Event information
Building on the success of last year, The Legal 500 is proud to officially announce the 2025 edition of the GC Summit: Italy.
This event brings together top in-house counsel from Italy’s most influential companies, alongside leading legal practitioners, for a day of insightful panel discussions, expert presentations, and invaluable networking opportunities.
The Legal 500 GC Summit: Italy will offer practical, forward-looking insights into the evolving role of in-house counsel, as well as the key challenges and opportunities facing legal departments in 2025 and beyond.
In collaboration with our esteemed partners, the event will feature a series of dynamic sessions on cutting-edge topics, including M&A, sanctions and international trade, cybersecurity, AI, ESG, and much more.
Drawing from the wealth of experience of our distinguished speakers, this event will provide actionable, real-world advice for in-house counsel. Whether you are looking to enhance your professional growth or stay ahead of the curve, the GC Summit: Italy is an essential event for any in-house lawyer in the country.
Agenda
1.00pm – 1.30pm Registration
1.30pm – 1.35pm Opening remarks
- Margherita Birri, research editor, Legal 500
1.35pm – 2.20pm The Role of the general counsel in cybersecurity: Rising to the challenge of the NIS2
The cybersecurity landscape has entered a new era with the publication of Legislative Decree No. 138/2024 (NIS2 Decree) in the Official Gazette this October. This Decree transposes the European NIS2 Directive into Italian law, introducing rigorous new obligations for cybersecurity risk management and incident reporting. From energy to healthcare, transport to digital infrastructure, the Decree extends its reach across numerous ‘critical’ sectors. Both public and private entities operating in these fields must now adhere to stringent measures, with non-compliance carrying severe consequences: administrative fines that could soar to €10 million or 2% of the previous year’s global turnover.
General counsel must now step into a pivotal role, guiding organisations through this complex regulatory terrain. This session is designed to equip you with practical, hands-on insights to understand the NIS2 Decree, manage cybersecurity risks effectively, and ensure your organisation is fully compliant with the new requirements.
- Jacopo Arnaboldi, partner, Advant Nctm
- Giulio Uras, counsel, Advant Nctm
- Jole Bertone, general counsel, Iliad
- Camilla Cocuzza, senior director legal Italy and IBU, Eli Lilly and Company
2.20pm – 3.05pm Sanctions and International trade: A multidisciplinary approach
The ever-changing landscape of sanctions and international trade is growing more complex. The panel will explore the latest trends and challenges in this field, including the increasing intricacy of sanctions regimes, the rise of secondary sanctions, the role of technology in enforcement, global trade tensions, and de-risking and compliance challenges. By examining these issues from the perspectives of Corporate & Commercial, Regulatory & Compliance, White Collar Crime, and Customs Law, the panel will provide valuable insights into the multidisciplinary approach required to navigate this difficult environment, eventually mitigating the associated risks.
- Andrea Carreri, equity partner, LCA
- Valeria Baldi, senior associate, LCA
- Leonardo Gastoldi, legal and corporate director, GUESS
- Serena Cuogo, director of legal and corporate affairs, group compliance and quality assurance officer, Marcolin
3.05pm – 3.20pm Coffee break
3.20pm – 4.05pm Carve-outs and data: how to prepare for a successful M&A transaction
M&A often involve complex carve-outs—separating parts of a business for sale or spin-off. This session will offer actionable advice on how to prepare your organisation for the data-related challenges that come with splitting off parts of your business. From understanding the technicalities of data transfer to managing security and compliance risks, this session will equip you with the tools and strategies necessary to facilitate a smooth carve-out process.
- Paola Colarossi, managing partner, Baker McKenzie
- Francesca Gaudino, partner, Baker McKenzie
- Andrea Maria Casu, regional general counsel EMEA & APAC, VF Corporation
- Fabio Svizzero, data protection & AI trust officer, Sr legal counsel DTC & privacy (EMEA), VF Corporation
4.05pm – 4.50pm Corporate Compliance: Navigating Alternative Proceedings and ESG Alignment
Alternative proceedings under criminal law, in particular the judicial administration pursuant to Legislative Decree No. 159/2011 – the so-called Anti-Mafia Code – are taking an increasing role in the prevention of criminal wrongdoing and the alignment of Italian businesses to ESG principles. Among the sectors directly impacted in the last few years by these proceedings are energy, logistics, large-scale distribution, fashion and banking.
After an introductory discussion on the main features of the judicial administration and in general its inclusion among the measures aimed at preventing risks and avoiding any kind of corporate behavior facilitating illicit practices, this panel will discuss the practical aspects, such as potential indirect consequences of this measure, insights on the challenges of the management of the procedure – focusing on the role and point of view of a general counsel or other senior in-house decision maker. The panel will then conclude by addressing the interconnection between this measure and Legislative Decree No. 231/2001, and the concrete solutions taken within certain sectors, such as the adoption of protocols against illegal labor exploitation practices.
- Massimo Contesso, counsel, Greenberg Traurig
- Bruno Cova, shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
- Jessica Meloni, head of legal Italy and Ocean Europe, CEVA Logistics
- Valeria Cordaro, legal manager, UPS
4.50pm – 5.20pm Digital Transformation in Legal: Challenges and Success Metrics for General Counsel
Digital transformation is reshaping the role of General Counsels (GCs), requiring new skills, tools, and metrics to assess the success of innovation initiatives. In this fireside chat, we will explore the key challenges GCs face in managing change and the specific KPIs they use to measure the impact of digital transformation in legal departments. The discussion aims to provide valuable insights and practical takeaways for legal leaders navigating digital transformation.
- Fabrizio Gallotti, country manager Italy, DiliTrust
- Ulisse Spada, general counsel and secretary of the board of directors, DiaSorin
- Simona Musso, chief legal, corporate affairs & compliance officer, Lavazza
5.20pm – 5.35pm The Overlooked Legal Framework of Corporate Groups
In today’s business landscape, much attention is given to emerging topics like artificial intelligence and corporate compliance, while other crucial legal matters, such as the regulation of corporate groups, are often neglected. This issue is particularly relevant because corporate law in certain EU countries, like Spain and Italy, remains centered on individual companies rather than addressing the complexities of group structures. As a result, multinational corporations often misunderstand the legal limits of a parent company’s control over its subsidiaries in different jurisdictions. This lack of awareness leads to risks and legal uncertainties, as many managers assume that decisions can be made solely in the interest of the corporate group without considering the obligations and protections applicable to individual subsidiaries. Through this presentation, we aim to highlight these challenges and emphasize the need for a clearer legal framework governing corporate groups.
- Anahita Tárrega, partner specialist in Commercial Law, M&A, Marimon Abogados
5.35pm – 5.40pm Closing remarks
- Margherita Birri, research editor, Legal 500
5.40pm – 7.00pm Drinks and canapes
Speakers
Valeria Baldi, senior associate, LCA
Valeria advises companies, national and foreign, in the customs, VAT and excise fields. In particular, she assists clients in customs planning, in obtaining customs authorisations (tax deposits, rulings, authorised and registered exporter – Rex, ITV and IVO, etc.), as well as in obtaining the AEO authorisation (economic operator authorised).
Andrea Carreri, equity partner, LCA
Andrea Carreri advises national and international clients active in several industries (including the iron and steel, life science and pharma, telecommunication, publishing, mechanical and chemical markets). He assists US, Japanese and EU corporations in M&A deals, industrial and commercial joint ventures, and in the areas of FDI in strategic sectors (“FDI/Golden Power”), including National Security, Defense, Telecommunications, Health, Strategic Infrastructures, Trade Sanctions and International Trade.
Paola Colarossi, managing partner, Baker McKenzie
Paola Colarossi heads the corporate reorganisation practice of Baker McKenzie. She practices in the area of corporate reorganisation, M&A, venture capital and private equity and corporate law. She assists clients in national and multijurisdictional M&A transactions, investments and joint-ventures. She has a strong experience in the structuring and implementation of complex corporate reorganisations with a focus on multi-jurisdictional carve outs and post-acquisition integration.
Francesca Gaudino, partner, Baker McKenzie
Francesca Gaudino is the partner in charge of the privacy, data security and information technology practice in Italy, a member of the firm’s global privacy and security leadership team and a member of the European Steering Committee of the information technology and communications practice group. Francesca has worked in this practice group since joining the firm, specialising in data protection and security, with a particular focus on legal issues arising from the use of cutting-edge technologies, and has over 20 years of experience advising clients in various data-driven sectors such as retail, healthcare and life sciences, financial services, fintech and technology-driven businesses such as online platforms. Francesca regularly manages multi-jurisdictional projects for the implementation of multi-functional online platforms, cloud computing, advanced marketing and CRM/CEM strategies in digital environments and mobile applications, which raise complex and cross-border multi-faceted privacy and security issues.
Jacopo Arnaboldi, partner, Advant Nctm
Jacopo is an expert of commercial and corporate law. He deals with Italian and cross-border M&A transactions, outsourcing projects, joint ventures as well as in the negotiation of complex commercial contract in a wide range of sectors, including Technology, Digital Media and Entertainment (TMET), fintech, pharmaceutical, energy, manufacturing and fashion industries.
Giulio Uras, counsel, Advant Nctm
Giulio Uras provides advice and assistance on data, privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and compliance to national and multinational companies and group of companies, operating in particular in the publishing, fashion, pharmaceutical, medical and telecommunications sectors.
In the IT & Data area, his activity has the primary aim of ensuring the compliance of processes, activities, systems and products with European and national regulations governing data economy, network and information systems security and technological development: from GDPR to NIS2, from the Data Act to the Artificial Intelligence Act.
Leonardo Gastoldi, legal and corporate director, GUESS
As International Legal and Corporate Director, Leonardo possesses extensive in-house counsel experience, with a proven track record in negotiating high-value, complex business transactions across various industries. He has specific expertise in managing the legal aspects of M&A transactions, logistics, advertising campaigns and retail-related matters, ensuring robust compliance frameworks.
Leonardo effectively collaborates with general managers and senior management in international settings, leading and contributing to high-performing cross-functional teams. Leonardo’s experience also includes valuable service as a member of a board of directors.
Serena Cuogo, director of legal and corporate affairs, group compliance and quality assurance officer, Marcolin
Legal Director of Marcolin SpA – a global leader Group in the eyewear industry – with experience gained in multinational and multicultural corporate environments, as well as in law firms specializing in commercial and international law.
Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to lead legal functions in a large and complex organization, providing high-level strategic legal counsel while ensuring compliance with both local and international regulation and she has honed a deep understanding of the intricacies of corporate governance, risk management, and business operations within diverse legal frameworks.
Andrea Maria Casu, Regional general counsel EMEA & APAC, VF Corporation
Andrea Maria Casu has gained 20 years of experience in the corporate sector, working for companies in the Telecommunications, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods, and, more recently, Fashion industries.
After obtaining a Master’s Degree in Law from Università Cattolica in Milan and qualifying as a lawyer at the Milan Court of Appeal, he worked as in-house counsel for major multinational companies such as Hutchison Whampoa Limited and the Ferrero Group. His expertise spans commercial development transactions, compliance activities, and intellectual property protection.
Since joining VF Corporation in 2007, he has played a key role in developing the international legal department and leading transformative legal strategies. In particular, Andrea has been instrumental in managing legal aspects related to VF Corporation’s major corporate restructuring and M&A operations, skilfully guiding strategic decisions for the group’s numerous brands.
He currently serves as General Counsel EMEA & APAC, overseeing an international team of 25 people based across offices in Switzerland, China, and Singapore.
Fluent in English, he enjoys travelling and trekking in his free time.
Fabio Svizzero, data protection & AI trust officer, Sr legal counsel DTC & privacy (EMEA), VF Corporation
Fabio Svizzero is an IT lawyer with over 15 years of experience, specializing in digital commerce, data protection, AI, and legal operations. As DPO and Sr Legal Counsel DTC & Privacy, Fabio is responsible for DTC (e-commerce, retail, online marketplaces, loyalty, CRM, tech contracts) and GDPR compliance across the VF Group’s portfolio of Brands, including The North Face, Vans and Timberland. He is a member of VF’s AI Council, overseeing trustworthy adoption of AI by the group.
As head of Global Legal Operations, Fabio coordinates VF’s efforts on modernizing legal service delivery through data-driven processes, automations and AI.
Before joining VF, he worked as an associate at Baker McKenzie, assisting multinational clients on IT, IP and Commerce law. Fabio has an IT background combined with a law degree from Bocconi University (Milan). A certified privacy expert (ECPC-B, CIPP/E, CIPM) and AI Trust Officer (ECPC-AI), Fabio regularly speaks on privacy, AI, digital transformation and legal tech. He is based in Switzerland.
Jole Bertone, general counsel, Iliad
Jole Bertone is an Italian qualified lawyer with significant experience in complex and multinational environments. She has a strong focus on risk-based legal management as well as on legal operations. After receiving her LLM from King’s College London, Jole practiced law with a top-tier American law firm for a few years before moving in house with a multinational company in the telecoms sector. In 2015 she was appointed as Legal Advisor to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of the Kingdom of Bahrain. She joined Iliad as a General Counsel in 2022.
In her career, Jole managed and delivered high profile legal transactions, designed, managed and implemented multi-jurisdictional complex projects.
She regularly lectures post-grad students on compliance and legal risk management. She also published several articles on competition and corporate law in law reviews and other legal journals.
Jole is passionate about photography, solo travelling and Mozart.
Camilla Cocuzza, senior director legal Italy and IBU, Eli Lilly and Company
Camilla Cocuzza, passionate about art and the pharmaceutical market, has been working in the legal department of Eli Lilly for approximately six years. She is currently a member of the Italian Lead Team and holds the position of Senior Director Legal for Italy and the International Business Unit. She recently completed an assignment at Lilly’s headquarters in Indianapolis, serving as Global/US brand attorney for certain products in the cardiometabolic area.
Before joining Lilly, Camilla spent around nine years working at international law firms in Milan and New York, focusing on commercial law, corporate law, and litigation. She earned her law degree from Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi and an LLM from New York University. She is qualified to practise law in Italy and the State of New York.
Fabrizio Gallotti, country manager Italy, DiliTrust
Fabrizio Gallotti is a legaltech expert with a long career in the digitalisation of legal and business processes. With a strong focus on technological innovation in the legal world, he has contributed to the digital transformation of numerous organizations, optimising contract management, compliance, and corporate governance.
Since 2017, he has been the country manager for Italy at DiliTrust, a global leader in AI-based SaaS solutions designed to enhance legal and corporate affairs departments. In this role, he has led the expansion of DiliTrust solutions, supporting over 2,500 clients and 300,000 users in more than 60 countries. The DiliTrust governance suite enables legal departments to manage the entire lifecycle of contracts, centralize corporate group management, ensure the security of board meetings, and maintain control over legal practices, thus optimising complex business processes.
Throughout his career, Fabrizio has worked with leading Italian companies, implementing advanced solutions for electronic document management, legal process automation, and the integration of artificial intelligence tools for predictive analysis and risk management. He has also developed complex projects for the digitalisation of legal documentation, with a particular focus on data security and privacy.
Fabrizio has gained expertise in digital transformation, legal innovation, and blockchain applied to law, working for prominent companies such as Cerved Group, ICE Data Services, Bureau van Dijk, and Borsa Italiana.
Ulisse Spada, general counsel and secretary of the board of directors, DiaSorin
Ulisse Spada is the General Counsel and Secretary of the Board of Directors of DiaSorin S.p.A., a global leader in the In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) field, listed on the Italian Stock Exchange in the FTSE MIB Index. He is a member of the Supervisory Board (Organismo di Vigilanza) pursuant to Legislative Decree 231/2001 and serves as the Group Data Protection Officer (DPO).
Before joining the DiaSorin Group, he was General Counsel of the Piaggio Group from 2009 to 2020. Prior to that, he was Head of Corporate and Legal Affairs at Olivetti S.p.A., where he began his in-house career in 1992.
Massimo Contesso, counsel, Greenberg Traurig
Massimo Contesso focuses on white collar crimes as well as internal investigations and national and international criminal and commercial litigation. Besides focusing on matters relating to compliance and corporations’ administrative and criminal liability under Italian Legislative Decree 231/2001, Massimo conducts cross-border internal investigations for domestic and international clients, assists in transnational anti-money laundering matters and anti-bribery and anti-corruption assessments.
Massimo handles internal investigations for major companies across Europe and the United States, evaluating whistleblowers’ complaints, coordinating document collection from a multitude of data sources and managing the effective review of the data across a wide range of investigative tools and e-discovery platforms, conducting witness interviews, preparing detailed investigative reports and coordinating the reporting to government authorities.
Massimo also assists companies in structuring corporate compliance programs, identifying weaknesses in internal policies, assessing follow-up actions as well as remediation and mitigation measures in order to avoid further violations, prevent regulatory and criminal action or assists clients in the criminal and regulatory litigation.
Bruno Cova, shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
Bruno Cova, European Co-Chair of Restructuring & Insolvency and Compliance Groups, focuses his practice on complex transactions such as cross-border acquisitions and restructuring of distressed companies. He also regularly advises international corporations and financial institutions in dealing with corporate governance and legal risks issues, devising internal controls or contractual mechanisms to minimize those risks, investigating legal and compliance problems, and defending clients before regulatory authorities or in the context of criminal investigations.
Simona Musso, chief legal, corporate affairs & compliance officer, Lavazza
Simona Musso graduated in Law from the University of Turin and practiced as a lawyer for several years. She has been a member of the Lavazza Group since 1996, serving as legal counsel. In 2001, she became the General Counsel and now leads the Group Legal, Corporate Affairs and Compliance Team at the Turin headquarters. She also coordinates the lawyers of foreign subsidiaries.
As a member of the Executive Sounding Board, which is a strategic committee that reports directly to the CEO Group, she plays an integral role in the Group’s corporate decisions and strategic planning. Simona also manages M&A transactions (including direct involvement in the negotiation phase), disputes, and contractual agreements. She is the Chief Compliance Officer and a member of the “Supervisory Body,” responsible for identifying and preventing risk factors for the Company.
She coordinates the Group’s corporate activities, including serving as the Secretary of the Board of Directors. Since 2017, Simona has been a Visiting Professor of International Business Law & Food Regulations at ESCP, teaching in the Master of International Food & Beverage Management program.
Anahita Tárrega, partner specialist in Commercial Law, M&A, Marimon Abogados
Anahita joined the Barcelona office in 2004 to strengthen the Commercial Law and M&A department and has been a partner at the firm since 2009. She is also responsible for the Italian Desk and the French Desk.
With over 25 years of experience, she advises national and international companies in Spain, specialising in M&A transactions and commercial contracts. She has a particular focus on international clients, especially in their investments and transactions in Spain, across sectors such as retail, fashion, luxury, consumer goods, and manufacturing.
She serves as company secretary for various businesses, including multinational corporations and family-owned enterprises, and is a member of international professional associations such as the IBA and UIA.
Jessica Meloni, head of legal Italy and Ocean Europe, CEVA Logistics
Head of Legal Italy and Head of Legal Europe Ocean of the international transport, logistics and freight forwarding group CEVA Logistics, Jessica, a lawyer, is currently based in the Milan office since 2019, dedicating herself to the management of the Italian legal department, as well as the European countries with reference to maritime transport.
Jessica is also, since 2020, a member of the Board of Directors of C&M Book Logistics, a Joint Venture born from the partnership between CEVA Logistics Italia and its partner EMMEFELIBRI (a publishing company owned by Messaggerie Group and Feltrinelli).
Previously, Jessica has worked with leading Italian and international law firms, such as PwC, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and most recently Bonelli Erede, developing expertise in labour law, corporate and M&A. Jessica also held the position of Head of Legal for Italy, Spain and Portugal at UPS (United Parcel Service), in the Brussels office.
Thanks to her professional experience she has developed a strong sense of pragmatism and flexibility with a business-oriented approach, as well as specific skills in the world of supply chain/procurement and related compliance. Jessica was awarded by The Legal 500, entering lastly in the General Counsel Powerlist Italy 2024.
Jessica actively participates in conferences, seminars, round tables, as a speaker, especially on topics related to emerging issues with particular reference to the logistics sector, transport, shipping and more generally supply chain/procurement, compliance and M&A, as well as soft skills and leadership issues, notably recording a podcast for Women In Lex “Leadership and Emotional Intelligence”, and recently achieving the Leadership Program co-designed with the Business School HEC Paris.
Jessica is a member of AIGI (Italian In-house lawyer Association) and a founding member of the General Counsels Association in Italy where she currently serves as Chair of the Training Committee.
Valeria Cordaro, legal manager, UPS
I am a qualified attorney, admitted to practice in Italy since 2019.
I have grown my first years of professional experiences in law firms specializing in commercial and corporate law, assisting domestic and international companies.
My experience also comprises international law EU law, transport and logistic law.
_________
I currently work at UPS as Legal Manager, responsible for Legal Affairs of UPS Italia and UPS SCS Italy.
Prior to joining UPS, I practiced as an attorney with leading national and international law firms in Italy and Switzerland.
Before that I was in charge of the legal department of a German company, also advising the Mexican office.
I obtained my law degree at the University of Milan, Italy, and I also studied shorter courses in Spain, China and the United States.
The professional experience gained abroad enabled me to acquire good cultural competences and to improve my language skills.
I fluently speak Italian, English, Spanish and German.
In association with...
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