Herbert Smith Freehills LLP > Milan, Italy > Firm Profile
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP Offices
VIA SANTA MARIA VALLE 3
20123 MILAN
Italy
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Herbert Smith Freehills LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Italy > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 1
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP assists clients on matters across the healthcare and life sciences spectrum, such as IP disputes, regulation and compliance issues, white-collar crime investigations, clinical trials, privacy issues and financings. Managing partner Laura Orlando leads the practice alongside assisting clients in IP-related healthcare and life sciences matters, with a particular focus on patent litigation in the pharmaceutical, biotech and chemical sectors. Within the team, Sara Balice assists clients in matters concerning patents, trademarks, copyright, design, unfair competition and trade secrets. In February 2023, Augusto Santoro joined the firm from Simmons & Simmons.Practice head(s):
Laura Orlando
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Really business oriented and proactive.’
‘This is a firm that really does have outstanding commercial knowledge of the industry.’
‘They are genuine business partners with a very innovative approach to advising clients.’
‘Laura Orlando is a guru in the pharmaceutical field. She is the go to person for all companies in this space and you can clearly tell it.’
‘It’s an outstanding team of female lawyers!’
Key clients
Abbott
Abbvie
Achilles Vaccines
Biogen
Eli Lilly
Janssen
Lionhealth Srl
Lundbeck
Millennium Pharmaceuticals (Takeda)
Novaliq
Pharma Prime
Philips S.p.A.
Roche
Sanofi
The US Government
Veterna
Zambon
Work highlights
Italy > Intellectual property Tier 1
Known for its expertise in patent litigation, especially in the life sciences sector, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP‘ team also routinely assists with advisory matters related to copyright and trademarks across a wide range of industries spanning real estate, automotive, technology, fashion and publishing. Practice head Laura Orlando is noted for her leading role in the life sciences sector, where she handles high-profile multi-jurisdictional patent cases. IP litigation specialist Pietro Pouché assists clients in trademark, copyright issues, and comparative and unfair advertising, while Sara Balice is another key name in multi-jurisdictional patent litigation in the life sciences industry. Trademark clearances and trademark portfolio analysis are among Annamaria Algieri’s areas of specialisation. Life sciences and food sector expert Martina Maffei and IP litigator and commercial IP specialist Spartak Kodra are also recommended.Practice head(s):
Laura Orlando
Other key lawyers:
Pietro Pouchè; Sara Balice; Annamaria Algieri; Martina Maffei; Spartak Kodra
Testimonials
‘The team around Laura Orlando is strong and highly effective.’
‘Laura Orlando is a star. Super responsive and kind but very skilled and technically strong.’
‘HSF is the best IP firm in the Italian legal landscape since the firm opened its doors in Italy a few years ago. They are different from all the other international firms operating in Milan because they have moved here an international team of lawyers, including some with scientific background, and they all work together as an integrated team. It’s a large team and they can provide the most complex assistance in a fortnight, with top quality.’
‘Laura Orlando and Pietro Pouché are absolute superstars. Laura is the smartest lawyer I have worked with, she’s really impressive. She sees things that others simply don’t see. But they also have a fantastic team of senior associates.’
Key clients
Abbvie
Ama Composites
Bear Industries S.r.l.
Biogen
Bonomi Group
Bormioli Rocco
DoveVivo
Dyson
Eli Lilly
Fincantieri
Gilead
Iveco
Janssen (a Johnson & Johnson company)
Lionhealth Srl
Lundbeck
Mediaset
Millennium Pharmaceuticals (Takeda)
Pearson
PharmaPrime
Roche
Sanofi
SOS Kinderdorf and SOS Villaggi dei Bambini Onlus
Treasury Wine Estates
US Government
Veterna
Abbvie
Ama Composites
Bear Industries S.r.l.
Biogen
Bonomi Group
Bormioli Rocco
DoveVivo
Dyson
Eli Lilly
Fincantieri
Gilead
Iveco
Janssen (a Johnson & Johnson company)
Lionhealth Srl
Lundbeck
Mediaset
Millennium Pharmaceuticals (Takeda)
Pearson
PharmaPrime
Roche
Sanofi
SOS Kinderdorf and SOS Villaggi dei Bambini Onlus
Treasury Wine Estates
US Government
Veterna
Work highlights
- Advised Pearson on the reorganisation of one of its key businesses relating to its K12 courseware activities in Italy, as well as on a significant and complex transaction with the media company Sanoma.
- Provided assistance to Radioimmaginaria in relation to a number of copyright, IP, data protection and image rights issues arising from the creation of different podcasts.
- Assisted Michelle F. Ngonmo, founder of the Afro Fashion Association, in defining the brand strategy for her innovative project: the Black Carpet Awards (BCA).
Italy > Industry focus: Energy Tier 3
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP' team of energy specialists routinely assist clients in high-profile energy projects, complex financings, joint ventures, acquisitions and disputes. Francesca Morra notably focuses on energy M&A deals and project development, energy contracts, and regulatory and ESG matters, while Simone Egidi is noted for his expertise in project financing and project portfolios. Other key names are Giacomo Gavotti, who regularly represents utilities, infrastructure funds and oil majors in M&A transactions, and Chiara Miccolis, who specialises in the financing of projects in the energy and infrastructure sectors.Practice head(s):
Francesca Morra
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Technical knowledge of the solar technology and construction practices, and energy PPA, including the commercial issues. Excellent knowledge of the renewable sector arena of most prominent players.’
‘The HSF energy team can assist clients on every kind of energy matter, both in terms of legal expertise and sectors (renewables, oil & gas, biogases, sustainable mobility etc.).’
‘Francesca Morra is a leader of the sector, and she can cover different areas of law, which makes her quite unique. The deep knowledge of the sector is a real added value she can bring.’
‘The energy team led by Francesca Morra is one of the best known in the market, with a strong track record in the most innovative and important transactions in Italy. They were pioneers in the long-term PPA market as well as in the renewables energy segment.’
‘Francesca Morra is a very talented professional with a deep knowledge of the energy sector and an outstanding industry profile. She is very practice and able to focus immediately on the most important aspects of the deal.’
Key clients
Avenir LNG
DXT Commodities/Duferco
Edison
Enel
Eni
ERG
Everwood Capital
Gestore dei servizi energetici – GSE S.p.A.
Glennmont
Quercus Real Assets
Sorgenia
Vivi Energia
ING Bank and AOT
Pacifico Energy Partners
L’Oréal
Worldenergy
Voltalia
Futura Srl
Solarpack
GreenIT
Higas
Work highlights
- Assisted GreenIT in an agreement with Hive Energy and SunLeonard Energy for the development of four photovoltaic projects with a total capacity of up to 200MW.
- Assisted Sorgenia in the project financing of a non-incentivised photovoltaic plant with a total capacity of approximately 35MW and the related PPA.
- Assisted ERG in signing a 12-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for the supply of approximately 900GWh of clean energy over the period 2023-2034 to EssilorLuxottica.
Italy > Banking and finance: Borrower side Tier 5
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP' Italian banking and finance team advises funds and corporations on acquisition, real estate, asset and project financing, along with export finance, syndicated lending, commodity trade finance, corporate loans, fund finance and restructuring. Promoted to partner in April 2023, Simone Egidi leads the Italian banking and finance practice.Practice head(s):
Simone Egidi
Testimonials
‘Simone Egidi is a very professional lawyer, who is competent and extremely available.’
‘Achieves the best terms and conditions available for financial agreements.’
‘Very good support during negotiations – a strong partnership with clients.’
‘Strong skills when supporting negotiations, and understands clients’ needs and how to converse with counterparts’ legal advisers.’
Key clients
Glennmont Partners (Nuveen)
Groupe Adeo
HSBC Global Asset Management
Avenir LNG and Higas
BP Oil International
Cero Generation
Marubeni Corporation
VTTI
Zambon S.p.A.
Webuild S.p.A.
Beyond NetZero BV
Messaggerie Libri S.p.A
Vivigas S.p.A.
Pizzarotti S.p.A.
Sorgenia S.p.A.
FRV – Fotowatio Renewable
EDP Renewables
Ceva Logistics SpA
Futura S.r.l.
CMC Europe
Veterna
Work highlights
- Advised a corporation on securing the financing for the acquisition, through an auction process, of a majority stake in Adriatic LNG.
- Advised a major corporation on securing the financing for the acquisition, through an auction process, of a minority stake in IReti Gas.
- Advised Sorgenia on the project financing for its newly-developed photovoltaic projects in Tuscany.
Italy > Banking and finance: lender or arranger side Tier 5
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP' Italian practice acts on major acquisition, export and real estate financings, as well as syndicated lending, corporate loans, and asset, project and leasing financing. Other notable areas are commodity trade finance, venture loans and fund finance. Team head Simone Egidi was promoted to partner in April 2023.Practice head(s):
Simone Egidi
Key clients
Macquarie Bank Ltd.
ING Bank
Intesa Sanpaolo
Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
BPER Banca S.p.A.
SMBC EU
UniCredit
CAIXA
BBVA
Santander
BPM
ICCREA Banca S.p.A.
BBC Roma
Mediobanca
Treezor
Sabadell
BNP Paribas
Societe General
Natixis
Work highlights
- Advised BNP Paribas, UniCredit and other lenders on the €600m acquisition financing for the $1.35bn acquisition by Perfetti Van Melle of Trident (and other brands) by Mondelez International.
- Advised a pool of lenders (including BBVA, Caixa, Sabadell and debt funds) on the €300m financing of the Barbel Corporate Services group for its international expansion, including in Italy.
- Advised ING Bank and AOT on the negotiation and execution of a major out-of-court creditors’ agreement (signed pursuant to Article 11(c) of 2021’s Legislative Decree 118).
Italy > Industry focus: TMT Tier 5
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP' team is equipped to advise across a broad range of IP matters related to the TMT sector, including copyright litigation and digital rights. The group also has strong expertise in media and entertainment law, regularly advising on regulatory and compliance issues, data protection, and the drafting and negotiation of contracts and agreements. IP litigation expert and practice head Pietro Pouché is noted for handling unfair competition and privacy policies, data protection and cybersecurity matters, while Giulia Maienza represents clients in a range of IP-related cases spanning patent and trademark infringement and unfair competition.Practice head(s):
Pietro Pouché
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
CEVA Logistics
Pearson Plc
C&M Book Logistics
PharmaPrime
De Beers
DoveVivo S.p.A.
Federfarma.co
Mediaset
CEBF – Connecting Europe Broadband Fund
Radioimmaginaria/Justeentime srl
Work highlights
- Assisted Growens, a cloud marketing technology firm listed on Euronext Growth Milan, on the sale of various entities to TeamSystem for a total consideration of €70m, excluding cash and debt.
- Assisted CEVA in relation to the IP, IT and data protection aspects of the equal joint venture between CEVA Logistics Italia and Emmelibri set up to implement the C&M Book Logistics project.
- Assisted Cube Infrastructure Managers, on behalf of its European digital infrastructure investment fund, the Connecting Europe Broadband Fund (CEBF), to invest in a fibre roll-out project in Italy.
Italy > Capital markets: Equity
Italy > Compliance
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP > Firm Profile
Herbert Smith Freehills is a leading global law firm with over 5,000 people, including 2,600 lawyers, in 24 offices across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and the US.
As one of the world’s leading law firms, we advise many of the biggest and most ambitious organisations across all major regions of the globe. Our clients trust us with their most important transactions, disputes and projects because of our ability to cut through complexity and mitigate risk. We offer local insight and seamless cross-border service in all major regions. Positioned to support the major trade flows, we help the world’s top companies thrive in the global economy.
Seven of our 24 global offices are located in Europe including offices in Belfast, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Madrid, Milan and Paris. A pre-eminent and recognised firm in litigation, arbitration, contentious regulatory work, public and private M&A, private equity, capital markets, infrastructure, dispute resolution, real estate, restructuring and insolvency, PPP, energy, ESG and banking and finance; we have advised on European transactions for over 50 years and today our multidisciplinary teams act for international clients conducting business across Europe and the rest of the world. Herbert Smith Freehills is now a top 20 firm in Continental Europe by lawyer headcount.
We work with domestic and international investors, governments, financial institutions and asset managers as well as IBEX 35 companies and a large number of CAC 40 and SBF 120 companies. With a major focus on cross-border work we operate seamlessly within our global network partnering with our clients to gain an in-depth understanding of their environment to provide our clients with the highest level of service.
Our EU law experts have handled a large number of cases in the EU courts and guide clients through the EU’s legislative and administrative processes. Our teams have an excellent understanding of the workings of the EU, drawing on the experience of former secondees, officials and judges at the European Commission and EU courts. Our Brussels office is also the hub of our global International Trade/WTO practice, acting on disputes under the WTO dispute settlement mechanism and advising on market access strategies, sanctions, export controls and trade remedy matters.
Herbert Smith Freehills is the largest fully integrated law firm in Asia Pacific and is one of the world’s top ranked and most experienced energy & resources firms; a globally pre-eminent and recognised firm in litigation, arbitration and contentious regulatory work; and an international leader in M&A, private equity, capital markets, infrastructure and banking and finance.
Visit our website to read more about our vision, our determination to drive diversity, inclusion and responsible business, and our ambition to redefine legal services for the digital-first age.
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