Osborne Clarke is a prominent firm well known for its defence work in Italian Data Protection Authority proceedings and acting as external data protection officers for multinational companies in sectors including payments, IT services, and life sciences. The team actively structures compliance for AI and algorithm-based services and provides support on complex, cross-border data transfer projects. Head of the practice is Gianluigi Marino, who defends clients in enforcement actions and structures data governance frameworks. Key lawyers include the ‘meticulous’ Marialaura Boni, who specialises in life sciences data protection, and Antonio Racano, who handles compliance for tech platforms and financial services.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'We have been consistently impressed by the firm's deep expertise in data protection. Their meticulous attention to detail and proactive approach ensure that every aspect of data protection compliance is thoroughly addressed. They are reliable and trustworthy partners and open to discussing different fee arrangements to accommodate the clients' needs.'
- 'I have had the pleasure of working on several matters with Gianluigi Marino, who is, in my view, a very talented privacy lawyer. Gianluigi combines a brilliant legal mind with a genuinely practical approach. I appreciate his ability to distill complex regulatory frameworks into strategic advice tailored to the client’s business. Working with Gianluigi has always been intellectually rewarding and operationally smooth.'
- 'Marialaura Boni has a deep knowledge of data protection and is very easy to work with. She is always meticulous and well-organised and very pleasant to work with. Gianluigi Marino has been very flexible as to the support and fee arrangements, and he is also very easy to work with. Both of them are reliable and trustworthy business partners.'
- 'The team guided by Gianluigi Marino has deep knowledge of privacy and data protection laws. However, what I appreciate most is their strong and deep knowledge of the Italian Civil Code provisions that provide the basis for offering advice in the data protection field.'
- 'Gianluigi Marino and Marialaura Boni integrated into the specifics of our industry and our organisation and provide tailored services, with a sense of urgency and profound business acumen.'
- 'Working with Gianluigi Marino and Antonio Racano is a real asset for our team and for safeguarding our business. Gianluigi Marino brings expert guidance and trusted judgment, offering the experience we rely on for every key decision. Antonio Racano combines reliability with deep industry knowledge, making sure we can always count on his support in both critical projects and everyday challenges. Over the years, they have developed a thorough understanding of our company’s needs, fully integrating into our environment. With their proactive and highly effective approach, they have become invaluable partners in our success.'
Key clients
- McKinsey & Company
- ByteDance (UK) / TikTok Pte. Ltd.
- Costim S.r.l (Chorus Life S.p.A.) and Elmet S.r.l.
- Compagnie Financière Richemont S.A.
- Engie Italia S.p.A.
- NTT DATA Italia / NTT DATA Italia Gov & Tech
- Mowi Italia S.r.l.
- Satispay Europe S. A.
- Uber Technologies Inc. and Uber B.V
- Sony Music Entertainment Italy S.p.A.
Work highlights
Advised McKinsey & Company on building Italy's national ESG-data platform for the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Advised Costim, Chorus Life, and Elmet on the Chorus Life smart-city project in Bergamo, focusing on data flows and platform governance.
Advised Compagnie Financière Richemont S.A. on data protection for multi-jurisdictional marketing and data security issues.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Gianluigi Marino
Other key lawyers
Marialaura Boni; Antonio Racano