LCA Studio Legale‘s sports law department is led by Federico Venturi Ferriolo, whose knowledge spans sports regulatory frameworks, corporate governance, and cross-border transactions and disputes before the Court of Arbitration for Sport and sports federations. The group primarily represents sportspeople, with other clients being broadcasters, agencies, investors in the sports sector, and companies involved in tours, events and competitions. Also on staff are Lorenzo Vittorio Caprara, who has experience across sponsorship matters, high-profile player transfers, sports employment issues and regulatory work, and Nicolò Peri, who is brought in to advise on M&A, transfers, and litigation.

Led by ‘benchmark in sports law’ Luca Ferrari, Withers Studio Legale houses a multifaceted sports practice, well-versed in handling corporate investments and M&A, tax matters, commercial projects, and regulatory compliance for clients involved in a vast range of sports, from football and basketball to Formula 1, sailing, and boxing. The team is also noted for its representation of high-profile sportspeople, clubs, and agents in disputes with federations, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders. Ferrari is supported by Alessia Murgia, a football specialist with significant experience advising Serie A clubs and prominent players and agents on an array of matters. Other notable team members include Mario D’Anna and Fiona Giordani.

With experience advising clients on stadium development projects, talent contracts, media matters and more, the sports offering at Bip Law and Tax represents an array of well-known athletes and players. Co-heads Eleonora Cangemi and Filippo Collia are key names for employment matters, and third practice co-head John Shehata is well-versed in high-stakes private client, contractual, corporate and transactional work in the sports sector.

The sports offering at BonelliErede draws on the firm’s many departments to advise on PE acquisitions and M&A involving major sports clubs and companies, complex employment contracts for high-profile football stars, real estate matters, and the lucrative media rights market. With an impressive client list comprising Serie A giants and clients in various other sports, the team is led by Marco Maniscalco and regularly represents players, agents, and other stakeholders in disputes before various disciplinary bodies. Vittorio Allavena and Gianfranco Veneziano are key contacts for sports sector clients.

Under the direction of M&A, PE, and cross-border transactions specialist Antonio Sascaro, Chiomenti‘s sports law services span advice on the acquisition of clubs, stadiums, and other sports-related assets, issues at the cross-section of sports and administrative law, the organisation of large-scale sporting events and competitions, and more. Experienced liaisons between industry stakeholders and sports regulatory bodies and federations, the team includes Marco Cerritelli, who specialises in the development, refurbishment, financing and redevelopment of stadiums and sports venues.

The practice at Gallavotti Bernardini & Partners is led by Stefano La Porta, who has extensive experience acting for athletes, clubs, governing bodies and other key stakeholders in contentious and non-contentious respects. The team advises on the organisation of large sporting events, assists with player transfers and guides Italian and international clubs and bodies on regulatory matters and disputes.

The sports practice at Hogan Lovells International LLP is broad. Co-head Paola Barometro focuses on institutional investments into Italian football and other cross-border football-related transactions, including PE deals and M&A, and ex-DLA Piper partner Francesco De Gennaro, who joined the team in January 2025, leads on restructuring mandates and distressed M&A in the sports industry. The group also advises on sports infrastructure and real estate matters, such as stadium redevelopment projects, IP and branding work, employment issues and regulatory disputes. Alessandro Lanzi, who arrived with De Gennaro, also focuses on restructuring and special situations.

The team at Dentons offers a variety of services pertinent to the sports sector. Co-head Alessandro Dubini advises on corporate agreements, M&A and PE deals involving sports sector stakeholders, including merchandisers, and IP-focused co-heads Giangiacomo Olivi and Federico Fusco are key names for broadcasting, e-sports, sponsorship and image rights issues and data protection work. Also leading the group is Davide Boffi, who handles employment matters in football and drafts privacy policies, internal procedures and disciplinary codes.

The team at Legance - Avvocati Associati is jointly overseen by M&A and PE specialist Andrea Botti and Andrea Sacco Ginevri, who handles regulatory, corporate, project-related and privatisation matters within the sport sector. The group also provides advice on broadcasting and media rights agreements, where Valerio Mosca is a key name, navigates sports-related real estate asset management, and advises on sponsorship contract matters and a range of disputes concerning various stakeholders involved in an array of sports. Marco Iannò focuses on structured finance, securitisations and cross-border lending within sport, and Riccardo Paganin is well-versed in various transactions.

LegisLAB was established with sports law as a core work area and offers a multidisciplinary service to a variety of sporting clients, representing various entities in sport, from individual sportspeople and agents to clubs and investors interested in Italian sport. The team, which works under the leadership of founding partner Alberto Porzio, is primarily focused on football and advises on transfers, contracts, audiovisual rights matters, sponsorships and contentious issues. Gianluca Medina handles an array of contractual and regulatory work, and Paolo Marsilio‘s caseload blends sports law, digital marketing law and media law, with notable knowledge of the eSports industry.