Firm Profile
Puopolo Geffers Iacobelli & Partners ("PGI") is an independent corporate and commercial law firm providing a full range of services to Italian and multinational corporations in a wide range of sectors, including the steel industry, commodities trading, insurance, banking, finance, renewable energy and gas, shipping and yachting. The international and educational experience of our partners and associates ensures creativity, rapid response and a clear understanding of our clients' business objectives.
PGI is organized in two major departments: Business & Finance and Disputes Resolution. In the Business & Finance department, PGI's corporate lawyers are constantly involved in major and mid-size acquisitions and disposals representing mainly international corporations investing in Italy in business sectors such as steel, energy, service industry, insurance. Typically, PGI's clients act on the Italian market by either acquiring an existing entity or by establishing their own business. PGI's lawyers work "around the clock" (Legal 500,2007) to ensure top quality legal advice combined with business sense to ensure the clients meet their targets.
PGI's Disputes Resolution department represents corporate clients in Litigation and Mediation on Corporate, Commercial, Insurance, Shipping and Employment matters as well as in International and National Arbitration matters. PGI's litigators understand the expectations of foreign clients when it is time to litigate. The international background and experience of our litigators allow them to guide clients and foreign counsels through the complexity of the Italian judicial system and to help them in understanding the cultural and technical differences with their own legal systems.
PGI has main offices in Rome and Milan and branch offices in Naples and in Genoa.
"The firm has developed strong expertise in the areas of Corporate and M&A acting on 10 M&A transactions ranging from 30 million to 150 million euros in the first six months.
Legal 500 quoted one client as describing founding managing partner, Gianfranco Puopolo, as " a lawyer and a businessman who understands the big picture and addresses all issues, while keeping the business in perspective. He is a deal maker because he drives and follows the deal through".
The firm specializes in the following industry sectors:
Insurance
Gianfranco Puopolo and Angelika Lentsch, have the practice experience and exceptional technically ability to service this demanding and fast-moving industry.
Finance
Gianfranco Puopolo runs the banking and finance team at PGI, recently joined by Arrigo Montella a commercialista and project finance specialist. The firm represented US hedge funds, Stark Investment and Cargill, in the assignment of receivables for Parmalat creditors.
Energy/Environmental
Frank Geffers heads up the team that has built up strong practice in this top-of-the-agenda sector.
Commercial Maritime Transactions
In 2006, PGI launched the Yachting Team. The lawyers and specialists working in this practice area include Gianfranco Puopolo, Lucilla Margherita, Roberta Padula and Arrigo Montella, with particular emphasis on corporate and finance aspects. The longstanding relationships with foreign lawyers ensures that transactions can be carried out not only in Italy but also internationally. Transactions include yacht finance, the sale, purchase, registration, leasing and chartering of mega yachts, shipbuilding, repair and refurbishment projects and management, agency, and general commercial contracts. The team acts for a wide variety of banks, shipyards, general contractors, ship and charter brokers, ship managers and shipping companies.
Information Technology and Communications
Frank Geffers and Angela Rinaldi have advised Amadeus GTD, a leading global distribution system and technology provider to the travel industry on its software agreements. The Italian Ministry of Defence is represented on privacy, video surveillance and antispamming matters.