BonelliErede‘s multi-disciplinary team advises on the gamut of private equity work, including public and private M&A. The group also comprises experts in Italian and cross-border fund formation, tax and regulatory issues, lending, and the tax structuring of acquisitions, reorganisations and exits. M&A practitioner Eliana Catalano leads the private equity-focused team, which includes corporate law experts Giulia Bianchi Frangipane and Stefano Nanni Costa; luxury sector specialist Umberto Nicodano; M&A, corporate law and business contract expert Augusto Praloran; and Francesca Ricceri, who advises on M&A, private equity and commercial agreements.

Chiomenti‘s team has a strong reputation for LBO strategies, along with an enviable track record in structured investments in private and listed companies. The group is co-led by international contract expert Franco Agopyan and Mario Roli, an adviser to industrial operators and funds on acquisitions. The team further features senior partner Carlo Croff; managing partner Filippo Modulo; Elena Busson, who advises private equity funds on M&A; and Luigi Vaccaro, an adviser to Asian investors. Additional key figures are Antonio Sascaro, Massimiliano Nitti, Edoardo Canetta Rossi Palermo, and Giovanni Colantuono.

Gianni & Origoni‘s team is particularly involved in matters involving the retail, insurance, infrastructure, health, Pharma, fintech, and fashion and luxury sectors. The group is jointly led by renowned M&A practitioner Francesco Gianni; private equity, LBO and venture capital expert Stefano Bucci; Gianluca Ghersini, who focuses on private equity work; and ‘seasoned M&A lawyer‘ Raimondo Premonte. The department also showcases Gabriele Ramponi, an adviser to private equity funds on investments and divestments; and Aldo Turella, who focuses his practice on M&A, venture capital, private equity, and corporate and commercial law.

Experienced in both inbound and outbound Italian private equity deals, Latham & Watkins LLP's team is particularly well known for advising global private equity houses on large-cap deals. M&A, private equity, joint venture and cross-border transaction specialist, Stefano Sciolla, heads up the group, which includes Cataldo Piccarreta, who routinely acts for private equity sponsors and portfolio companies. The practice further includes Giovanni Sandicchi, who predominantly focuses on contract and corporate law; and Giancarlo D’Ambrosio, an adviser to private equity funds and their portfolio companies. Giorgia Lugli is another key practitioner.

Part of its corporate finance practice, Legance - Avvocati Associati's 'incredible' private equity team acts for private equity funds, sovereign wealth funds, corporations and financial conglomerates on major transactions. Filippo Troisi heads up the corporate finance department; Bruno Bartocci is a cross-border transaction expert; and Alberto Giampieri focuses on mergers, spin offs, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures. Other key figures are Giovanni Nardulli, who is particularly active in international deals; Piero Venturini, a regular adviser to private equity firms on transactions; and Andrea Fedi, who maintains a robust M&A practice.

In January 2024, Pedersoli Studio Legale and Gattai, Minoli, Partners merged to become PedersoliGattai, which acts across the whole deal spectrum. Bruno Gattai is a renowned private equity specialist; Stefano Catenacci acts for several investment funds and private companies; Gerardo Gabrielli regularly advises major international and domestic private equity funds; and Alessandro Marena has longstanding experience in domestic and international transactions. Other active practitioners are Ascanio Cibrario, Antonio Pedersoli, Sebastiano Cassani and Carlo Re, along with Carlo Pedersoli, Giovanni Pedersoli, Luca Saraceni, Federico Bal, Lorenzo Fabbrini, Carolina Gattai, and Maria Persichetti.

Particularly experienced in mid-market M&A, ADVANT Nctm‘s team routinely acts for major Italian and international funds on significant private equity deals. The team was recently notably active in pharmaceutical and automotive sector matters. A regular adviser to private equity firms and infrastructure funds, Matteo Trapani heads up the firm’s M&A and private equity department which showcases senior partner Paolo Montironi; and ‘the best M&A lawyer in Italy‘, Pietro Zanoni. The next line of key practitioners features Lucia Corradi and Alessia Trevisan, along with Natali Prodan Milic and Mario Bonferroni. Emidio Cacciapuoti was a new arrival in November 2023 from McDermott Will & Emery Studio Legale Associato.

Leveraging enviable finance and capital markets credentials, the ‘always available’ A&O Shearman advises on a broad range of private equity transactions, including buyouts, acquisitions, take privates, exit strategies, and co-investments. M&A and private equity specialist Giovanni Gazzaniga specialises in major investments and divestments across a variety of industries, including financial services, energy, transport, telecoms, fashion, and food and beverage; and Paolo Nastasi has 'a very strong commercial eye'. Francesca Croci and Chiara De Luca are also experienced practitioners. In July 2023, former partner Paolo Ghiglione left the firm.

'A superior law firm', Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton's private equity practice in Milan is experienced in high-end, domestic and cross-border matters, including buyouts, consortium deals, co-investments, and minority investments. 'One of the best private equity and M&A lawyers in Italy', Roberto Bonsignore’s practice encompasses public and private M&A deals, as well as restructurings; and, elected to the partnership in January 2022, David Singer is experienced in private equity investments and venture capital transactions. Another key figure, Gerolamo Da Passano's workload covers private equity deals and corporate joint ventures.

Part of its European private equity practice, Clifford Chance‘s 'dedicated' Italy team is consistently involved in headline transactions. Claudio Cerabolini specialises in private equity, real estate, and private and public M&A deals; and raised to partner in May 2023, Filippo Isacco's track record includes advising on some of the market's most complex private equity and M&A transactions. The practice further features Paolo Sersale, who heads up the corporate M&A practice in Italy and is 'truly a pleasure to work with', as well as Umberto Penco Salvi and Elisa Ielpo.

Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici has an enviable market reputation for buyouts, growth equity deals and growth company mandates. The group, which is notably active in the technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services sectors, is jointly led by private equity specialist Gianni Martoglia; and Andrea Giardino, who regularly acts on significant extraordinary corporate finance transactions. The ‘go-to’ team also features renowned civil and commercial law expert Carlo Pavesi, and Franco Barucci, who specialises in the acquisition and disposal of shareholdings and businesses. Former partner Gianpaolo Scandone departed the firm in June 2023.

Advising leading private equity and alternative capital provider firms, White & Case (Europe) LLP's Milan team consistently acts on major private equity transactions. Ferigo Foscari focuses on public M&A deals; Leonardo Graffi has extensive private equity sector experience; Michael Immordino divides his time between London and Milan; and Alessandro Seganfreddo is regularly involved in significant cross-border and domestic matters. The group also fields Andrea Pretti, who acts on deals in the pharmaceutical, financial services and TMT sectors, and Sara Scapin, an active adviser to Italian and international private equity sponsors.

CMS' multidisciplinary team is consistently mandated on complex private equity matters, with clients benefiting from its ability to work alongside the firm's finance, capital markets, tax and competition teams. Advising across the insurance, banking, automotive and TMCs sectors, Italy private equity department head Paolo Scarduelli regularly assists national and international private equity clients on corporate law, M&A, and corporate finance. Key support is provided by Pietro Cavasola and Massimo Trentino.

Advising funds and sellers, Dentons‘ private equity practice advises on the full range of private equity work, from acquisitions through to tax structuring and exit strategies. In Milan, Alessandro Dubini assists private equity funds, industry groups and financial institutions with domestic and international extraordinary transactions; Pier Francesco Faggiano is experienced in assisting with private equity and M&A deals, joint ventures, and other corporate law matters; and Stefano Ambrosioni ‘understands the private equity industry very well‘. Providing additional support from Rome, Luca Pocobelli is a life sciences and healthcare sector expert.

DLA Piper's Italy private equity team routinely handles sell-side, buy-side and management-side transactions, including matters involving distressed assets. Alessandro Piermanni advises on domestic and international M&A deals across the fashion, luxury goods, industrials, food and life sciences sectors; and Danilo Surdi regularly advises companies and private equity funds on national and cross-border M&A, as well as corporate finance transactions. Providing additional key support are Gabriele Arcuri and Sira Franzini.

Giovannelli e Associati Studio Legale‘s private equity practice routinely leverages the expertise of its M&A, banking and finance, capital markets, litigation, tax, IP, privacy, and labour colleagues for major transactions. Name partner Alessandro Giovannelli specialises in assisting private equity funds and entrepreneurs with investment deals and company sales; Fabrizio Scaparro is regularly involved in high-end cross-border transactions, including in the US; and Matteo Delucchi is 'smart and really knowledgeable'.

LCA Studio Legale's team advises domestic and international private equity firms (and their funds), as well as venture capital firms and funds (including business angels), on fundraising, buyouts, and the creation of investment vehicles. In Milan, Roberto de Bonis assists targets and investors with private equity deals, and Andrea Messuti advises technology, life sciences and industrial sector clients. Genoa-based Riccardo Massimilla is also experienced in private equity transactions.

Linklaters Studio Legale Associato' private equity expertise in Milan ranges from corporate and M&A matters to banking, capital markets and tax aspects. The group also regularly works alongside the firm's experienced projects, competition, employment and restructuring and insolvency practices, as well as with the firm's wider network. The workload of cross-border M&A and private equity deal expert Giorgio Fantacchiotti includes advising private equity and credit funds on their downstream work and portfolio management.

Molinari Agostinelli advises Italian and foreign private equity funds on major transactions and corporate matters, including corporate governance. The team also assists with implementing structures for complex deals. Ugo Molinari's practice includes advising private equity firms and investment groups on private equity deals; and Margherita Santoiemma's experience covers M&A, LBOs, acquisition finance, and joint ventures. The practice further features Marco Laviano, who 'understands what is important to clients'.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe has extensive experience in cross-border private equity buyouts, mergers, and investment deals. The Italy team also advises on private debt and venture capital transactions, particularly (on behalf of investors and target companies) in the mid-market. Guido Testa focuses on M&A, private equity, venture capital and joint venture transactions, while Attilio Mazzilli is 'a great lawyer'. Private equity and venture capital specialist Alessandro Vittoria is another key practitioner.

Pavia e Ansaldo advises private equity firms during every stage of funds’ lifecycles. Representative mandates cover initial investments, buy-and-build strategies, and exit transactions. The team is also increasingly active in the secondary buyout market. The group is jointly led by Stefano Bianchi, who heads up the firm’s longstanding relationship with London-based private equity firm Stirling Square Capital Partners; and Meritxell Roca Ortega, who divides her time between Milan and Barcelona.

Simmons & Simmons' Milan team acts for private equity funds on investments, disinvestments, corporate governance and investment schemes' tax structures, as well as financings, restructuring and disputes. The group additionally advises venture capital and turnaround funds. Andrea Accornero is a private equity and M&A specialist; Laura Fiordelisi is an M&A, private equity and venture capital deal expert; and Marco Muratore's expertise includes private and public M&A, along with private equity.

Ashurst's Italy team advises on private equity transactions, LBOs, MBOs, asset deals, and joint ventures. The group also assists with corporate transactions, corporate governance and commercial contracts, and has notable experience in minority investments in Italy, including matters involving co-investments and consortia. Fabio Niccoli focuses on Italy's mid-cap market.

With sector expertise in food, manufacturing, healthcare, life sciences, fashion and design, Carnelutti Law Firm advises numerous investment funds, and is increasingly active in cross-border deals involving the US. The key names are managing partner Luca Arnaboldi and Carlo Pappalettera, who specialises in private equity, structured finance and M&A.

Leveraging the extensive Deloitte network, Deloitte Legal Italy -Società tra Avvocati a r.l. provides integrated legal, tax, financial advisory and accounting services. The private equity group is particularly focused on the food, automotive, healthcare, renewables, real estate, and fashion and luxury sectors. Giorgio Mariani routinely advises on private equity deals.

Co-led by Gregorio Gitti, Vincenzo Giannantonio and Stefano Roncoroni, Gitti and Partners' private equity practice advises on the entire buy-out process, from acquisition stages to financings, and the management of post-closing activities. The team also assists with minority and majority shareholder relationships, add-on processes, and exits through sales and listings.

Hogan Lovells International LLP‘s Milan team advises private equity funds on fund formations and acquisition phases. It also assists with managing portfolio companies, as well as exit stages. The experience of country managing partner Luca Picone covers transactional matters and advising board members and shareholders on complex corporate issues.

LMCR advises investment funds and businesses on investment transactions involving majority and minority stakes. The team also assists with LBOs, buy-in deals, and venture capital. The team is co-led by M&A and private equity specialist Massimo La Torre and Roberto Rio, an adviser to corporate clients and private equity houses.

McDermott Will & Emery Studio Legale Associato advises a range of private equity clients on high-end deals, including acquisitions, investments and disposals. Ettore Scandale's practice includes major private equity transactions in Italy. Enrico Raso is another key adviser. Emidio Cacciapuoti left the firm in November 2023.

Cappelli Riolo Calderaro Crisostomo Del Din & Partners's private equity practice is led by renowned lawyer Roberto Cappelli, who advises on corporate law, including the incorporation of companies and joint ventures. Cappelli, who also acts on major mergers, spin-offs and acquisitions, is supported by Guido Masini, a regular adviser to private equity funds.