Milan, 16th November 2023 – Pietro Merlino, an expert in Antitrust & Competition law, joins Legance as Partner in the EU, Antitrust and Regulation Department.

Pietro has acquired extensive experience on every aspect of both EU and domestic antitrust law, including in particular abuse and restrictive practices and concentration control, as well as issues related purely to intellectual property, distribution agreements and antitrust compliance programs. He also has particular experience in the pharmaceutical and energy sectors, in which he has handled both leading abuse and restrictive practices cases and concentration transactions, involving multi-jurisdictional aspects too, he also deals with issues regarding the relationship between antitrust law and intellectual property rights.

Pietro regularly appears before the EU Courts, Italian civil and administrative courts, as well as the Directorate General of the European Commission and the Italian Antitrust Authority.

He has been the partner in charge of the Antitrust Department of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in Italy since 2018, after a long stint at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.

“The demand for top-level antitrust advice,” comments Alberto Maggi, Managing Partner of Legance, “from the European and Italian markets has been steadily increasing in recent years. Pietro’s arrival fits perfectly into Legance’s strategy of offering a premium Antitrust service by integrating him into our Department currently led by partner Vito Auricchio.”

“Pietro is a recognised player in the Italian antitrust market,” says Vito Auricchio, “he has consolidated experience in antitrust and abuse matters and a unique know-how in the pharma sector. We are delighted that Pietro is joining Legance, and we are convinced that his professional characteristics will be an excellent match with the rest of the Team enabling us to continue to offer our clients top-level antitrust advice”.

He joins Legance with two associates – Giulia Scrivanti and Tommaso Olivieri – with whom he already works.