A&O Shearman appoints Francesca Croci and Chiara De Luca as partners in Italy

A&O Shearman has announced the promotion of Francesca Croci and Chiara De Luca to partners within its M&A practice, effective from 1 May 2026. The appointments are part of a global promotion round involving 33 new partners across 14 countries and 18 offices, including 14 in Continental Europe, nine in the United Kingdom, four in the United States, three in the Asia-Pacific region, and two in the Middle East.

These promotions bring the total number of A&O Shearman partners in Italy to 17. The firm stated that the appointments align with a strategy focused on internal talent development and the integration of high-profile professionals to address increasing operational complexity in the market.

Francesca Croci joined the firm’s M&A practice in 2012 and is based in the Milan office. For over a decade, she has advised Italian and international clients on complex M&A transactions, with a specific focus on private equity. She regularly assists primary investment funds in the large and mid-cap segments across a full spectrum of operations, including majority and minority acquisitions, exits, and preferred equity structures.

Chiara De Luca joined the firm’s M&A practice in 2015 and operates across the Milan and Rome offices. She advises Italian and international corporate clients on a wide range of M&A operations, including inbound, outbound, and cross-border transactions, as well as joint ventures and take-private deals. She has extensive experience advising industrial groups and large corporations on multi-jurisdictional operations, with a particular focus on the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Paolo Nastasi, managing partner in Italy, commented that Croci and De Luca represent the firm’s vision through their talent and results, noting that the promotions are the result of an internal path of excellence. Francesca Croci stated her determination to contribute to the firm’s growth in Italy, particularly in private equity, while Chiara De Luca expressed her satisfaction in joining the partnership and her commitment to supporting the firm’s future success.