Legalcommunity Corporate Awards 2025 – The winners
At the Visconti Pavilion in Milan, as part of Legalcommunity Week 2025, the Legalcommunity Corporate Awards 2025 took place—a ceremony honoring excellence in the Italian corporate legal market, recognizing both law firms and individual professionals. The 11th edition of the event, organized by Legalcommunity, presented awards selected by a jury to those who have stood out over the past year for reputation and impactful work. Below are the winners in each category, along with the jury’s motivations:
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
Legance
Looking at the firms that handled the highest-value deals in 2024, the top spot goes to the Italian firm that closed over 70 deals worth nearly €40 billion. Their substantial team operates across all corporate market sectors, with professionals who are considered stars in their respective fields.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR
Carlo Pavesi – Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici
A perennial top-ranking professional in all major Italian legal directories, he again handled several high-profile mandates this year— notably contributing to the comprehensive transformation of the Italian banking sector. He is also an expert in corporate litigation and arbitration.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR M&A
Chiomenti
As one of Italy’s leading corporate players, this firm closed some of the year’s largest and most strategic deals: a €2.3 billion sports-betting transaction, a €2 billion energy deal, and nearly a $7 billion cross-border pharma deal.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR M&A
Roberto Cappelli – Cappelli Riolo Calderaro Crisostomo Del Din & Partners
A prominent name in Italian corporate law, he has been a key figure in the high-profile banking sector reshuffle, advising a well-known investment bank. Earlier this year, he played a central role in closing a major strategic defense super-deal.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR PRIVATE EQUITY
Gianni & Origoni
The firm handled one of the year’s most significant private equity deals—advising an international operator on a multi‑billion‑euro acquisition in Italy’s telecom sector. It was a landmark transaction for its size, complexity, and industrial impact.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR PRIVATE EQUITY
Stefano Sciolla – Latham & Watkins
Recently appointed global vice chair of the firm’s private equity and M&A practice—while also serving as Milan managing partner—he led multiple private equity transactions, including a notable acquisition of a major online retail platform by a competitor.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR EQUITY CAPITAL MARKETS
Linklaters
The ECM team is renowned for expertise, reliability, and industry coverage, successfully navigating capital markets complexity and shaping trends on the Italian Stock Exchange.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR EQUITY CAPITAL MARKETS
Ferigo Foscari – Hogan Lovells
A leading player in Italian capital markets, he advised issuers and investment banks in most major equity and debt transactions. His ECM work includes IPOs, rights issues, block trades, and accelerated share sales.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR M&A CROSS-BORDER
White & Case
In 2024, the team completed numerous primarily cross-border transactions exceeding €20 billion in total, in strategic sectors like energy and pharma. They recently advised a major European energy infrastructure player on acquiring a Luxembourg-based business valued at over €900 million.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR M&A CROSS-BORDER
Paolo Sersale – Clifford Chance
As managing partner, he leads a team involved in major cross-border deals, leveraging the firm’s international network. Recently, he advised on an energy sector acquisition, covering Italian, UK, US, and Luxembourg law to create a global leader in energy services.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR M&A MID-MARKET
CastaldiPartners
This firm has been key in transnational mid-market M&A, helping Italian SMEs expand abroad and supporting European companies entering Italy.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR M&A MID-MARKET
Paolo Ghiglione – Baker McKenzie
With over 20 years in M&A (including divestments, acquisitions, and JVs) across sectors from transportation to consumer goods, he made significant impacts in the mid-market segment this past year.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR M&A FAMILY BUSINESS
PedersoliGattai
Highly active in family business M&A, this firm consistently advises prominent family-run Italian companies—many behind globally renowned brands in automotive, pharma, and fashion.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR M&A FAMILY BUSINESS
Ilaria Antonella Belluco – CBA
As northeast corporate partner, she expertly manages complex family-led extraordinary transactions, shining in her region’s industrial landscape.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ADVISORY
FIVERS
This Italian firm regularly supports major clients—including one of the country’s most successful football clubs—and is growing rapidly thanks to impactful lateral hires.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR ADVISORY
Edoardo Pedersoli – PedersoliGattai
He continuously advises companies across diverse industries. Recently, he supported a major online freight platform on Italian law aspects of acquiring a logistics provider’s European operations—spanning 12 jurisdictions.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR COMPETITION ANTITRUST
Freshfields
Renowned for competition expertise, this firm led antitrust work in landmark deals, including major acquisitions in aviation and banking.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION ANTITRUST
Davide Cacchioli – PedersoliGattai
A competition law expert, he consistently tackles crucial antitrust issues in high‑profile deals, where regulatory scrutiny is decisive.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING
Carbonetti e Associati
They led many complex corporate restructurings—most notably for a major Italian bank—with significant financial stakes and broad stakeholder implications.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING
Francesco Marotta – Studio Marotta
A trusted restructuring expert, he recently secured a landmark court victory that saved a renowned player in Italian tourism and gastronomy.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CORPORATE COMPLIANCE
PwC TLS
Advising the Italian unit of a major confectionery multinational, the firm supported an intercompany international merger, providing full end‑to‑end client assistance.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR CORPORATE COMPLIANCE
Andrea Fedi – Legance
A compliance specialist, one of his standout mandates involved advising on one of the world’s most important global events in 2025.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR TAX M&A
BDO Tax
With around 100 professionals nationwide, they captured leading tax mandates—including advising a medical labs network acquired by a major Italian industry player.
PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR TAX M&A
Marco Palanca – Simmons & Simmons
Highly active in major transactions, he advised on the sale of a large public health‑and‑wellness company to a U.S. investment fund, leveraging a strong international network.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CORPORATE INVESTIGATIONS
Simbari Avvocati Penalisti
A go‑to for corporate internal compliance investigations, this criminal-law firm is valued for its pragmatic approach and extensive experience.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR CORPORATE INVESTIGATIONS
Marcello Bana – Bana Avvocati Associati
A penal-law expert and key partner, he has deep experience in corporate internal investigations, helping companies mitigate criminal and reputational risk.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR WHITE COLLAR CRIME
Puccio Penalisti Associati
A leading force in Italian corporate criminal law, they handled high-profile cases—coordinating with multiple firms across jurisdictions to prevent extradition of a well-known international finance client.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR WHITE COLLAR CRIME
Giorgio Perroni – Perroni e Associati
An esteemed criminal lawyer, he has defended key cases under intense media scrutiny, protecting clients’ interests in complex proceedings.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
A&O Shearman
This international firm advises top financial institutions in Italy, including a major independent asset manager during a high-profile takeover bid by an insurance company.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Nicola Asti – Freshfields
Head of practice, he has advised domestic and international financial players—supporting a major bank with integration after acquiring another prominent Italian institution.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MEDIA & TLC
Cleary Gottlieb
With strong expertise in media and telecom, their corporate practice managed key operations like the sale of a major European telco stake and acquisition of network infrastructure assets.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR MEDIA & TLC
Domenico Colella – Orsingher Ortu
A senior partner experienced in technology law, focusing on outsourcing and M&A, he is regularly retained by market-leading companies for their most complex transactions.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR INSURANCE
Clyde & Co
An international insurance and commercial firm led by one of Italy’s top specialists in the sector—widely recognized and highly esteemed.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR INSURANCE
Salvatore Iannitti – Norton Rose Fulbright
With regulatory and corporate expertise, he handles major national insurance transactions through a multidisciplinary approach appreciated by clients.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CHEMICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL
Pavia e Ansaldo
Offering multidisciplinary support (including IP and antitrust) on corporate pharma operations, they recently advised a biomedical company on a Series A investment round.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR CHEMICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL
Giorgio Mariani – Deloitte Legal
Head of Corporate and M&A & Commercial Law, he led a multi-practice team advising a top Italian medical device manufacturer on divesting distribution activities across multiple countries—a challenging assignment in a tightly regulated sector.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR FOOD & BEVERAGE
Pirola Pennuto Zei & Associati
They advised on various deals—both domestic and cross-border—with full-service support from corporate and tax teams.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR FOOD & BEVERAGE
Luca Cuomo – DWF
Head of Corporate, M&A, and Private Equity, he advised sell-side on major deals— including the sale of a leading food-label manufacturer to a European multinational.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR FASHION, DESIGN & LUXURY
Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici
They advised on major cross-jurisdictional fashion deals, including a €500 million e-commerce transfer between competitors, in partnership with top international firms.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR FASHION, DESIGN & LUXURY
Eliana Catalano – BonelliErede
As managing partner, she led the year’s standout fashion deal—the billion‑euro acquisition of a renowned Italian maison by another high-end fashion brand.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE
Dentons
They supported strategic expansion of an Italian infrastructure lifecycle group via the acquisition of a Spanish engineering firm—effectively entering the Spanish market.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE
Annamaria Pinzuti – Ashurst
An expert lawyer who led her firm’s team in a high-impact infrastructure deal—assisting the financier in a systemic agreement that saw a global auto manufacturer invest in Italy’s leading EV charging infrastructure.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR VENTURE CAPITAL
Eversheds Sutherland
They handled some of the most interesting VC rounds—particularly in aerospace, a frontier attracting investment across Europe.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR VENTURE CAPITAL
Annalisa Pescatori – GA
Known in Italy for private equity, mid-market and VC transactions, she advised fintech high‑tech rounds, including one for a youth‑focused financial education platform.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR PRIVATE EQUITY MID‑CAP
LCA
The firm advised both domestic companies on private equity investment and funds acquiring competitors—covering sectors from tech startups to traditional players in food and energy.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR PRIVATE EQUITY MID‑CAP
Augusto Santoro – Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
A seasoned lawyer advising mid‑cap private equity deals globally, especially active in financial institutions.
NOTARY FIRM OF THE YEAR
ZNR Notai
This renowned Milan notary firm advised on many deals—including the transfer of stakes in a notable company to a leading single-asset continuation fund raising around €500 million.
NOTARY OF THE YEAR
Claudio Caruso – Caruso Andreatini Notai Associati
Founder of the prominent notarial firm, he is highly regarded for technical competence and unwavering client responsiveness, always ensuring impartiality and diligence.
EU ITALIAN DESK
GSK Stockmann
With strong presence in Germany, Luxembourg, and the UK, the Italian desk advises major Italian multinationals on extraordinary operations—backed by the firm’s global reach.
US ITALIAN DESK
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
This US firm is involved in numerous key transactions in Italy. Most recently, they advised an Italian fashion multinational on acquiring a recognized Italian maison—a deal widely considered the fashion deal of the year.
