ADVANT Nctm advises clients across numerous sectors on EU and Italian competition law. The practice supports clients in domestic and cross-border matters involving jurisdictions such as Nigeria, Brazil, the UK, and the EU. Luca Toffoletti leads the team, focusing on matters concerning alleged infringements and competition law violations. Francesco Mazzocchi handles merger control proceedings before the Italian Competition Authority, as well as cross-border issues and follow-on damages claims. Manuela Becchimanzi advises on compliance with Article 101 TFEU and related regulatory frameworks.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Among the individuals I have worked with within the Advant NCTM competition team, I would particularly highlight Francesco Mazzocchi. Working with him gives a strong sense of confidence and reassurance: he is calm under pressure, extremely well prepared, and always in control of the file, which is particularly valuable in sensitive competition matters. What, in my experience, makes him different from competitors is his judgment and his way of communicating. He is able to isolate the key legal and strategic points quickly, explain them in a way that is accessible also for non-lawyers, and clearly indicate what he recommends and why. He is also very effective in adapting his message to different internal stakeholders (legal, senior management, business teams), which makes internal decision-making much smoother. I have especially appreciated his reliability, his availability when matters become urgent, and his proactive attitude: he anticipates issues, proposes options and next steps, and coordinates the various workstreams efficiently. His style is collaborative and respectful, but at the same time he is firm when needed, which makes him a trusted advisor and someone I am very comfortable relying on for complex competition law issues.
- Advant NCTM's competition practice stands out for its combination of strong technical expertise and a very pragmatic, business-oriented approach. The team is able to translate complex competition law issues into clear, concise advice that can be used directly by me in my role as in-house legal manager and by my business colleagues to support decision-making. Potential clients would, in my view, particularly appreciate their ability to rapidly grasp both the specificities of the applicable regulatory framework and the client’s business, its responsiveness (even on very short notice), and its willingness to take clear positions on risk rather than remaining purely theoretical. Compared with other firms I have worked with in the past, Advant NCTM's competition practice combines a high level of technical sophistication with an ability to propose practical solutions and to calibrate advice to the client’s risk appetite and internal constraints. I really appreciated their transparent budgeting and flexible fee structures, with alternative arrangements available where appropriate. I have also valued the collaborative way the team works with in-house departments and its attention to diversity and multidisciplinary teams, which together strengthen the quality and efficiency of its service.
- Strongly reactive and committed to understanding clients' needs and addressing them promptly. Engagement is direct and extremely intelligible.
- The team is consistently available and extremely "user-friendly." They focus on the client's needs and ensure these can be achieved as effectively (and quickly) as possible.
- Francesco Mazzocchi is fantastic to work with - he is completely on top of the law, but very pragmatic and commercial in his approach with clients.
- The professionals I work with have a clean and straightforward logical approach that facilitates reaching the objectives sought.
- ‘A special mention to Mr Alberto Toffoletto and Mr Luca Toffoletti. Not only have they always been deeply involved personally, but they have also involved specific competences at their law firm whenever needed, along with additional workforce to manage the most intense phases of the project. I really had the feeling of being well served and well guided as a client ’
- ‘NCTM's antitrust team is made up of highly skilled and knowledgeable professionals. They have the advantage of being affable, unpretentious and easy-going. They are not prima donnas; they are at the service of their clients and open to collaborating with other consultants, without envy or attempts to put themselves in the spotlight.’
- 'Luca Toffoletti is always ready to assist us with complex antitrust issues, balancing legal risks and business needs. ’
- ‘Hands-on, expert, organised, structured, well-positioned, knowledgeable and respected ’
Key clients
- MSC Group
- Lega Serie A
- Vodafone
- British Telecommunications
- Sky Italia
- A2A S.p.A.
- Terlos LP
- Investcorp/HWG
- Cogne Acciai Speciali and Walsin Lihwa Italy
- Acqua Minerale San Benedetto
Work highlights
Assisted Terlos in relation to merger control and foreign Direct Investment (FDI) laws connected with the acquisition, together with a group of investors, of 100% of Casa Optima.
Assisted British Telecom and BT Italia in the sale of BT Italia’s business operations in Italy to the telecommunication company Retelit, in all antitrust and FDI aspects of the deal.
Assisted Investcorp in relation to a “continuation fund” transaction carried out by the Investcorp group, with respect to the antitrust (merger control) and Foreign Direct Investment (golden power) review.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Luca Toffoletti
Other key lawyers
Francesco Mazzocchi; Manuela Becchimanzi