Leading Italian independent law firm Gianni & Origoni has struck a deal to absorb specialist five-lawyer structured finance and debt boutique firm iLS.
Founded in 2018 by Norman Pepe, iLS’s team includes partner Fabrizio Occhipinti, senior associate Federico De Zan, associate Luca Marzolla and solicitor trainee Allegra Batacchi. The deal is due to go live in January.
The addition will boost Gianni & Origoni’s Band 2 Chambers-rated banking and finance department to 35 lawyers. Dual qualified as an avvocato in Italy and a solicitor of England and Wales, Pepe will join as an equity partner and will be based in the firm’s 11-lawyer London office. His team will continue to be based in Milan.
Pepe and his team specialise in banking and structured finance, with a focus on residential and commercial mortgage-backed securitisation transactions, distressed portfolios, non-performing loans, principal finance and real estate finance transactions.
Gianni & Origoni co-managing partner and co-head of the banking and finance department Giuseppe De Simone, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Norman and his team. Their experience and specialised expertise in the field of structured finance are an asset for our clients, who will benefit from enhanced capabilities in this area. This further strengthens our ability to tackle global challenges effectively and in a timely manner.”
Pepe added: “The integration between iLS and Gianni & Origoni marks another important step in the growth of our team and the consolidation of our expertise and services within our practice. We are confident that the synergies between our firms will further expand the services we offer our clients as well as strengthen our leading role in the most significant transactions in the market.”
Before founding iLS, Norman was a partner with Gitti & Partners. He began his career as an associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus & Deringer in 2001 and worked at several firms, including BonelliErede and Paul Hastings. In February, iLS was recognised as Law Firm of the Year Non-Performing Loans at Milan’s 2025 LegalCommunity Finance Awards.
With 11 offices in Italy and abroad, Rome-based Gianni & Origoni has grown to nearly 500 lawyers since its founding in 1988 as a full-service commercial law firm.
The deal comes as international law firms increasingly look to Italy, particularly Milan, amid a boom in private equity and M&A deals and increased activity from foreign investors.
Earlier this month, HSF Kramer hit BonelliErede for a five-lawyer banking team in Milan, led by highly-rated banking partner Emanuela Da Rin.
Last month Ropes & Gray opened its second European office in Milan with a PE trio hired from Latham & Watkins, while earlier this year Taylor Wessing announced a strategic alliance with 27-partner Italian firm Orsingher Ortu, and Charles Russell Speechlys opened an office in Milan targeting ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
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