Withers Worldwide

• Education: University of Padua, Italy, LL.B equivalent
• Admitted: Italy - Avvocato, 1994 • England and Wales, 2005
• Languages spoken: Italian
• Year joined: 2005
• Year became partner: 2008

Overview

Roberta is head of the Italian desk and her practice is mainly corporate-commercial. She is well versed in corporate cross-border transactions and in all major international conventions governing international contracts as well as the principles of international trade/finance and the enforcement of foreign judgments and Court orders.

She has an extensive understanding of different judicial systems and laws and as a result of grounding in Civil Law, a marked ability to synthesize Civil law principles with Common Law concepts. The international nature of her practice has led her to develop excellent contacts with many American, European and Asian law firms.

Highlights

• Managing the Italian corporate due diligence of one of the largest acquisitions by an Italian company of a US public company.
• Assisting foreign investors in carrying out corporate due diligence in several jurisdictions and setting up of the structure for the acquisition of a large wine estate/Italian company in Tuscany.
• Provided expert legal opinion under Italian Law on an agency dispute against a major Italian steel company.
• Handling the acquisition and structuring of the purchase of an island in Venice and assisted several Italian companies with their acquisition of UK subsidiaries.
• Advising a UK property fund on its acquisition of several Italian real estate developments.

Publications and speaking engagements

Roberta has spoken on the following topics:

• Agency Agreements in Italy and UK
• Italy Product liability in Europe
• How to Draft an International Contract According to Italian Law
• How to Buy a Piece of Italy
• Letter of Credit and Stand By letter of Credit

Roberta is a frequent contributor to the legal column of 'Italian Magazine'.

Memberships

• Italian Bar Roll of Solicitors for England and Wales
• International Bar Association
• British-Italian Law Association
• Business Club Italia
• Board member of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK
• Registered as a European Lawyer with Law Society

On a personal note

Roberta, a great cook, is a staunch supporter of Jamie Oliver's campaign for healthier food and encourages everyone to eat the Mediterranean option in the canteen.