BonelliErede is sought-after for its expertise in cross-border merger control, FDI and State aid matters, particularly among clients active in the Italian market. Practice head Massimo Merola has a wealth of experience representing clients before the EU courts, as well as in abuse of dominance investigations. Merola is regularly turned to by clients from sectors including aviation, energy, defence and telecoms.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Combined a deep knowledge of the law with the awareness of the practical process applied by the European Commission.'
- ‘Massimo Merola stands out for his sharp business sense and impressive legal knowledge and skills. His experience and knowledge of EU law and in particular state aid rules, are unmatched.'
- 'Collaborating with Massimo Merola feels seamless—he provides strategic guidance with precision and helps clients in navigating complex legal frameworks with confidence.’
- ‘The competition team has wide experience and knowledge of both law and market issues. They are used to discussions with relevant antitrust authorities and can anticipate their behaviour’
- ‘Massimo Merola is really exceptional on State aid'.
Key clients
- Antin Infrastructure Partners
- Banca Ifis S.p.A.
- Cassa Depositi e Prestiti S.p.A.
- De Nora S.p.A.
- Deutsche Lufthansa AG
- Leonardo S.p.A.
- Neos S.p.A.
- NewPrinces S.p.A.
- Open Fiber S.p.A.
- Piaggio S.p.A.
- Retelit S.p.A.
- Snam S.p.A.
Work highlights
Advised Neos S.p.A. on several cases before the EU Courts in the context of actions for annulment brought by another airline company against Commission’s approval of Covid-19 related measures introduced by the Italian Government.
Advised Snam S.p.A. on the €560m acquisition of Edison Stoccaggio S.p.A, cleared by the Italian Competition Authority following Phase II proceedings.
Advising NewPrinces S.p.A. on the EU merger and FSR aspects in relation to the acquisition of Carrefour Italia S.p.A.
Practice head
Massimo Merola