Maisto e Associati > Milan, Italy > Firm Profile

Maisto e Associati
PIAZZA FILIPPO MEDA 5
20121 MILAN
Italy

Email firm Visit website 39 02 77 69 31 39 02 77 69 33 00

Italy > Tax Tier 1

Maisto e Associati has ‘an unrivalled command of international tax topics’. The practice is headed by the International Fiscal Association’s current global president, Guglielmo Maisto

; Marco Cerrato

is mandated by multinational companies for cross-border matters, including financings and disposals; and Marco Valdonio is an expert in M&A and private equity deals, real estate transactions, and transfer pricing. The practice also fields Aurelio Massimiano, an adviser on transfer pricing and international tax; Cesare Silvani, who assists with the tax aspects of major transactions; and Gabriella Cappelleri, a former APA office head.

Practice head(s):

Guglielmo Maisto

Other key lawyers:

Marco Cerrato; Marco Valdonio; Aurelio Massimiano; Cesare Silvani; Gabriella Cappelleri

Testimonials

‘They have an unrivalled command of international tax topics.’

‘Their billing flexibility is well known, since they try to accommodate clients’ needs. Clients have also welcomed a gradual involvement of associates in client meetings, in light of efficient cost allocation (reduced hourly billing) that is ultimately transferred to the client.’

‘A pragmatic business acumen that goes beyond the pure transaction on which they are required to provide their services.’

‘Experience, high level of knowledge about taxation, commitment, ability to find innovative solutions, and fair fees.’

‘Maisto has a unique market position in the Italian tax market, specifically in relation to tax controversy cases where the team is expert and delivers exceptional results.’

‘The partners and team are always very responsive.’

‘Provides great insights into how best to present information and how to take complicated internal documents and make them understandable at the tax offices.’

Key clients

Angelini

Atlantia

Bayer

COIMA

McDonalds

Mediolanum

Permira

LBO France

Stellantis

Sky Italia

Comau

Unicredit

DHL

Kedrion

Work highlights

Assisted Permira with the acquisition (by one of its funds) of Gruppo Florence and all its subsidiaries.
Advised SAES Group on entering into a binding agreement with US company Resonetics for the sale of the Nitinol business and (in particular) US subsidiaries Memry Corporation and SAES Smart Materials.
Assisted EuroGroup Laminations with the Italian tax aspects of its listing on Euronext Milan.

The firm: Established in 1991 by lawyers with many years of experience in the field, Maisto e Associati is an independent Italian law firm operating in the field of tax law. Over the years, the firm has grown consistently in size and reputation and now has 60 professionals, including 12 partners and two of counsels, with consolidated experience in managing complex, sensitive – domestic and multi-jurisdictional – cases. Most of the firm’s professionals participate in advisory bodies and study groups, are frequent speakers at congresses and contribute to publications and to the most prestigious Italian and foreign tax journals, thus maintaining a cutting-edge knowledge of the most advanced tax issues. Several firm’s professionals have substantial experience in international taxation issues, having worked in the Netherlands, the USA and the UK.

Areas of practice
Tax for M&A and corporate restructuring: The firm has developed a unique expertise in M&A and corporate reorganisations, advising both Italian and foreign multinationals on the tax aspects of the major acquisitions and group reorganisations of the last 30 years. The firm is retained to structure complex domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions for both strategic and private equity investors, joint ventures, leveraged buyouts and other company reorganisations.

Corporate and group taxation: The firm advises on corporate income tax issues, including issues connected with the adoption of IAS and IFRS, and on group taxation matters, including the design of holding structures and the optimisation of the tax regime of dividends, interest and royalties among group entities.

Tax litigation: The firm handles pre-litigation tax procedures, as well as tax litigation before all national tax courts up to the Italian Supreme Court, the EU Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. The firm has 30 years of experience representing taxpayers in courts and before Tax Authorities. The firm handles complex tax litigations, involving transfer pricing and international and domestic tax matters. Advice is also rendered in the pre-litigation tax settlement procedures and bilateral or multilateral mutual agreement procedures between the Italian and foreign tax authorities

Transfer pricing: The firm advises major multinational groups on transfer pricing policies and assists clients with the negotiation and conclusion of Advance Pricing Agreements with the Italian Tax Authorities. The firm also assists major multinational groups in drafting appropriate transfer pricing documentation (both masterfile and country specific documentation).

Taxation of financial instruments: The firm advises on securitisations, domestic and international financing, debt restructuring, leasing transactions and project finance. Areas of expertise include also the taxation of equity and debt instruments, stock options, derivatives and innovative financial products. The firm further advises on the structuring of hedge funds, mutual investment funds and private equity funds and of their investments.

Real estate taxation: The firm advises major national and international real estate operators and investors on all kinds of tax issues that may arise in real estate transactions. The expertise in this field ranges from assisting clients in structuring the real estate deals and advising on real estate financing to tax due diligences and tax litigation. The firm also advises real estate clients on day-to-day corporate tax and VAT issues. Finally, a significant experience had been developed in assisting clients on filing tax ruling procedures on any real estate-related tax matters, from VAT to carried interest schemes for managers of real estate funds.

Private clients: The firm has developed unique expertise in giving tax and legal consultancy to private clients and structuring their wealth. The firm advises on the tax optimisation of estate planning, transfers of businesses, lifetime asset transfers and ownership structures, having developed wide-spanning expertise on trusts, foundations, financial and insurance products. Advice is also given upon the transfer of tax residence to or from Italy, with a specific focus on Italian favorable tax rules and procedures designed for attracting high net worth individuals and top executives.

The firm has also been very active in providing tax advice to artists and sportsmen and has an established experience in advising on the tax structuring of charities and other non-profit bodies and on the tax issues associated with the acquisition, holding and sale of cultural assets and works of art. The firm handles complex tax litigation and pre-litigation settlements concerning high net worth individuals, including litigation and settlements involving financial products, life insurance policies, foundations, trusts and unreported foreign assets.

The firm advises also on non-tax matters that may arise in the private clients and wealth management area, both in domestic and cross-border situations. In particular, the team advises clients in relation to family law and succession law, trusts and foundations and estate planning matters in general. The assistance in this area also covers litigation.

International and EU tax: The firm advises on the tax structuring of inbound and outbound investments. The firm tackles EU taxation issues and keeps clients up to date on new developments and their implications.

Employee remuneration: The firm advises on the most tax-effective benefit schemes for employees, including executives and expatriates, and on cross-border loan and secondment of personnel.

VAT customs duties and indirect taxes: The firm has a team dedicated to tackle VAT and indirect tax issues, both in domestic and cross-border transactions. In particular, our team assists clients in relation to the analysis of VAT impact on supply chains, relationship with the Italian Revenue Agency as well as in pre-litigation and litigation activities.

Clients: The clientele is represented mainly by national and international financial institutions, venture capital, private equity and real estate players, large corporations and multinationals operating in a variety of industries — such as banking, manufacturing, sports media and entertainment, pharmaceutical, real estate, shipping and air transportation, IT, telecommunications and consulting — as well as high-net-worth individuals and international wealthy families, including family offices.

International work: A significant proportion of the firm’s work has an international dimension. Maisto e Associati represents financial institutions and industrial companies in the largest transactions in the field of M&A, banking and finance and capital markets, including public securitisations and financing transactions.

Department	Name	Email	Telephone
	Guglielmo Maisto	g.maisto@maisto.it	+39 02 776931

Name	Position	Profile
Marco Cerrato	Marco Cerrato is an Italian lawyer whose practice focuses on all the…	View Profile
Guglielmo Maisto	Prof. Guglielmo Maisto advises on domestic and international tax law, taxation of…	View Profile
Aurelio Massimiano	Aurelio Massimiano is a partner at Maisto e Associati. His areas of…	View Profile
Andrea Parolini	Andrea Parolini is a partner with considerable expertise in VAT, EC Law…	View Profile
Stefano Tellarini	Stefano Tellarini is a partner who mainly works on taxation of financial…	View Profile
Marco Valdonio	Marco Valdonio has consolidated skills in transfer pricing matters, in drafting and…	View Profile