In the area of competition and European law in general, Irene has many years of experience in self-assessment procedures of horizontal and vertical agreements under the relevant EU Block Exemption Regulations, merger and acquisition assessments and notifications, assistance with inspections (“dawn-raids”), compliance programs, proceedings before national and EU authorities and courts, in cartel and abuse of dominance proceedings. On the subject of the fundamental freedoms under the EU Treaty, she has overseen numerous proceedings for preliminary rulings before the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Irene also accrued an extensive experience on specific aspects of compliance: not only on antitrust matters and on issues involving the Organizational Model under Legislative Decree No. 231/2001, but also on complex product and trade compliance issues, such as the release for free circulation and related customs aspects, marketing authorization, export control, labelling, EC marking and related policies.
She has gained experience in different industries, particularly in the fashion/luxury, life sciences, automotive, food & beverage and consumer goods industries.
“Thanks to the synergy between Irene’s background and that of Enzo Marasà, already a member of Portolano Cavallo since 2016 and counsel since 2018, today we are able to offer exponentially deeper and broader expertise in the area of antitrust and European law,” commented Francesco Portolano. “Furthermore, Irene’s exceptional track record on product and trade compliance issues for major Italian and foreign brands significantly strengthens our offer on regulatory issues, particularly in the Life Sciences and fashion/luxury industries, among those in which we are most involved”.
Irene graduated in law from the University of Salerno in 1994 and was admitted to the Bar in 1997. She then received a Master’s Degree specializing in European Union Law, Economics and Policies from the European College of Parma. Prior to joining Portolano Cavallo, she was a partner at De Berti Jacchia from 2005 and co-headed its Brussels office, where she was located from 1999 to 2001.
She authored more than 150 legal science and academic publications, and is a Non-Governmental Advisor (NGA) to the EU Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition within the International Competition Network (ICN). Since 2012, Irene is admitted before Italy’s highest courts.
