Acting for several leading Italian companies, BonelliErede advises on the gamut of business and corporate law matters, including high-stakes M&A. Giulia Bianchi Frangipane is a corporate law specialist; Andrea Carta Mantiglia focuses on the healthcare, life sciences and TMT sectors; Eliana Catalano is ‘a star lawyer’; and Silvia Romanelli’s practice encompasses corporate and business law, M&A, takeover bids, joint ventures, and extraordinary transactions. Other active practitioners are private client focus head Gianpiero Succi, Gianfranco Veneziano, who spearheads development of the firm’s Egyptian practice, and corporate law expert Nicola Marchioro. M&A specialist Alessandro De Nicola was hired from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in February 2024.

Chiomenti routinely acts in the Italian market’s most significant transactions. The practice is co-led by Massimiliano Nitti, who advises domestic and international clients on private and public M&A, and Marco Maugeri, whose sector expertise covers banks, insurance and other regulated entities. Other highly-regarded advisers are extraordinary transaction specialist Filippo Modulo, as well as Luca Fossati, Carlo Croff, Michele Carpinelli, Francesco Tedeschini, Antonio Sascaro, Edoardo Canetta Rossi Palermo, and Luigi Arnaldo Cremona. In a major boost to the team, Mario Roli, Elena Busson and Livia Cocca joined from BonelliErede in early 2023.

The enviable track record of Gianni & Origoni‘s multidisciplinary corporate M&A practice includes a plethora of listed company deals. Francesco Gianni is a renowned M&A expert; Andrea Aiello‘s practice includes advising corporations on major acquisitions; Gabriella Covino specialises in private M&A, joint ventures, and corporate and commercial law; and Alfredo D’Aniello is ‘a brilliant lawyer’. The group also includes former CONSOB legal department officer Antonio Segni; London and Rome-based Raimondo Premonte and Donato Romano; M&A, and corporate and commercial law experts Chiara Gianni and Mattia Casarosa, and Alberto Recchia.

Legance - Avvocati Associati is sought out for high-end, cross-border M&A deals, with sector specialisms for the practice including banking, insurance, real estate, Pharma, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, and transport. Among the firm’s several experienced practitioners Filippo Troisi is a renowned deal expert; Bruno Bartocci routinely advises on major cross-border transactions; and Alberto Giampieri acts for corporate clients on significant mergers. The department further features Giovanni Nardulli, Gian Paolo Tagariello, Gabriele Capecchi, Andrea Sacco Ginevri, Andrea Botti and Federica Pomero, along with Giacomo Gitti, Stefano Bandini, Filippo Benintendi and Laura Li Donni.

In January 2024, Pedersoli Studio Legale and Gattai, Minoli, Partners merged to become PedersoliGattai, which fuses banking and financial services sector experience with private equity expertise. The practice fields several advisers, namely: highly-rated M&A practitioner Eugenio Barcellona; ‘great lawyer’ Ascanio Cibrario; private equity specialist Bruno Gattai; and transaction expert Andrea Gandini. Other key practitioners are Marcello Magro, Alessandro Marena, Antonio Pedersoli, Carlo Pedersoli and Giovanni Pedersoli, along with Gerardo Gabrielli, Luca Saraceni, Luca Rossi Provesi, Marta Sassella, Federico Bal and Damiano Battaglia. Carlo Montagna and Stefano Cacchi Pessani joined during 2023 from BonelliErede. Luca Minoli left the firm in March 2024.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton’s Italian corporate M&A practice has a particularly strong track record in public M&A, as well as M&A deals involving the energy, infrastructure, transportation, TMT, financial institutions, and Pharma sectors. The principal practitioners are Giuseppe Scassellati-Sforzolini, who launched the firm’s Italian corporate practice in the early 1990s; M&A and restructuring expert Roberto Bonsignore; the ‘simply outstanding’ Matteo Montanaro; and David Singer, a regular adviser on domestic and M&A, private equity investments and venture capital transactions. Paolo Rainelli, Gerolamo da Passano and Lorenzo Freddi complete the team.

Advising Italian corporations and international investors, Clifford Chance regularly acts on landmark M&A transactions. Domestic and cross-border deal practitioner, Paolo Sersale, heads up the Italy corporate M&A practice, and Umberto Penco Salvi is an expert in energy, M&A and restructuring. The team further features Claudio Cerabolini, who specialises in private equity, real estate and M&A transactions, and general corporate lawyer Francesca Casini. In 2023, private equity and M&A practitioner Filippo Isacco was promoted to partner in May, while senior of counsel and former Chiomenti partner, Enrico Giordano, is an April recruit.

Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici fields a highly experienced corporate and M&A team, which is co-led at name-partner level by corporate law, financing and M&A deal specialist, Francesco Gatti, and civil and commercial law expert Carlo Pavesi. The group also showcases managing partner Stefano Valerio, who has longstanding expertise in corporate law transactions; Franco Barucci, a ‘master of strategy and negotiations’; and experienced M&A practitioner Andrea Giardino. Other names to note are private equity specialist Gianni Martoglia, Rome M&A and ECM head Barbara Napolitano and Vittorio Cavajoni. Alessandra Ghezzi left the firm in early 2024. Maria Cristina Storchi joined from White & Case (Europe) LLP in May 2024.

A highly active Italian law firm in the mid-market M&A sector, ADVANT Nctm‘s recent deal activity includes pharmaceutical and automotive sector matters. Matteo Trapani leads the firm’s M&A and private equity department, which showcases senior partner Paolo Montironi; domestic and cross-border acquisition specialist Alberto Toffoletto; and pharmaceutical, medical, food and fashion industry expert, Pietro Zanoni. Other key advisers are corporate and commercial law practitioners Lucia Corradi and Alessia Trevisan.

‘Renowned for its multidisciplinary approach’, A&O Shearman acts on a range of transactions, including public and private mergers, acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, and private equity buyouts. Giovanni Gazzaniga is a well-known domestic and cross-border M&A specialist; Paolo Nastasi acts across a range of deals, including mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures; and Antonio Ferri is ‘very much recommended’. In July 2023, former practice co-head Paolo Ghiglione departed the firm.

Experienced in multi-jurisdictional M&A, Studio Professionale Associato a Baker & McKenzie is particularly focused on TMT matters. Pietro Bernasconi is an expert in corporate transactions, M&A, private equity, and real estate transactions; Raffaele Giarda advises on M&A, corporate law, telecoms, and commercial contracts; and Anna Marina De Vivo ‘stands out as an M&A adviser’. In July 2023, M&A and private equity deal specialist Paolo Ghiglione joined from A&O Shearman.

CMS’ Italian team handles mid-market matters, in addition to large-value M&A mandates; and has sector expertise in energy, life sciences, healthcare, automotive, transportation, and construction. Leading the team, Pietro Cavasola has longstanding experience in corporate law, M&A, private equity, joint ventures, and international corporate contracts. Providing key support, Daniela Murer advises on corporate and commercial law, M&A, joint ventures, and restructuring, while Marco Casasole is particularly focused on cross-border issues.

Dentons’ Italy practice advises on a range of corporate and commercial transactions, including cross-border M&A, corporate reorganisations and private equity. Alessandro Dubini advises industry groups, financial institutions and private equity funds on extraordinary transactions, while Pier Francesco Faggiano is experienced in private equity and M&A. Other active practitioners are Luca Pocobelli, Enrico Troianiello, Junyi Bai, Stefano Ambrosioni, and Barbara Urselli.

DLA Piper’s ‘unique’ Italian M&A and corporate team is aligned with the firm’s international sector expertise in real estate, energy, pharma, industrials, and aviation. The principal names are country managing partner Wolf Michael Kühne; energy M&A expert Giulio Maroncelli; Dino Dima, an adviser on M&A, private equity, venture capital and contract management; Fabio del Bene; who ‘finds innovative solutions’; and Danilo Surdi, an M&A and corporate finance deal specialist.

Hogan Lovells International LLP’s M&A practice in Italy advises corporate clients, financial institutions and funds on retail and e-commerce-related commercial contracts and agreements. It also assists with transformational joint ventures and strategic alliances. Renowned M&A expert Luca Picone regularly acts on major domestic and cross-border transactions, while Francesco Stella‘s sector expertise covers financial institutions, life sciences and energy. Martina Di Nicola and Pierluigi Feliciani also maintain active practices. In February 2024, experienced partner Paola Barometro was recruited from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.

Acting for private and public companies, financial sponsors and advisers, Latham & Watkins LLP’s Italy practice has extensive experience in both inbound and outbound Italian M&A transactions. Team head Stefano Sciolla is a specialist in M&A, private equity, joint ventures, and cross-border deals; Cataldo Piccarreta is a highly-regarded private equity practitioner; and Giovanni Sandicchi focuses primarily on contract and corporate law. Other key advisers are Giancarlo D’Ambrosio and Giorgia Lugli.

LCA Studio Legale’s M&A practice consistently advises on major deals in Italy, along with cross-border transactions. The department is notably active in the energy, infrastructure, fashion, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, technology, and telecoms sectors. Daniele Bonvicini and Vittorio Turinetti di Priero co-lead the group, which includes Leah Dunlop and Antonio Di Pasquale, who are late 2022 recruits from Hogan Lovells International LLP. Riccardo Sismondi was raised to equity partner in 2023. Luca Minoli was a new arrival in March 2024.

Linklaters Studio Legale Associato’ Italy corporate team is well-known for its advice on public takeovers, cross-border and multi-jurisdictional M&A, joint ventures, and other corporate advisory matters. It is particularly active on behalf of clients from the financial institutions, private equity, real estate, infrastructure, energy, retail, luxury, and telecoms sectors. The principal figures are corporate law specialist Pietro Belloni, renowned M&A expert Roberto Casati, and Giorgio Fantacchiotti, who heads the private equity practice. Alessandra Ghezzi was a new arrival in early 2024.

White & Case (Europe) LLP’s one-stop corporate and M&A practice in Milan has Italian, New York and English law capabilities. The team’s key figures are public M&A deal expert Ferigo Foscari; Leonardo Graffi, a corporate, M&A and private equity specialist; London and Milan-based Michael Immordino; and Alessandro Seganfreddo, who assists with cross- border and domestic mandates. Other names to note are Andrea Pretti, who ‘has an incredible work ethic’, Caitlin Powell Gimpel, and Sara Scapin.

Active in the energy, real estate and healthcare sectors, Ashurst’s Italy practice covers private equity, M&A, LBOs, asset deals, and joint ventures, along with corporate transactions and commercial law. Fabio Niccoli is particularly focused on Italy’s mid-cap market, while Carloandrea Meacci is experienced in energy, infrastructure and telecoms-related M&A.

Key areas for Bird & Bird’s Italian corporate team are M&A, private equity, venture capital, restructuring, joint ventures, and commercial and company law. Alberto Salvadè focuses on M&A and private equity transactions, while Stefano Silvestri acts for technology, fashion, luxury, retail and consumer businesses. Edoardo Courir is another experienced practitioner.

With notable strength in mid-cap transactions, Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP’s Italy team is regularly mandated on complex, cross-border M&A deals. Heading up the team, Rome-based Alfonso de Marco is an experienced adviser on the acquisition, development and sale of Italian multi-asset portfolios, particularly in the real estate sector.

FIVERS Studio Legale e Tributario’s Milan team fields experts in M&A transactions, particularly in relation to industrial and commercial mid-cap companies. The principal figures are ‘excellent lawyer’ Alfredo Craca; extraordinary transaction specialist Francesco Di Carlo; and Claudio Tatozzi, who focuses on corporate law, financial market legislation and bankruptcy law.

Experienced in cross-border transactions, Giovannelli e Associati Studio Legale’s Milan group fields sector experts in energy, food, healthcare, logistics, media, Pharma, and IT. Alessandro Giovannelli is a corporate law specialist; Fabrizio Scaparro advises on cross-border deals that frequently involve the US; and Matteo Delucchi is ‘smart and really knowledgeable’. In December 2023, Pasquale Marini joined as partner from K&L Gates and Francesco Peruffo was a new arrival from the same firm in early 2024.

Greenberg Traurig Santa Maria’s multidisciplinary commercial, corporate and M&A practice covers a range of corporate services, including public and private M&A, private equity transactions, and corporate governance. Co-heading the team, Luigi Santa Maria routinely acts for industrial groups, financial institutions and private equity investors; and Mario Santa Maria has significant experience in cross-border transactions, including M&A and joint venture work. Other key names are Pietro Caliceti and Carlo Scaglioni.

Grimaldi Alliance consistently advises national and international clients on extraordinary transactions. The team’s expertise covers mergers, demergers, share and asset acquisitions, and companies’ group reorganisations. Managing partner Francesco Sciaudone is an energy, transport and infrastructure sector specialist, and Giancarlo Luglini ‘stands out for his expertise in solar PV-related corporate M&A’.

Molinari advises on the acquisition and divestiture of businesses, along with mergers and reorganisations. Ugo Molinari, who advises banks and Italian corporations on M&A, co-heads the group with Marinella Ciaccio and Margherita Santoiemma. Other advisers are M&A and insurance expert Nicolò Juvara, and corporate transaction specialist Alessandro De Botton.

Advising on multi-jurisdictional M&A, Norton Rose Fulbright’s Milan team is active in insurance, financial services, energy, and infrastructure transactions. Salvatore Iannitti specialises in insurance and financial services-related corporate matters, M&A deals and regulatory issues; and Tiziana Del Prete advises companies and private equity funds on corporate and M&A work.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe’s Italian practice advises on a range of M&A, and commercial and corporate matters. The team also comprises sector experts in healthcare, life sciences, technology, energy, infrastructure, banking, financial services, and food. Attilio Mazzilli advises high-growth technology companies and venture capital firms on M&A; and Guido Testa is ‘exceptionally well prepared’. Former senior partner of the firm’s Italian offices, Alessandro De Nicola, along with Paola Barometro and Marco Mancino, departed in February 2024.

Orsingher Ortu – Avvocati Associati’s corporate department focuses on private and public M&A, joint ventures, private equity, corporate finance, and corporate reorganisations. The team is led by corporate and commercial law expert Mario Ortu; Pierfrancesco Giustiniani is ‘an excellent lawyer’; and Nicola Barra Caracciolo specialises in domestic and multi-jurisdictional transactions.

Osborne Clarke’s Italy team is highly experienced in mid-market public and private M&A transactions. The group is co-led by Giuliano Lanzavecchia, an expert in big-ticket M&A and private equity deals; and Riccardo Roversi, who advises on corporate and commercial law matters, but is particularly experienced in renewable energy transactions.

Recent highlights for Pavia e Ansaldo include inbound work for a Japanese multinational, as well as M&A transactions for major Italian companies in the luxury, heavy industry, food, and automotive sectors. The names to note are managing partner Stefano Bianchi and Meritxell Roca Ortega, who works between Milan and Barcelona.

Simmons & Simmons’ practice is well known for private equity deals. It is co-headed by private equity and M&A specialist Andrea Accornero; M&A and real estate expert Dario Spinella; Edoardo Tedeschi, who specialises in TMT and digital business; experienced corporate law practitioner Marco Muratore; and real estate deal adviser Emanuela Molinaro.

Cappelli Riolo Calderaro Crisostomo Del Din & Partners’s corporate and M&A department covers acquisitions, joint ventures, investments, business sales, mergers, and spin-offs. The team also advises on M&A-related restructuring and real estate. Name partner Roberto Cappelli is a highly-regarded corporate and M&A expert, while Stefania Lo Curto focuses on corporate and commercial law.

Carnelutti Law Firm is routinely sought out by large Italian and global clients from the fashion, healthcare, energy, education, media, manufacturing, and food and beverage sectors. The practice is jointly led by M&A and finance deal specialist, Luca Arnaboldi, and Carlo Pappalettera, whose clients include private equity and investment funds.

De Berti Jacchia Franchini Forlani has longstanding experience in domestic and international M&A, as well as de-mergers, spin-offs, restructurings, and joint ventures. The key figures are Cristina Fussi, Marco Frazzica, Gianni Forlani, Barbara Calza and Giuseppe Cristiano, along with Andrew Paton, Claudio Corba Colombo, Armando Ambrosio and Paolo Barbanti Silva.

Studio Legale Delfino e Associati Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP‘s department is sought out by foreign investors for high-stakes acquisitions in Italy. Maurizio Delfino focuses on M&A involving listed and unlisted companies, including distressed matters, joint ventures and partnerships; and Massimo Chiais advises on M&A, private equity and corporate law.

Leveraging the Deloitte network, Deloitte Legal Italy -Società tra Avvocati a r.l.’s M&A department focuses on the food, automotive, healthcare, renewables, real estate, and fashion and luxury sectors. Giorgio Mariani heads up the corporate and M&A group from Milan, while Massimo Zamorani leads the Padova, Bologna and Florence offices.

Experienced in commercial law, restructuring and private equity, Eversheds Sutherland Associazione Professionale’s Italian offices are notably active in the food, industrial engineering, pharma, renewable energy, and oil and gas sectors. Former team head Riccardo Bianchini Riccardi  retired in early 2023, leaving the group co-led by Giuseppe Celli and Guido Galeotti.

K&L Gates’ corporate and M&A practice in Milan acts for major corporate clients and private equity firms on acquisitions, divestitures and corporate restructurings. Giampaolo Salsi routinely advises clients from the manufacturing, service and financial sectors, while Arturo Meglio advises on corporate matters. Pasquale Marini departed the firm in December 2023.

LMCR’s corporate and commercial team advises investment funds and businesses on investment transactions involving majority and minority stakes, both at early stages and during LBO and buy-in transactions. The group is co-led by Massimo La Torre, ‘a dedicated advocate for clients’, and M&A and corporate finance expert Roberto Rio.

Nunziante Magrone routinely acts for industrial, commercial and financial clients on extraordinary transactions. The team also supports small businesses as they develop. Francesco Abbozzo Franzi is a commercial and corporate deal expert; Gianmarco Mileni Munari advises on significant M&A, corporate and commercial matters; and Gianmatteo Nunziante ‘has great technical knowledge’.

Portolano Cavallo is traditionally focused on M&A transactions in the digital, media and technology sectors. Francesco Portolano, who has longstanding experience in M&A, private equity and venture capital, as well as joint ventures and corporate governance, co-leads the team with fellow name partner Manuela Cavallo, Antonia Verna and Tommaso Foco.

Able to leverage its enviable worldwide network, PwC TLS Avvocati e Commercialisti’s sizeable Italy group advises at all stages of acquisitions and divestments. Giovanni Stefanin has extensive experience in M&A and private equity matters; Tommaso Tomaiuolo is a ‘great negotiator’; and Pietro Buccarelli heads up the regional M&A practice.

Rucellai & Raffaelli is an ‘extremely-qualified boutique with great skills and competence’. A ‘brilliant and smart lawyer’, the firm’s corporate and transactional group head, Enrico Sisti, regularly advises on major FDI investments in Italy, as well as the implementation of new business models. Milan-based Sisti further assists with significant M&A deals.

Ughi E Nunziante’s M&A team comprises specialists in mid-market, cross-border M&A transactions. The group is particularly active in energy, financial services and technology-related matters. The principal advisers are Roberto Leccese, who acts for both medium-sized companies and large multinational groups, along with Filippo Mazza, Giuseppe Coco and Amon Airoldi.

Widely respected for its energy sector expertise, Watson Farley & Williams also acts for real estate, infrastructure and transport clients. Founder of the firm’s Italy practice and corporate and energy group leader, Eugenio Tranchino, is ‘a longstanding and highly-regarded energy lawyer’, and Carlo Cosmelli specialises in cross-border and domestic M&A.

CBA Studio Legale e Tributario is experienced in private equity, corporate and M&A transactions. The ‘prepared and available’ practice, which also leverages strong tax capabilities, houses tender offer expert Luca Fabbrini. Riccardo Papetti and Laura Elena Cinquini recently joined from ADVANT Nctm, while former partner Paolo Esposito departed the firm.

DWF’s M&A department in Milan covers corporate governance, acquisitions and divestments of shareholdings, mergers and demergers, public tender offers, and joint ventures. The practice is headed by Luca Cuomo, who is experienced in major M&A, corporate and energy transactions. Italy managing partner Michele Cicchetti has longstanding energy sector experience.

EY TAX & LAW ITALY’s corporate and M&A team advises Italian and international clients on ordinary and extraordinary corporate law transactions. Clients notably benefit from the group’s leveraging of the firm’s tax credentials. Dario Pozzi provides key support. Since research concluded, Renato Giallombardo has left the team.

Giliberti Triscornia e Associati is routinely involved in M&A and private equity deals. The team is experienced in all aspects of investment and divestment transactions, deal structuring, and acquisition agreement negotiations and drafting. Alessandro Triscornia, who ‘has a sharp legal mind’, advises on private equity, corporate, M&A, and restructuring deals.

Lexia’s corporate and M&A team is experienced in complex M&A and private equity transactions, as well as venture capital deals. The group is particularly focused on the technology, fintech, financial services, ICT, TMT, and renewable energy sectors. Managing partner Francesco Dagnino is ‘an outstanding and very intelligent lawyer’.

LMS Studio Legale’s M&A practice fields sector experts in automotive, infrastructure, financial institutions, technology, telecoms, and energy (among others). Fabio Labruna focuses on M&A, private equity and special situations, and Giulio Gambini Pierleoni is a corporate and commercial law specialist. Annalisa Esposito and Luca Mastromatteo are also key figures.

Macchi di Cellere Gangemi is best known for private sector-related investment deals and acquisition programmes, and cross-border M&A transactions involving France. The team also advises on M&A deals in the renewable energy sector. The key figures are Luigi Macchi di Cellere, Pietro Orzalesi, Francesca Bogoni, Ernesto Pucci, and Simone Rossi.

With longstanding experience in inbound and outbound international deals involving Italy, Masotti Cassella’s department is co-headed by pharmaceutical and medical devices sector expert Luca Masotti; Mascia Cassella, whose career includes 10 years as general counsel to an international engineering group; and banking, commercial, corporate and public law specialist Carlo Piatti.

Commercial law firm Studio Legale Padovan fields experts in domestic and cross-border M&A, corporate finance, joint ventures, company law, and domestic and international commercial contracts. Founder Marco Padovan is well known for construction contracts and international trade, and José Alberto Álvarez de Cienfuegos regularly advises on significant international M&A deals.

Pirola Pennuto Zei & Associati fields experts in share transfers, mergers, demergers, and purchases and sales of shareholdings in companies, firms and business divisions. The team, jointly headed by Massimo Di Terlizzi and Stefano Tronconi, also advises on spin-offs, corporate reorganisations, LBOs, joint ventures, and private equity and venture capital investments.

Joining forces with Jenny.Avvocati in January 2023, bureau Plattner’s corporate team, headed up by Massimo Petrucci and Peter Karl Plattner, predominantly advises international clients on cross-border transactions involving the energy, real estate, automotive, food and media sectors. The reinforced practice now also features Christoph Jenny, Simona Gallo and Viviana Vilardo.

Withers Studio Legale is experienced in advising Italian individuals, entrepreneurs, family offices, and family-owned businesses on investments abroad. The team also assists international investors that are active in Italy. Roberta Crivellaro is European leader of the business division, while Sergio Anania advises companies and banks on corporate and commercial matters.