About

An exceptional financial lawyer with knowledge and expertise across a whole range of financial transactions, Carmelo Reale currently oversees the strategic legal affairs function at Generali, one of the most significant players in the global insurance and financial products market. Over the past three years, Reale has been pivotal in leading a team tasked with providing assistance to the most relevant strategic transactions carried out by the group globally. Holding 13 years of experience accumulated in international and Italian law firms across Italy, the UK and the USA, it comes as no surprise that Reale was able to make a quick and immediate impact on the legal function at Generali upon joining the group in July 2013. One of the most notable achievements for Reale has been to lead a team of professionals that is able to suggest quick solutions and adapt to the company’s needs, allocating legal risks with best commercial practices, thus assuming the role of an active partner in the decision making process. Apart from this, he has made his mark with his efforts to ensure that the department is responsive in providing assistance in line with the dynamic evolution of projects and is able to work with the business team in stressful situations and within extremely tight deadlines. In the past three years Assicurazioni Generali has moved to a centralised system of operation, whereby the group, as holding company, provides a more coordinated control and assistance to units located in different countries. Reale and his team have been integral in this process by setting a positive example to other business units. ‘My team is considered an effective point of assistance to cascade best practices throughout the group entities but is also a reliable center of excellence within the group general counsel function worldwide’, he says.