as well as third-party investors. Antonio Tavella and Giulia Battaglia specialise in debt restructuring, bankruptcy law and insolvency proceedings. Recently promoted senior associate Giada Caravello advises companies in financial distress and debt restructuring.

Compliance Tier 3

Chiomenti regularly works with Italian and international clients to create and revise compliance models; the team also advises on the operation and composition of supervisory boards. In addition, it assists with illicit conduct and whistleblowing reports that flag up irregularities. Francesco D’Alessandro was made partner in 2019 and heads the white-collar crime unit. Of counsel Stefano Manacorda is a specialist in corporate criminal law and European and international criminal law.

Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 3

The pharmaceutical, healthcare and life sciences business unit at Chiomenti is headed by Luca Liistro, who advises on commercial law and contractual matters. The team, which has been praised for its '"hands-on" approach', focuses primarily on M&A, and regulatory and contractual issues in the sector. It benefits from the 'very sharp business acumen' of administrative law specialist Filippo Brunetti, as well as the administrative expertise of Elio Leonetti and Alfredo Vitale, who were both promoted to counsel in January 2019. The team also has experience handling compliance, patent infringement and litigation.

Diversity

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