“The colleagues we have promoted today come from different professional backgrounds,” commented Francesco Portolano as he congratulated the new partners and counsels. “Some have been with us since after graduation, while others have gained experience in leading Italian or international firms. This is proof of our commitment to promoting professional growth based purely on merit. In further confirmation of this, and in recognition of the fact that gender has no bearing on talent, four of the nine new appointments are women”.
It has been a year of development and innovation for Portolano Cavallo: in March 2018, for the second consecutive year the firm was the only law firm in Italy to be recognized as having an excellent working environment in the Best Workplaces Italia 2018 ranking released by Great Place to Work®. Also in March, the firm was awarded the Law Firm of the Year: Italy award by the British magazine The Lawyer. In April 2018, the firm announced the appointment of Giulio Novellini as of counsel to further expand the Privacy and Cyber Security work group headed by partner Laura Liguori. Finally, in 2017 the firm became the first Italian law firm to adopt an artificial intelligence platform to manage some of its activities.
Barbara Corsetti has worked for Portolano Cavallo since 2002, assisting Italian and foreign clients in matters of corporate and real estate law. She also focuses on commercial contracts and various aspects of consumer law, the Internet and e-commerce.
Tommaso Foco has collaborated with Portolano Cavallo since 2012, where he principally focuses on corporate and restructuring law. Previously, Tommaso worked with Bonelli e Associati (now BonelliErede), Shearman & Sterling, Cleary Gottlieb, and Steen & Hamilton. Between 2003 and 2012 he was a partner of a law firm in Milan and head of the M&A group. Tommaso completed an LLM at Harvard Law School and is a member of the New York Bar.
Luca Gambini has worked with Portolano Cavallo since 2007 where he focuses on corporate law and M&A transactions, private equity, and venture capital, concentrating particularly on the Life Sciences sector.
Andrea Gangemi has collaborated with the firm since 2006 and advises clients on employment matters. He has previously collaborated with other law firms in the employment law sector. Andrea is ranked by Chambers Europe.
Martina Lucenti has joined Portolano Cavallo in October 2017 and focuses on commercial and corporate litigation. Before joining Portolano Cavallo, Martina worked in the litigation and national and international arbitration department of BonelliErede from 2006, where she was promoted to Managing Associate in 2013. Since 2008 Martina has also been a registered Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales (Non-practicing).
Lydia Mendola joined Portolano Cavallo in April 2016 as the head of the Intellectual Property department. She previously worked for Fusi Testa Cottafavi Canu & Associati for seven years; between 2007 and 2008 she was a senior associate at Bonelli Erede Pappalardo (now BonelliErede), and in 2008 was appointed as the head of the Italian intellectual property team at Allen&Overy, a role she fulfilled for eight years. Lydia completed a PhD in International Economy Law at Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi in Milan.
Marco Blei joined Portolano Cavallo in February 2017 and focuses on intellectual property with a focus on patents, in particular in the Life Sciences sector, as well as Life Sciences transactions. Before joining Portolano Cavallo, in 2012 Marco worked for BonelliErede, focusing on IP and IT/Privacy, also in the Life Sciences sector, and previously worked for Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners and the Alfio Rapisardi law firm. Marco completed an LLM in Intellectual Property at King’s College London.
Elisa Stefanini joined Portolano Cavallo in February 2017, focusing on administrative and regulatory law and compliance in particular in the Life Sciences sector. Elisa previously worked for BonelliErede, Bird&Bird and BLB Studio Legale. After a PhD in constitutional law, from 2006 to 2010 she was a contract professor of public and constitutional law at Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi in Milan.
Enzo Marasà joined Portolano Cavallo in November 2016, focusing on regulatory and antitrust law. He previously spent six years in the Antitrust, EU and Regulatory Law department at BonelliErede, before joining Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe to launch the Antitrust practice in Brussels. Before joining Portolano Cavallo, Enzo was counsel and head of the Antitrust and Regulatory Law department at Orsingher Ortu.
