News Release
Latham & Watkins Expands its Italian Capability with the Launch of an Italian Law Practice
Latham to bolster Milan office and open Rome office with the arrival of a team of five leading partners
Milan/Rome, November 22, 2007... Latham & Watkins LLP1 is pleased to announce the significant expansion of its Italian practice with the launch of a local law capability, comprising a team of five leading Italian partners in Milan and Rome.
The arrival of this group from Bonelli Erede Pappalardo, one of Italy's premier law firms, establishes a formidable Italian law capability and strengthens Latham & Watkins' Italian practice as well as its broad European presence. Partners Andrea Novarese, Maria Cristina Storchi, Fabio Coppola, Tommaso Amirante and Simone Monesi will join Latham & Watkins, providing the firm with an experienced Italian law capability in the fields of M&A, private equity, equity and debt capital markets, and banking and finance. The team will join the firm's existing Italian practice, led by Michael Immordino, which regularly represents blue chip Italian companies and US and European financial institutions on the international aspects of many of Italy's most complex and high profile transactions. The arrival of this team solidifies Latham's significant presence in all of the major European economies.
"While we have advised on the international aspects of many of the market's landmark deals, we have aspired to build a strong Italian law practice. This group provides an excellent first step for the development of the firm's practice in Italy. This local law capability is crucial for our continued growth and leadership in the European capital markets, finance and corporate practice areas. The arrival of this team is another giant stride toward achieving our goal to become one of the premier full-service firms operating in all the major jurisdictions in Europe," said Michael Immordino.
David Miles, member of the Latham & Watkins Executive Committee, said: "This is an exciting milestone for Latham & Watkins in Europe. The addition of this high calibre team is a significant addition to our European full-service capability, with us now having meaningful offices in the five largest economies in Europe as well as the major financial centres. With more than 400 lawyers in our European offices, we have created an impressive platform on which to continue building our international practice."
Latham & Watkins has developed one of the largest and most sophisticated Italian practices among global law firms, advising Italian companies and investment banks on the international aspects of their capital market transactions, M&A and other corporate transactions. Recent transactions include advising ENEL in its €35 billion financing for the acquisition of Endesa S.A.; The Carlyle Group in its €1.7 billion acquisition of the commercial aero-engines, aerospace and defense business of Fiat Avio S.p.A., and its subsequent sale of the aerospace engine maker to Cinven in a deal that gave Avio an enterprise value of €2.57 billion; Piaggio & C. S.p.A. in its €315 million global IPO; and Banca Intesa S.p.A. in the €29.6 billion SanPaolo IMI S.p.A. merger.
The team of partners includes:
Andrea Novarese: Novarese is a finance partner with a focus on banking and finance matters, including acquisition finance, project finance, equipment finance, real estate finance and capital markets work. He joined Bonelli Erede Pappalardo in 1999. Previously, he served as an in-house counsel for the Banca Commerciale Italiana (now, Intesa SanPaolo) at its head office in Milan between 1994 and 1998, and at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in 1999. Novarese graduated from the University of Pavia in 1989 and obtained an LL.M. from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1992.
Maria Cristina Storchi: Storchi's practice focuses on M&A, in particular complex financing transactions, leveraged buyouts, privatisations, exchange and tender offers, corporate restructuring transactions, public tender and exchange offers, and domestic and international acquisitions. In addition, Storchi serves as a corporate advisor to several listed companies. She joined Bonelli Erede Pappalardo in 1995. Storchi graduated from the University of Milan in 1988.
Fabio Coppola: Coppola's practice focuses on domestic and international M&A, joint ventures, private equity and commercial contracts. He joined Bonelli Erede Pappalardo in 1995. Coppola graduated from the Federico II University of Naples in 1992.
Tommaso Amirante: Amirante specialises in M&A transactions, with particular expertise in joint ventures, private equity transactions, friendly and hostile takeovers, and commercial contracts. He joined Bonelli Erede Pappalardo in 1995 and is based in Rome. Amirante graduated from the Federico II University of Naples in 1992.
Simone Monesi: Monesi's practice focuses on M&A in the real estate and insurance sectors, fund formation and financial service regulatory issues. He joined Bonelli Erede Pappalardo in 1998. Monesi graduated from the University of Milan in 1993.
"We are delighted to be joining Latham & Watkins and look forward to practicing with our new colleagues. Latham's successful expansion into Europe has been phenomenal, and it now fields one of the most formidable teams in Europe. We greatly admire the firm's global platform, its depth and breadth of practice, its collegiate team ethic and its entrepreneurial management style. Few firms can rival its successful integration in Europe and its deal-making reputation for getting the most complex, business transforming deals done," said Andrea Novarese.
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