THE FIRM
We are an independent law firm specialized in Italian and EU financial law, with offices in Milan and Lugano.
Studio Legale Crocenzi e Associati (“SLCA”) was founded by Francesco Crocenzi in 1997.
Since then, SLCA built its own reputation of first-tier provider of legal services in the financial sector. We assist more than 100 funds, fund managers and law firms/advisers, representing about 25% of the foreign UCITS funds distributed in Italy and more than one-third of the issuers of ETFs listed on the Italian exchange.
We have a consolidated experience in guiding non-Italian financial intermediaries when entering the Italian market cross-border or through Italian branches or rep offices. Recently, our experience has been enhanced by the “Brexit”, whereas the achievements of the UK intermediaries for continuing their access to the EU market may be extended to other non-EU intermediaries.
We are committed to deliver top-quality legal services through a rigorous research process and frequent contacts with the Regulators in order to have at any time an updated and overall view of the Italian market.
At the same time, we pay great attention to the punctuality: legal services are rendered within such timeframe as it is strictly necessary for the study and the elaboration of the answers, and always within the deadline agreed with the Clients.
The Lawyers
Francesco Paolo Crocenzi
Partner
- Admitted to Rome Bar in 1990
- Graduated magna cum laude in Law from the LUISS Guido Carli University of Rome
- LLM in EU Law from University of Brussels
- Languages spoken: Italian, English, French, Spanish
- Email: crocenzifp@crocenzilex.com
Francesco Paolo Crocenzi is the naming and founding partner of Studio Legale Crocenzi e Associati.
From 1992 to 2002 he was Professorial Assistant in the Department of EU law, Law School of the LUISS Guido Carli University of Rome and until 2017 he served as Adjoint Professor of Financial Intermediaries Law at the University of L’Aquila.
Before founding his own firm, Francesco worked in two leading Italian law firms practising international law.
He practises corporate law with a focus on Italian and EU financial law. He advises international clients in connection with their Italian business, including the issue and the placement of securities in Italy, and the rendering of investment services.
In particular, Francesco assists non Italian funds and asset managers in their relationship with Italian institutional clients (such as investment funds, banks, insurance companies and pension funds). He represents foreign asset managers in administrative proceedings related to clearances or authorisations for their business in Italy, and, in particular, collective investment schemes in relation to the obtaining of any clearance for the marketing of their shares/units in Italy, as well as foreign entities seeking authorisation for Italian fund manager companies (“SGRs”) or branches established by these foreign entities.
He also assists ETF in the procedures for listing on Borsa Italiana, and obtained the first authorisation for the marketing of a foreign Alternative Investment Fund to retail investors in Italy.
He published several articles and contributions on Italian and EU financial law, including the Italian section of a multi-jurisdiction book on the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive published by the Oxford University Press, and served as panellist in several conferences, including the Globalisation of Investment Funds conferences of the International Bar Association.
Elda Cassetta
Associate
- Admitted to Palermo Bar in 2008.
- Member of the Rome Bar from 2009
- Graduated magna cum laude in Law from the University of Palermo
- PhD degree in EU and Comparative Law from the University of Palermo
- Language spoken: Italian, English, French
- Email: cassettae@crocenzilex.com
Elda earned her degree in Law with maxima cum laude from the University of Palermo and was awarded the “Giuseppe Maggiore” prize for the best thesis in Criminal Law in 2004. She holds a PhD degree in EU and Comparative Law from the University of Palermo, including 3 months of research at Cambridge University (UK).
Before joining the Firm, she worked as trainee lawyer in a leading firm in Palermo specialized in administrative law. From 2009 to 2010 she worked for the Legislative Department of the Minister of Justice.
In the Firm, Elda is mostly involved in the listing of Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) and in the ongoing assistance to foreign funds marketed in Italy; her practice also focuses on advising foreign asset management companies, regulatory duties under CONSOB and Bank of Italy Regulations, drafting of memorandum and legal opinions.
Elda has also an expertise in administrative law and in legal assistance in proceedings before the Courts.
Santi Toscano
Associate
- Admitted to Catania Bar in 2018
- Graduated in Law from the University of Catania
- LLM and MA in Law and Economics (E.M.L.E.) from Erasmus University Rotterdam and SGH Warsaw School of Economics
- Languages spoken: Italian, English
- Email: toscanos@crocenzilex.com
Santi graduated in Law from the University of Catania in 2014.
In 2015 he was admitted to the E.M.L.E. (“European Master in Law and Economics”) programme, earning a double master’s degree (LLM and Master of Arts) at Erasmus University Rotterdam and SGH – Warsaw School of Economics.
Before joining the Firm, he worked as trainee lawyer in a renowned firm in Catania specialized in civil and labour law and was a trainee at the Court of Appeal of Catania. In summer 2016 he also worked for Ernst & Young Poland (Warsaw) as an Intern.
In the Firm, Santi is engaged in providing assistance and legal advice to foreign funds, with a special focus on their ongoing legal compliance. In particular, Santi is specialized in the fields of Data Protection and AML laws and regulations. Moreover, Santi is involved in writing memoranda and in performing administrative duties with Consob and Bank of Italy.
Santi has also expertise in civil litigation, with a special focus on labour law disputes before the Italian Courts.