Osborne Clarke’s broad practice ranges from investigation proceedings for cartels, abuse of dominance, and lodging of complaints, to merger control filings, where it regularly represents clients before the European Commission, the Italian Antitrust Authority, and in appeals before the EU Courts and Italian administrative courts. The team is headed by Enrico Fabrizi, noted for his expertise in compliance programmes, competition law audits, and unfair commercial practices, while environmental matters specialist Valeria Veneziano is skilled in litigation related to antitrust infringement and merger control proceedings. The practice’s retail and consumer group is chaired by Angelo Molinaro, who is well-versed in both contentious and non-contentious antitrust matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Enrico Fabrizi and his team have the ability to conduct in depth analysis of intricate legal matters and come back with solutions that go straight to the point, delivering advice that is always precise, clear and straightforward. His ability to make complex issues simple and to deliver effective solutions is a quality that I have not found in many other antitrust lawyers.'
- 'I have recently worked with Osborne Clarke's antitrust team on a very complex legal action for damages for an alleged abuse of dominance that involved both antitrust and IP issues. The collaboration was totally smooth and key to the successful outcome of the case.'
- 'Enrico Fabrizi and the two most senior lawyers of the team (Valeria Veneziano and Angelo Molinaro) have worked together for more than 20 years, and this very unusual characteristic makes the team strong and close, capable of successfully managing heavy workloads.'
- 'Enrico Fabrizi has a very sharp mind that is capable of seeing all aspects of complex legal matters, whilst maintaining an approach that is practical and solution-oriented. He also has very strong personal skills, which makes it easy for clients to relate with him and to trust him.'
- 'Valeria Veneziano is a very knowledgeable professional, noted for her ability to be effective, clear and practical. She has an exceptional talent for understanding the specificities of the sectors clients operate in and for delivering tailor-made solutions.'
- 'Angelo Molinaro is an extremely valuable professional, who is capable of acquiring an in-depth understanding of the client's reality and of its effective needs. He has a very strong legal background, which makes him capable of easily addressing the various legal aspects of a multifaceted matter.'
- 'The antitrust team at Osborne Clarke is exceptionally competent, certainly among the best in Italy. They stand out for their ability to navigate conceptually complex issues, for their understanding of the economics involved, and for finding sensible solutions to problems.'
- 'Enrico Fabrizi and Valeria Veneziano are exceptionally skilled lawyers and a pleasure to work with. They can leverage a deep understanding of antitrust law and of the procedural aspects of antitrust proceedings.'
Key clients
- APA – Associazione Produttori Audiovisivi
- Arad Ltd.
- Autotorino S.p.A.
- CNS – Consorzio Nazionale Servizi
- Credem – Credito Emiliano S.p.A.
- FAAC S.p.A.
- Grendi Trasporti Marittimi S.p.A
- Nuovo Imaie
- Ovdamatic S.p.A.
- Reale Group
- WaterTech S.p.A.
- Procter & Gamble Italia S.p.A.
- Pometon S.p.A.
Work highlights
- Secured a 99% discount on a fine levied on CNS, when our client found itself at the centre of an Article 101 cartel investigation by the IAA, following its involvement in a €2.7 billion public tender procedure, the largest ever issued, at the time, by a public administration in the EU.
- Assisted Watertech and its parent company, Arad Ltd., in appealing a cartel sanctioning decision before the first instance administrative court, and obtained a significant fine reduction.
- Saw off a rarely seen damages claim against Nuovo Imaie, a collective management organization for artists' rights, brought by Artisti 7607, another collective society active in the same sector, alleging abusive behaviour by our client, due to its apparent failure to honour commitments made binding by the IAA in 2017.
Lawyers
Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Osborne Clarke
Enrico is an internationally recognised expert in Italian and European competition law. A former official of the Italian Antitrust Authority, he advised Italian and foreign clients on a number of matters resulting in leading precedents.
He is the Head of the Italian Competition, Antitrust & Trade team, the Italian member of the International Council of Osborne Clarke, and the Head of the Osborne Clarke office in Rome. His legal experience covers the entire spectrum of antitrust activities, from merger control to cartel investigations and proceedings for abuse of dominance.
Enrico represents companies, active in several economic sectors, before the European Commission and the Italian Antitrust Authority in the context of investigation proceedings for cartels, other restrictive practices and abuse of dominance, as well as in relation to the lodging of complaints and merger control filings. He assists clients in the appeals of the decisions of the EU Commission before the EU Courts (General Court and Court of Justice) and of those of the national Authority before the Italian administrative Courts. He also represents clients in civil law proceedings relating to antitrust infringements (actions for damages and nullity of contracts or contract clauses).
Enrico has significant expertise in designing and implementing specific compliance programmes, performing competition law audits and conducting training activities.
He also developed extensive experience in the field of unfair commercial practices and misleading advertising. He has been consistently ranked by Chambers & Partners Europe, regularly speaks at leading industry conferences and is a frequent contributor to publications on antitrust matters. He received a Master’s Degree (LLM) from the University College of London.
Enrico is admitted to appear before the Italian Supreme Courts.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Enrico Fabrizi