Barbara Napolitano joins Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici

The Rome office of Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici has welcomed corporate and M&A specialist Barbara Napolitano as equity partner.

Napolitano arrives from BonelliErede, where she was partner for nearly 16 years, having joined the firm in 2001 from the firm that is now Gianni & Origoni. She has deep experience in public and private M&A, equity capital markets, and advising listed companies on corporate governance and ESG matters. Infrastructure and technology are particular sector strengths of hers; she counts blockchain, crowdfunding and cryptocurrencies as areas of expertise.

Highlights of her career at BonelliErede include advising LVMH on its $5.2 billion acquisition of Bvlgari, acting for Atlantia on its merger with Gemina to create a €10 billion company, and, most recently, assisting Autostrade per l’Italia with its €9.3 billion sale by Atlantia to a consortium led by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti last year.

Napolitano’s arrival is part of Gatti Pavesi’s continuing entrenchment in the Roman market: this is the office’s fifth hire in the last 15 months, having welcomed three tax lawyers and a competition expert. Gatti Pavesi is a competitor of BonelliErede for corporate and M&A work; both are currently classed as Leading in Leaders League’s ranking of the best law firms for large-cap M&A, though BonelliErede is generally considered to have the edge.

Napolitano’s departure is unusual for BonelliErede: the last time the firm lost a partner was in January 2020, when corporate finance expert Mara Fittipaldi left to join FIVELEX.