Withers Studio Legale

The firm: Withersworldwide is one of the world’s first international law firms dedicated to the business, personal and philanthropic interests of successful people, their businesses, families and advisers. With over 180 partners and more than 950 other staff members in 17 offices across Europe, the US, Asia Pacific and the Caribbean, Withers has unparalleled expertise in the key legal issues global clients face.

As the Italian practice of the firm, Withers Studio Legale has worked with Italian clients, family businesses and investors in Italy for over 25 years, including many of the leading names which comprise the ‘Made in Italy’ brand, from fashion to technology, banking to media, food and beverage to luxury assets.

Italians have long been known for their entrepreneurship, and the country is home to some of the world’s most successful international companies and brands. As with many of the firm’s clients, Italian entrepreneurs are increasingly seeking legal advice in relation to their business and personal affairs, both at home and abroad.

Withers understands the Italian marketplace and how business is done, and, in particular, appreciates the importance of developing personal relationships. Through a network of five Italian desks and the support of over 50 Italian-speaking lawyers based across Withers’ offices, the Milan and Padua teams provide clients with an integrated international service for cross-border matters.

Areas of practice: With expert corporate lawyers, international tax and wealth planning practitioners, as well as litigators and specialists in IP, IT, art and cultural assets, sports law, immigration and real estate, Withers Studio Legale is uniquely placed to provide a comprehensive service to Italian clients expanding abroad and international clients investing in Italy.

Principal practice areas include banking and finance; brands;  commercial litigation and arbitration; corporate M&A and commercial;  art and cultural assets; entrepreneurship; restructuring and insolvency; intellectual property, technology and privacy, residential and commercial real estate; sports law, personal and corporate tax; trust and succession planning as well as wealth structuring.

Most recently, in response to the needs of its international clientele, the firm’s Italian practice has developed a niche in servicing both the food and beverage sector and those who wish to invest in Italian real estate and hospitality. The latter includes hotels and leisure facilities, vineyards and agricultural land.

Withers Studio Legale was one of the pioneers in providing assistance to clients and their family businesses wishing to take advantage of Italy’s non-dom tax regime when it was introduced in 2017.  This has led to the development of a vibrant inward immigration practice.

Last but not least, the firm has been actively working with several of the start-ups, accelerators and venture capitalists involved in the growing Italian tech market, providing 360-degree assistance during the life cycle of their projects. Throughout the pandemic, Italian entrepreneurship in this sector has flourished with an increased number of companies setting up new businesses in life sciences, agri-tech, fintech, fashion-tech, sport-tech, art-tech and AI.