Schoenherr: closer than ever to Italian clients - without moving into Italy

MAG speaks with Alexander Popp, Daniele Iacona and Sebastian Gutiu following the announcement of strategic developments aimed at Italian clients. MAG is an Italian business and legal magazine published by Legalcommunity, focusing on the world of law firms, finance, corporate strategies and key players in the Italian and international legal markets.

"Our target market is the CEE region. We're shifting from a country-specific to an international approach focused on collaboration with Italian companies."
Alexander Popp

In December, Schoenherr announced the expansion of its Italian Desk, which will now operate as an Italian Hub. After 15 years of activity, this new structure aims to respond even more comprehensively to the needs of Italian businesses operating in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), leveraging the operational strength of a network with 450 lawyers and 15 offices in the region.

Founded in 2008 in Bucharest with the arrival of Daniele Iacona, now head of the Italian Hub, the desk is evolving into a one-stop shop for Italian entrepreneurs.
MAG spoke with Daniele Iacona, Schoenherr's Managing Partner Alexander Popp and Office Managing Partner at Schoenherr Romania Sebastian Gutiu to understand the meaning behind this strategic shift in the firm's approach to Italian clients.

From Italian Desk to Italian Hub: What does it mean?

Alexander Popp (A.P.): For decades, we've supported a strong base of Italian clients — companies active in the main markets where we operate. For instance, in Romania, where Schoenherr opened its first international office in 1996, we've long had a structure dedicated to serving Italian clients: an Italian Desk led by an Italian lawyer that has successfully advised Italian businesses. Now, with the launch of our CEE-wide Italian Hub, we're taking the next step forward.

In what way?

A.P.: We're moving from a country-by-country approach to a more international strategy, focused on collaborating with Italian businesses.
Rather than offering legal advice jurisdiction by jurisdiction, we aim to be a single point of contact for Italian companies operating across multiple CEE jurisdictions, covering all their legal needs in the region. We've already applied this model with several Italian clients — with highly positive results.

Italian Hub — in numbers:

• 10 lawyers in the Italian Hub
• 15 offices in the CEE region
• 450 Schoenherr lawyers in total
• 50,000 Italian companies active in the CEE
• EUR 160bln in trade volume between Italy and the region

"Our goal is to replicate this approach and become the go-to law firm for Italian investors operating in CEE."

How is your approach to the Italian market changing?

A.P.: The Italian Hub marks a significant shift in our approach to the Italian market. We'll continue strengthening our excellent relationships with existing clients, reinforcing partnerships with Italian law firms and pursuing new opportunities.
Our team — composed of both Italian and local professionals — is especially well-qualified to meet the expectations of Italian investors in CEE. In addition to our strong international capabilities, we also stand out for using cutting-edge legal solutions powered by artificial intelligence.

How active are Italian businesses in CEE today?

Daniele Iacona (D.I.): Currently, about 50,000 Italian companies are active in the region, with estimated direct investments of EUR 50bln and a trade volume exceeding EUR 160bln. Italy ranks among the top five trade partners for many CEE countries, and we expect further growth — also driven by the newly approved investment plan for the Western Balkans region: Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

What are the key figures and members of the Italian Hub?

D.I.: Our multijurisdictional Italian Hub includes around 10 Italian-speaking lawyers. The team is deeply familiar with the needs and expectations of Italian businesses and combines language skills, in-depth knowledge of local regulations, and a solid understanding of Italian business culture and practices. As a single point of contact for all legal matters of Italian clients in the CEE region, the Italian Hub provides access to the services of over 450 Schoenherr lawyers across 15 offices and four country desks (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Ukraine), covering all areas of commercial law. Thanks to this integrated approach, the Italian Hub is not just a legal service provider but a strategic partner for Italian businesses active in the region.

What have been some of the most significant transactions handled so far?

Sebastian Gutiu (S.G.): Over the years, we've advised Italian companies operating in Romania and the broader CEE region on a wide range of legal issues, covering nearly all areas of commercial law.

For example?

S.G.: While Romania remains a key destination for Italian investment, our Italian client base here is highly diversified. Each year, we work with many Italian companies across sectors such as financial services, energy, new tech, manufacturing and consumer goods. Our Bucharest team has advised clients on local legal matters and led project teams that supported Italian companies in cross-border issues across multiple CEE jurisdictions.

Could this initiative signal a potential expansion into Italy?

A.P.: No, we have no plans to open an office in Italy or elsewhere in Western Europe.
Our core market is Central and Eastern Europe, and we're satisfied with our current geographical coverage in the region. However, we definitely want to attract and assist more international clients from Western markets like Italy who wish to invest in CEE.

Alexander Popp | Managing Partner | Schoenherr Austria
T: +43 1 534 37 50478 | E: a.popp@schoenherr.eu

Sebastian Guțiu | Office Managing Partner | Schoenherr Romania
T: +40 21 319 67 90 | E: s.gutiu@schoenherr.eu

Daniele Iàcona | Head of Italian Hub | Senior Attorney at Law
T: +40 733 730 119 | E: d.iacona@schoenherr.eu