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Claudio Cocuzza

Partner

Expertise

Claudio is the founding partner of the firm. With more than 20 years’ experience in legal advice on real estate investments and development for leading retail companies, he has been a key player in some of the most prominent transactions in the Italian real estate market. In particular, he has assisted leading players in the acquisition of trophy buildings and has also advised several foreign groups on their real estate development in Italy.

His clients include property companies, real estate funds, and retail companies from the fashion and IT industries. Moreover, Claudio has considerable experience in M&As, having participated in numerous corporate acquisitions, mergers and divestitures, both in the real estate and IT sectors.

Over the years, he has served as arbitrator in numerous commercial lease and franchising arbitration proceedings. In addition, Claudio is one of the leading experts on anti-money laundering legislation in Italy and assists numerous banks and professionals with regulatory compliance issues.

Claudio was previously an adjunct professor of competition law at the University of Siena and the University of Milano-Bicocca, as well as a lecturer in the subject at Tulane University Law School in New Orleans (USA). He regularly teaches courses in real estate law at the Retail University of the ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) in Brussels. He is often invited to participate as a speaker on these subjects at conventions and conferences, including international meetings.

Education

J.D., University of Siena, magna cum laude, 1985

Master of Laws (LL.M.), University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1988, with Fulbright scholarship

Università Bocconi, CERTI, Postgraduate Course in Corporate Taxation Law, 1993

Claudio is a Supreme Court of Cassation Attorney

Memberships

Claudio was Chairman of the AIJA (the Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats) in 2003 and is Past Chair of the Real Estate Section of the IBA. He is a member of the legal team of the European Council of Shopping Places.

He is currently Chairman of the Anti-Money Laundering Committee of the CCBE (Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe) and is also a member of the Anti-Money Laundering Committee of the Consiglio Nazionale Forense (National Bar Council) and the Consiglio dell’Ordine degli Avvocati di Milano (Milan Bar Council).

He is co-founder of the Camera degli Avvocati Internazionalisti (International Chamber) and Vice Coordinator of its Board of Directors.

Languages

Claudio offers legal advice and assistance in Italian, English, and French.