Nicola Asti

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has appointed Francesco Lombardo as its new office managing partner for Italy. The appointment, effective from 21 February, will run for a three-year term. Francesco Lombardo succeeds Nicola Asti, who managed the Milan and Rome offices from 2015, for two consecutive terms. Francesco Lombardo leads the financing and capital markets practice in Italy. He joined the Firm in 2008 and was elected partner in 2019. From 2021, Francesco has built up the sustainability group in Italy with the aim of developing and coordinating the firm’s offer in the areas of global business and human rights, sustainable finance, diversity, climate change and corporate governance. Francesco commented: “I feel honoured for the trust in me by my partners and by the management of the firm – a trust that represents an incentive to face the responsibilities of this demanding role with the utmost enthusiasm and energy. I take the baton from Nicola Asti, whose six-year mandate represents a model to inspire me. I intend to commit myself, with the support of the partners and all the colleagues, in the work of consolidation and development of our activities with the aim of providing our clients with excellent assistance and up to the changing needs that we identify on a daily basis in the market.” “Thank you to Nicola for the dedication over many years as office managing partner for our business in Italy,” says Markus Paul, Regional Managing Partner for Continental Europe at Freshfields. “I am pleased to welcome Francesco in his new role. Francesco has shown time and time again that he is forward thinking and a strong leader. All of us in Continental Europe and beyond are looking forward to working with Francesco and the other partners and colleagues in Milan and Rome in bringing our business forward.” Nicola Asti commented: “I am pleased that Francesco will take over the leadership of the firm in Italy and I am sure that with his enthusiasm and competence he will contribute to further strengthen our business in Italy.”

Feb 22

2 min

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has announced the appointment of Nico Moravia as counsel in the firm’s dispute resolution and antitrust, competition and trade groups. Nico will strengthen the Italian practice's ability to meet increased client demand for administrative and public law advice. Throughout his career, Nico has advised clients, particularly in regulated sectors such as telecommunications, energy and transport, on major infrastructure projects, including project finance transactions for the construction of large freeway infrastructures, stadiums and public hospitals. He is an expert in public procurement, management of local public services, publicly owned companies, town planning and construction. Having previously worked at Freshfields between 2003-2006, Nico is returning to the firm from his role leading the Administrative Law department of Italian law firm Pavia e Ansaldo since 2006. Nico’s appointment, which is accompanied by the addition of two associates, Tommaso Filippo Massari and Alessandro Paccione, aims to further expand the existing group dedicated to administrative law, considered a high added value practice increasingly involved in innovative and complex transactions. Nicola Asti, managing partner of Freshfields in Italy, commented: “Nico’s appointment reinforces the firm’s commitment to investing in talent, providing clients with strategic legal advice and integrating our multi-practice offer. The addition of Nico follows the recent internal promotions of Lorenzo Fusco, Giuliano Marzi and Luca Sponziello to counsel, demonstrating the continued growth of the Italian practice and its proactive approach to further strengthening its offering to clients.” "We are delighted to welcome Nico and his associates back to the ranks of our team. Nico has acquired unique skills and experience, which will contribute to the development of our regulatory and public law practice, strengthening our offering of an expertise that is increasingly requested by our clients," added Gian Luca Zampa, partner and head of the antitrust, competition and trade practice in Italy. About Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a global law firm with a long track record of successfully advising the world's leading national and multinational corporations and financial institutions on ground-breaking and business-critical challenges. Our team of more than 2,800 lawyers and other legal professionals delivers global results from our 28 offices worldwide. Our commitment, local and multinational expertise and business know-how means our clients can rely on us when it matters most.

May 5

2 min

Lo studio legale globale Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP annuncia la nomina dell’avvocato Francesco Lombardo come nuovo Office Managing Partner per Italia, con decorrenza dal 21 febbraio 2022. Francesco Lombardo subentra all’avvocato Nicola Asti, che ha coperto il ruolo dal settembre 2015 per due mandati consecutivi. Francesco Lombardo è partner responsabile in Italia del team “Financing and capital markets”. Entrato in Freshfields dopo aver vinto il Premio Freshfields edizione 2008, è stato eletto partner nel maggio 2019, a 36 anni. Dal 2021, è alla guida del gruppo multidisciplinare “Italy Sustainability Group”, formalmente lanciato in Italia con l'obiettivo di sviluppare e coordinare l’offerta dello Studio nei settori del business globale e dei diritti umani, della finanza sostenibile, della diversità, dei cambiamenti climatici e della corporate governance. Francesco Lombardo si è detto: “Onorato della fiducia che mi viene riconosciuta dai miei soci e dal management dello Studio, fiducia che rappresenta uno stimolo ad affrontare con il massimo entusiasmo ed energia le responsabilità di questo ruolo impegnativo. Raccolgo il testimone da Nicola Asti, che con il lavoro svolto negli ultimi sei anni, rappresenta un modello cui ispirarmi. Intendo impegnarmi, con l’aiuto dei soci e di tutti i collaboratori, nell’opera di consolidamento e sviluppo delle nostre attività con l’obiettivo di fornire ai nostri clienti un’assistenza di eccellenza e all’altezza delle mutate esigenze che raccogliamo quotidianamente nel mercato.” “Ringrazio Nicola per l’impegno dimostrato negli anni come Managing Partner dei nostri uffici italiani” dice Markus Paul, Regional Managing Partner del cluster “Continental Europe” di Freshfields. “Sono lieto di dare il benvenuto a Francesco nel suo nuovo ruolo. Francesco ha ripetutamente dimostrato doti di lungimiranza e di forte leadership. Tutti noi non vediamo l'ora di lavorare con Francesco e gli altri partner e colleghi di Milano e Roma per portare avanti il nostro business in Italia.” Nicola Asti ha accompagnato la nuova nomina esprimendo soddisfazione: “Sono lieto che Francesco assuma la guida dello Studio e sono certo che con il suo entusiasmo e competenza contribuirà ad ulteriormente rafforzare il nostro business in Italia.”

Feb 22

1 min

Global law firm Freshfields advised DB Finanziaria S.p.A., Kartesia and Farallon Capital Management on the binding agreement for the sale to NextChem (MAIRE) of the entire share capital of the Ballestra Group ("Ballestra"). Ballestra is one of the world’s leading players in the licensing, design, and engineering of processing plants, as well as in the supply of proprietary technologies and equipment for the chemical industry. Founded in 1960 and headquartered in Milan, Ballestra leads a group of companies including BUSS ChemTech AG (Switzerland) and Ballestra Engineering and Projects Pvt. Ltd (India). The Ballestra Group operates in over 120 countries, with around 450 employees and offices in Europe and Asia, serving a consolidated customer base and boasting extensive experience with more than 6,400 plants installed worldwide. Freshfields advised DB Finanziaria S.p.A., Kartesia and Farallon Capital Management with a multi-jurisdictional team coordinated by partners Yann Gozal (Paris) and Giancarlo D’Ambrosio (Milan), together with senior associates Kamile Bougdira (Paris) and Barbara Degli Esposti (Milan), supported by associates Romain Giraud (Paris) and Elena Martegiani (Milan). Partner Charlotte Colin-Dubuisson (Paris), counsel Sara Gil Garcia (Paris), and associate Paul Lesourd (Paris), advised on the antitrust aspects.

Jan 15

1 min

Freshfields conseille DB Finanziaria S.p.A., Kartesia et Farallon Capital Management sur la signature d’un accord de cession à NextChem (MAIRE) de la totalité du capital social du Groupe Ballestra (« Ballestra »), leader mondial en matière de licences, de conception et d’ingénierie d’usines de traitement, ainsi que de technologies et d’équipements exclusifs pour l’industrie chimique. Fondé en 1960 et basé à Milan, le groupe Ballestra dirige un ensemble de sociétés comprenant BUSS ChemTech AG (Suisse) et Ballestra Engineering and Projects Pvt. Ltd (Inde). Le groupe Ballestra est présent dans plus de 120 pays, avec environ 450 employés et des bureaux en Europe et en Asie, au service d’une clientèle bien établie et forte d’une expérience considérable, avec plus de 6 400 usines installées dans le monde entier. L’équipe Freshfields était coordonnée par Yann Gozal (Paris) et Giancarlo D'Ambrosio (Milan), associés, ainsi que Kamile Bougdira (Paris) et Barbara Degli Esposti (Milan), collaborateurs seniors, et Romain Giraud (Paris) et Elena Martegiani (Milan), collaborateurs. Charlotte Colin-Dubuisson (Paris), associée, Sara Gil Garcia (Paris), counsel, et Paul Lesourd (Paris), collaborateur, sont intervenus sur les aspects de droit de la concurrence.

Jan 15

1 min