Linklaters Studio Legale Associato draws on specialists in its banking, M&A, tax and litigation departments to complement its real estate practice. Francesco De Blasio heads the real estate department and maintains a broad practice, advising clients on complex property portfolio acquisitions, real estate contracts, joint venture developments and restructurings. Managing associate Francesco Calabria is noted within the team for his specialisation in real estate investment contracts.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘They are technically astute and they couple this with specialist bureaucratic knowledge of the peculiarities of the Rome municipality and difficult sellers and fund managers.’

  • ‘Francesco De Blasio is not merely a partner who involves themselves in strategic management, but also does the technical nitty gritty and drafting - a lawyer's lawyer.'

  • 'Francesco De Blasio's technical skill, together with Cristina Garlaschelli's, is impeccable, and their experience lends to patience in terms of dealing with very complex and adversarial parties with a diplomatic and more successful approach.'

  • ‘Very strong team led by Francesco De Blasio who is one of the strongest real estate lawyers in Italy. Very well embeded in the local real estate market, very client focused and a great fit for international asset managers investing in Italy.'

  • ‘You know that you can leave every legal matter with Francesco De Blasio in good hands. Francesco provides us with valuable and pragmatic advice that is always risk adjusted in an appropriate way and solution focused.’

Key clients

  • Macquarie
  • PGIM
  • Hines Italy Re S.R.L.
  • Ardian
  • Prelios SGR S.p.A.
  • W.P. Carey
  • Garbe Industrial Real Estate
  • Union Investment
  • Prologis Italy Management S.p.A.
  • Bain Capital Credit
  • Omnam Group Italy
  • Cerberus
  • Kryalos SGR S.p.A.
  • Blackstone
  • Panattoni Italy Development
  • Unicredit S.p.A.
  • Invimit SGR S.p.A.
  • Pimco Prime Real Estate
  • DeA Capital Real Estate SGR S.p.A.
  • Investire SGR S.p.A.
  • Kervis SGR S.p.A.
  • P3 Logistic Parks
  • Scannell Properties
  • Apollo Management International LLP
  • Cromwell Investment Luxembourg S. à r.l.

Work highlights

  • Assisting GARBE Industrial Real Estate and Union Investment in the forward sale and purchase transaction consisting in the acquisition of two logistics complexes under development in Castel San Pietro Terme and Tortona.
  • Assisting Bain Capital Credit and Omnam Group Italy in the acquisition of a property in Rome to be converted into hotel use.
  • Assisting WP Carey in the cross-border sale and lease back transaction involving eight industrial real estate complexes located across Italy and Spain.

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.
Linklaters Studio Legale Associato
Francesco is a managing associate in the real estate practice group, based in Rome. He has been practising in the field of real estate since 2007. After a couple of years’ experience in the legal office of a public housing entity, he started his path in the private sector, where he specialized on all types of contracts relating to real estate investments, both in the field of investments/divestments and in the asset management’s advice.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Linklaters Studio Legale Associato
Francesco de Blasio joined Linklaters in September 2021  as Head of the Real Estate department in Italy. Francesco’s experience, gained over 20 years of activity in the Real Estate sector, varies from advising clients on the acquisition of complex property portfolios, directly or through investment structures such as real estate investment funds - to corporate joint ventures aimed at real estate developments. Francesco also focuses on the main commercial Real Estate contracts, with particular regard to specific categories of properties such as hotels, sports facilities and logistic facilities. He has also gained significant experience on real estate restructuring and NPLs transactions, advising major specialized investors.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Francesco De Blasio

Other key lawyers

Francesco Calabria, Cristina Garlaschelli