The IP team at Portolano Cavallo is recruited for its hard and soft IP services in TMT, fashion and luxury, biotech, and pharma, with particular skills in handling the intellectual property aspects of film production. The group, which also houses a German desk, boasts a strong copyright practice that works closely with the firm’s TMT and dispute resolution departments to support multinational and domestic clients. Team leader Lydia Mendola focuses on trade mark, patent, design, and copyright disputes as well as commercial and transactional matters across various sectors, Maria Balestriero ‘s speciality lies in pharma-related work, and Chiara Marchisotti specialises in film, publishing, fashion, and digital matters. Francesca Ellena is another name to note.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘With respect to the IP sector, the team is very good, being composed of IP-specialised lawyers like Lydia Mendola, Maria Balestriero and Francesca Ellena. They are very smart and have a lot of experience in representing clients in litigation before Italian courts.’

  • ‘I like very much working with Maria Balestriero, who is very experienced in IP law and in dealing with patent lawsuits in all the technical sectors.'

  • ‘Ernesto Apa always manages to exceed any even high expectations and proves to be a source of ideas for further development of new activities every time.’

  • ‘They are well acquainted with the practice of the Unified Patent Court.’

  • ‘The briefs and deeds Maria Balestriero drafts are always very clear and straightforward.’

  • ‘The lawyers I work with are extremely well prepared and they have an amazing knowledge of the law and of the business sectors I work in. They are always business-oriented, innovative and focused on enabling the company to do business in compliance with the applicable law.’

  • ‘Dedicated. Strive for the best possible outcome for their clients.’

  • ‘They go above and beyond to seek a good result for you. Very responsive when issues are time-sensitive.’

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Lydia Mendola

Other key lawyers

Maria Balestriero, Chiara Marchisotti, Ernesto Apa, Francesca Ellena