Europe Italy Competition/European Law

BonelliErede offers a market-leading competition team with expertise spread across its offices in Italy and Brussels. The law firm is particularly active in antitrust litigation, representing clients in a range of investigations, as well as assisting with appeals against adverse decisions and with follow-on damages cases. Team members also offer notable experience in state aid matters before both the Italian authorities and the European Commission. Additionally, the team acts on merger clearance mandates and foreign direct investment notifications.

Cleary Gottlieb remains one of the best law firms in the Italian competition market, thanks to its ability to cover the full range of behavioural matters and merger notifications. The team represents high-profile clients in antitrust investigations, damages claims and appeals before the Italian courts. Furthermore team members advise on state aid matters. It is active across a range of sectors, including telecommunications, energy, financial services and pharmaceutical.

Chiomenti has a particularly strong practice representing clients in contentious antitrust matters. The law firm advises on investigations into unfair commercial practices, including allegations of involvement in cartels, as well as acting for clients on private enforcement actions and appeals against fines imposed by the Italian Competition authority. The team is also active in merger control mandates, often in the financial sector. Team members offer additional experience in matters concerning EU law regulations.

Gianni & Origoni is a popular choice for clients from the financial services, transport and energy sectors. The law firm is active in both contentious and non-contentious matters, advising on merger filing mandates and the compliance of distribution strategies, as well as behavioural litigation. The team represents clients in investigations before the Italian Competition Authority, as well as in appeals against decisions by the Italian courts. Team members have additional experience in private damages enforcement claims.

Advant Nctm is particularly active in contentious competition law matters, representing clients in cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, as well as in follow-on damages cases and appeals against ICA decisions. The law firm also assists clients with merger clearance mandates, including acting on FDI aspects, and with antitrust compliance matters. The team acts for clients from the banking, manufacturing and technology sectors.

Clifford Chance often assists clients with the competition law aspects of corporate transactions, including acting on merger clearance and foreign direct investment filings, frequently advising on multi-jurisdictional matters. The firm's broad practice also encompasses unfair commercial practices investigations. It represents clients from the private equity sector, as well as companies from the FMCG and transport industries.

Freshfields acts for clients on investigations into unfair commercial practices and possible breaches of Articles 101 and 102. Following these investigations, the law firm has experience in challenging decisions made by the Italian Competition Authority and in representing clients in damages claims. The team also assists clients with merger control and FDI filings. It has a number of clients from the energy, TMT and pharmaceutical sectors.

Gattai, Minoli & Partners is an expert team equipped to assist national and international clients from the energy, automotive, pharmaceutical and financial services industries. The firm handles a broad range of competition and EU law, including merger controls, abuse of dominance and cartel investigations before the ICA. Corporations additionally benefit from the team's expertise in implementing and monitoring Italian Consumer Code compliance programmes.

Legance is particularly active in the competition law aspects of corporate transactions, including advising on Golden Power and foreign direct investment regulations for acquisitions and joint venture agreements. The law firm is particularly popular with clients from the financial services sector. The team also assists clients with vertical and horizontal agreements and with the competition compliance aspects of distribution agreements, as well as acting on antitrust investigations.

Baker McKenzie's Italian team is particularly active in consumer protection and unfair commercial practices mandates, representing clients in investigations into allegations of abuse of dominance and cartel involvement. The law firm frequently assists clients with challenges to ICA decisions. In addition, the team acts on merger clearance mandates and the competition compliance aspects of franchising agreements. It is a popular choice for clients in the technology and transport sectors.

DLA Piper offers a broad competition law practice, advising clients on merger clearance mandates and representing them in behavioural investigations. The firm is notably active in appeals against Italian Competition Authority decisions and in private enforcement actions. It also handles competition compliance mandates, including around distribution issues.

Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici often assists clients with domestic and multinational merger filings. The law firm is a popular choice with clients from the engineering, manufacturing, telecommunications and transport sectors. It also acts on follow-on damages claims and state aid matters.

Hogan Lovells offers a broad antitrust practice, acting on contentious and non-contentious matters. It represents clients in investigations into allegations of abuse of dominance and information sharing, as well as advising on reviews of existing decisions and damages claims. The law firm also has experience in merger clearance filings and competition compliance mandates.

Linklaters particularly acts for clients on merger clearance mandates and filings under the Golden Power legislation, often working alongside the firm's other offices on multi-jurisdictional filings. In addition, the law firm assists with behavioural matters, including investigations into possible breaches of Article 101 and challenges to previous Italian Competition Authority decisions. It has a number of clients from the pharmaceutical, technology and private equity sectors.

Osborne Clarke has a strong focus on contentious competition law matters, assisting clients with alleged breaches of Articles 101 and 102, as well as acting for them on appeals against ICA decisions and damages actions. The law firm additionally advises on merger clearance filings and antitrust compliance programmes.

Pedersoli Studio Legale is a popular choice for clients from the financial services sector for competition law matters. The firm has experience handling both foreign direct investment filings and unfair commercial practices investigations. It also assists with challenges to authority decisions and competition compliance issues.

Rucellai & Rafaelli handles a range of competition, antitrust, state aid and consumer protection matters, including assistance with litigation before national and European courts. The team regularly assists clients from the telecommunications, pharmaceutical, insurance and transport industries. It is experienced in handling abuse of dominance claims, merger filings and state aid issues.

White & Case is particularly active in contentious competition law matters, representing clients in abuse of dominance cases, cartel investigations and sector inquiries. The law firm further handles merger filings and the competition compliance aspects of commercial agreements and distribution strategies. Its clients come from a range of sectors, including media, technology and pharmaceutical. The firm is praised for its international network.

Allen & Overy often assists clients from the media and transport sectors with competition law matters. The team has recently been particularly active in contentious matters, representing clients in cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, as well as assisting them with appeals and follow-on damages claims. The firm also advises on merger clearance mandates, in addition to competition compliance issues, including around state aid regulations.

Bird & Bird enters the rankings this year on the back of recent activity in contentious antitrust matters. The law firm acts for clients on alleged breaches of Article 101 and 102, as well as representing them in subsequent challenges to authority decisions. The team also has experience competition compliance mandates, particularly around state aid and distribution issues.

Eversheds Sutherland frequently represents both claimants and defendants in ICA investigations into alleged cartels and abuses of dominance. The team offers additional experience in appeals against ICA decisions. The law firm also acts for interested third parties, advising on submitting comments to market tests and the possible implications of ICA investigations. Team members advise clients on obtaining competition clearance for mergers and assist with compliance issues, particularly involving distribution agreements.

Grimaldi Alliance deals with a range of competition and EU matters, including blockchain, anti-competitive commercial practices and abuse of dominance. The team notably handles cartel proceedings in front of the ICA. Its sector focus includes aviation, shipping and energy.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe advises clients on the competition aspects of multi-jurisdictional corporate transactions and joint venture agreements. The law firm also represents clients in investigations into alleged cartel involvement or abuse of dominance. The team is particularly popular with clients from the pharmaceutical industry.