Home

ABOUT US

Our team is made up of professionals with complementary backgrounds and experience, covering a wide range of areas of law, in particular non contentious company commercial and property law, with a particular specialisation in transactions with a cross border element. The firm’s lawyers include Italian qualified lawyers, with fluent English, and an English qualified lawyer (and ‘avvocato stabilito’ in Florence) with fluent Italian. As such, the firm is well placed to deal with transactions where an understanding of both legal jurisdictions and both cultures is necessary, and has accrued substantial experience in assisting Italians investing outside Italy (where the English language and experience of operating in the Anglo Saxon legal system is essential) and English speaking clients investing in Italy (where the knowledge of both legal systems and languages is essential).

SPECIFIC AREAS OF EXPERTISE

REAL ESTATE LAW

Advising both Italian and foreign clients in relation to all aspects of real estate transactions, in relation to both residential and commercial property, including tax structuring (purchase of real estate via an Italian company or through a company set up in a different legal jurisdiction); advising on all aspects of the acquisition process under Italian law including (where required) negotiation of agents’ fees and negotiation of the purchase price andformulation of the written offer to purchase (binding under Italian law); advising in relation to pre-emption rights issues, drafting and negotiation of preliminary contracts and completion before a notary and advising on all aspects of mortgage finance in relation to real estate acquisition transactions.

BUYING & SELLING PROPERTIES IN ITALY

This memorandum is intended to provide information regarding the acquisition of real property in Italy, with a specific focus on business property. It is important to note that the Italian legal system, in consideration of its particular historical background, attributes to a notary (Notaio) a predominant role in drafting the purchase agreement of land or buildings. Contrarily to what generally happens in common law countries, where the role played by the lawyer in real estate transactions is exhaustive, Italian lawyers are involved in such commercial transactions mainly in the preparatory phase which consists in the conducting of due diligence and negotiations between the parties. In any event the following information will be applicable in both legal systems.

ON GOING REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT SERVICES

In the case of real estate acquired through an Italian or foreign company, or by individuals and rented out to third parties, we also provide management services including dealing with Italian tax returns and refuse tax and compliance with all tax and administrative requirements.

We are constantly updated on the latest Italian law news for 2022-2023 regarding tax bonuses, discounts for renovations, the release of mortgages for home purchases.

COMPANY COMMERCIAL LAW

All commercial contractual matters, in particular the drafting and negotiation of contractual documentation in the technology / software fields such as technical know-how and licence agreements; share / asset sale / purchase agreements and agreements for services, licensing, distribution, purchase and agency agreements for the fashion industry; joint ventures and cost sharing arrangements and ‘preliminary’ agreements such as confidentiality agreements and letters of intent.

GENERAL CIVIL LITIGATION

Our team of lawyers have solid general civil litigation experience. Our specialisation, however, lies in advising foreign clients in relation to disputes arising in Italy, in particular of a personal injury nature and in relation to issues relating to agreements for the rental of accommodation and review of legal documentation.

TRANSLATION OF LEGAL DOCUMENTS

Typical documents submitted to us for translation and/or proof reading are:

• Contracts (referencing Italian Civil Code)
• Marriage Decrees
• Divorce Judgements
• Dual Citizenship documents
• Birth & Death Certificates
• Child Custody Agreements
• Adoptions
• Balance Sheets

ADVICE AND SERVICES FOR FOREIGNERS WISHING TO OBTAIN VISA OR TAKE UP RESIDENCE IN ITALY

The firm has extensive experience in dealing with a broad range of bureaucratic issues encountered by foreigners moving to, or living in Florence, navigating the complex Italian ‘red tape’ to fulfil administrative obligations on behalf of clients efficiently and in the shortest possible time.

Our services include dealing with applications for permits to stay, visas (passport) for tourism and studying purposes, residency and work permits and official translations of legal documents sworn before the court in Florence for the use in legal proceedings of both a contentious and non contentious nature in Italy. If you need any of the service above, please consider the opportunity to act in advance and save time getting your Italian Fiscal Code here.

INHERITANCE LAW AND INHERITANCE TAX

Italy has rules of ‘forced heirship’, whereby specific members of one’s family are entitled to specific proportions of one’s estate on death and it is not possible to disinherit them.

Such forced heirship rules may well apply in relation to real estate owned by foreigners in Italy, unless specific action is taken to ensure that the laws of the county in which the deceased was resident immediately prior to his / her death apply to the distribution of his / her estate on death.

This may come as a surprise to foreign clients who come from jurisdictions based on ‘free testament’ so long as an individual executes a will determining the distribution of his / her estate after death. We are able to advise of the impact of Italian succession law, liability for inheritance tax in Italy and in the country of origin and the double tax treaty rules which apply in each case.

If you have a question, please leave a message in the box. Our Lawyers will reply to you within 24 hours. Please take into account that our first response will be free of charge.

The text published in this website is not intended to render legal, accounting or tax advice. Readers are encouraged to write us in order to have a professional advice concerning specific matters before making any decision.