White & Case advises Italian and international clients on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, capital markets, acquisition and project finance, securitizations, general corporate matters, real estate, construction, tax, litigation and antitrust. Our Italian offices have English, New York and French law capabilities.

As transactions and other matters involving Italian clients become more global, an international law firm with a network of offices around the world and on-site Italian, English, French and U.S. law capability provides significant value to such clients.

Corporate and Commercial
White & Case lawyers provide legal services in connection with the establishment, administration and winding up of all types of corporate entities in Italy. We represent clients in all aspects, including tax matters, of the establishment of their joint ventures and commercial arrangements in Italy.

Mergers and Acquisitions
White & Case advises multinational and Italian industrial and service businesses and commercial and investment banks in structuring and completing domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, leveraged and management buyouts, joint ventures and equity investments. We provide advice in all areas of law arising in such matters, including corporate, securities, tax, antitrust, and potential litigation. Lawyers at White & Case have participated in mergers and acquisitions transactions in the financial, telecommunications, electronics, pharmaceutical, chemical, real estate, transportation, banking, manufacturing, hotel, and construction sectors in Italy, among others.

Private Equity
The Private Equity practice is one of the core strengths of White & Case. The Firm represents leading national and international private equity houses, venture capitalists, founders, banks and management in organizing and advising on all aspects of the funding cycle, including: seed capital, first round funding, debt financing, venture capital and private equity investments. In addition to the funding cycle, the firm provides advice on various types of transactions involving private equity, including acquisition, sale and divesture. The Private Equity group regularly provides advice to funds and institutional investors in connection with their private investment activities, including co-investments and direct investments in portfolio companies. In addition, the private equity group advises on exits, including trade sales, initial public offerings (capital markets) and secondary sales.

Banking and Acquisition Finance
White & Case is active around the world and in Italy in the representation of financial institutions in their lending, investment and underwriting activities, as well as companies in their financing transactions. White & Case represents commercial and investment banks, investors, underwriters, borrowers, corporate trustees, lessors, investment advisors and sovereigns in a wide range of financial transactions, including secured and unsecured lending transactions, acquisition finance transactions and debt restructuring and reorganization transactions.

Capital Markets
The Milan office has a team of Italian and U.S./English capital markets lawyers that have participated in Italian domestic, international or combined securities offerings, whether involving equity, debt or hybrid securities. This team has acted on behalf of Italian issuers, Italian and foreign underwriters and other participants in Italian capital markets transactions involving the banking, manufacturing, internet, electronics, computer, telecommunications and food and beverage industries, among others. These lawyers have also participated in numerous Italian and international securitization transactions, many with complex derivatives components, and also advise clients on Italian securities regulation issues and Milan Stock Exchange rules.

Project and Equipment Finance
White & Case participates in international and Italian project finance transactions representing sovereign governments and state-owned companies, multilateral agencies, project sponsors, developers, and debt and equity investors in connection with nearly every facility or industry sector – airports, roads, bridges, railroads, power, energy and natural resources and telecommunications systems – financed on a project basis. We also assist our clients in leasing, asset-based financial structures and structured financial transactions in Italy and around the world involving capital equipment and facility financings, particularly for aircraft and other transportation equipment and a full range of industrial and manufacturing facilities. We also provide assistance in project or equipment finance involving guarantee insurance by SACE, Italy’s export credit agency.

Tax
White & Case provides sophisticated Italian and cross-border tax advice to clients in connection with their investment, mergers and acquisition and banking and finance transactions. We also counsel and represent clients with tax-related disputes with the Italian authorities.

Real Estate
The Real Estate group which joined White & Case in October 2004 is recognized as one of the leading real estate practices in Italy. The team handles a variety of cross-border real estate transactions, acting for leading European and international property investors, developers and occupiers, landlords and tenants, lenders and borrowers. The firm’s lease advisory work includes advising clients on lease transactions, from relatively small leases to major corporate headquarter transactions. Our Real Estate group provides full assistance to companies and individuals on property acquisition, property redevelopment and property management transactions.

Construction
White & Case provides expert advice on all aspects of construction law, from the inception of a project through to completion. The group advises on all construction and engineering industry related matters including procurement advice, drafting and negotiating contracts, bonds, warranties and guarantees, advising on Turn-key BOT and other similar schemes, preparing and evaluating claims, and health and safety. The Construction group’s experience also extends to advice on adequate insurance coverage and the pursuit of insurance claims, as well as international claims resolution and security realization under builders’ liens and surety bonds. The Firm provides a service to a broad range of clients including owners, general contractors and subcontractors, architects, engineers, developers, material suppliers and surety companies.

Antitrust
White & Case, together with colleagues from White & Case’s Brussels office, advises clients on matters such as Italian and EU merger controls, state aid and competition-related investigations by Italian and EU antitrust authorities. Through the Washington, D.C. and New York offices, the Firm provides U.S. antitrust advice and representation.

Litigation
White & Case handles complex cases before Italian courts and panels of arbitrators, both domestic and international, including arbitration proceedings governed by major international arbitration bodies, such as the ICC International Court of Arbitration and the London Court of International Arbitration.

Administrative Law
White & Case assists its clients in connection with the full range of Italian administrative law matters, including guidance in connection with public tender rules, concessions and privatizations.