Lawyer in Italy

Individuals

You may need assistance with a family or inheritance matter, a property purchase, an insurance claim or the protection of property rights. Where foreign nationals are involved, the parties’ countries of residence, the location of assets and documents issued abroad all matter. The work required is identified after these have been reviewed.

If your matter concerns Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence, Savona, Bologna or another city, please mention it in your enquiry. This helps establish the geographical connection. Mentioning a city does not mean we have an office or offer regular appointments at a local address; any meeting must be arranged separately.

Businesses and companies

For businesses, we consider contracts with Italian counterparties, company checks, investment projects, corporate matters and unfulfilled obligations. It helps to distinguish the legal task from any accounting, tax or financial work in your enquiry. Where necessary, we will clarify whether a professional with the relevant expertise can be involved.

Family, inheritance and civil matters

In family matters, we consider whether assistance is available with divorce, including where one spouse is a foreign national, division of assets, maintenance and child support, establishing paternity, adoption and marital agreements. The procedure and available claims depend on the circumstances; rules from one country cannot simply be applied in another.

In inheritance matters, we review evidence of family relationships, any will, the assets involved and steps already taken. Arranging an inheritance where a beneficiary is a foreign national requires the applicable rules and competent authority to be identified. We also consider civil contracts, obligations and disputes over ownership.

Property and notarial formalities

Potential assistance includes reviewing documents for residential or commercial property or land, purchase and investment terms, the seller’s rights and transaction risks. The checks required depend on the property and the buyer’s objectives. Support with a property transaction should be agreed before documents are signed or payments made.

Where a notarial act is required, we clarify whether an Italian notary needs to be involved. This may concern property, incorporation documents, declarations, inheritance documents or wills. Legal assistance and notarial certification serve different purposes and do not replace each other.

Commercial matters, tax and intellectual property

We consider business formation involving foreign nationals, corporate documents, banking requirements, commercial contracts and investments. Insolvency and bankruptcy enquiries are assessed separately. Tax matters may involve transaction structures, reporting, accounting and double taxation risks; conclusions require an assessment of the particular circumstances.

Intellectual and industrial property matters include establishing, using and protecting the relevant rights, including copyright. Whether registration, work on licensing terms or representation in a dispute is available depends on the subject matter and the territory in which protection is sought.

Disputes, criminal defence and enforcement

For debt claims, we review the contract, each party’s performance, any objections and information about assets. Assistance may include negotiations, court or arbitration proceedings and enforcement of a decision. In insurance disputes, we examine the policy, the event, the claim submitted and the insurer’s response.

In criminal proceedings, defence before the police, prosecution authorities or courts must be agreed with a lawyer authorised to act. Please immediately mention any detention, summons or scheduled procedural step. An application to the European Court of Human Rights is considered as a separate instruction, rather than a routine continuation of any dispute.

Documents and translation

You can enquire about obtaining certificates, official records and other documents, or about written, legal or sworn translation. For document translation the receiving institution’s requirements are needed. Whether an apostille, another form of authentication or a notarial act is required depends on the particular document, rather than simply on the country concerned.

Preparation and how we work

Information needed to assess your enquiry

Describe your objective, the city or region, the parties involved and important dates. Provide complete copies of contracts, decisions, correspondence or property documents. Tell us if another representative is already acting or proceedings have begun. For a counterparty check, provide its exact details and distinguish suspected fraud from established facts.

Following an initial review, we clarify the professional expertise required, the scope of work and whether it can be handled remotely. Fees, preparation times and additional costs are agreed. A power of attorney, translation or delivery of originals is needed only where the particular instruction requires it. Whether the client must attend in person is determined separately for each step.