Antonio Distefano

Partner

antonio.distefano@targetlaw.it

T +39 02 72008247
F +39 02 93661102

PROFILE

Antonio Distefano advises private and corporate clients in complex disputes on civil, commercial and bankruptcy law.

Prior to founding TARGET, he has been the head of the
Italian litigation practice of Latham & Watkins for several years. Before that, he was a litigation associate at the Milan office of Bonelli Erede Pappalardo and Lombardi Molinari e Associati.

EDUCATION

LUISS Guido Carli (Rome, Italy), law degree, 2000

MEMBERSHIP

Italian Bar (Milan, Italy), 2004
Admitted to practice before the Italian High Courts, 2017

EXPERTISE

Contractual disputes
Commercial litigation
Professional liability
Securities litigation
Bankruptcy and insolvency
Inheritance and succession
Arbitration

2025

Sermetra Holding

Legal and tax assistance to Sermetra Holding in connection with the management of relations with the minority shareholders of Pratico.it and the acquisition of their shares

2024

Giacomelli Sport

The Extraordinary Administration of Giacomelli Sport in a multi-million claw-back litigation claims against a pool of Italian banks

2024

Salumificio Boschi Fratelli S.p.A.

Former owners of Salumificio Boschi Fratelli S.p.A., in the arbitration commenced by Parmacotto S.p.A., in its quality as purchaser of the 100% of the share capital of Salumificio Boschi Fratelli S.p.A., in relation to alleged breaches of certain reps and wars included in the SPA and to the indemnities allegedly due by the sellers

2024

Confidential client

Former general manager of a leading Italian bank, in a litigation regarding alleged directors’ and statutory auditors’ liability

2024

Conforama

In a complex litigation for alleged breaches of the representations and warranties under a SPA and damage claims of the approximate value of€70 million

2023

OAMC Manufacturing S.r.l.

And its controlling shareholders, as plaintiffs, in an arbitration before the Milan Chamber of Arbitration, relating to the exact performance of a complex contractual agreement for the unbundling of a business partnership in the fashion sector

2023

Confidential client

Series A Italian Football Club, as a defendant, in a litigation aimed at obtaining a conservative seizure of the client’s assets and the client’s condemnation to pay an amount in excess of €110 million for breach of contract in relation to the transfer of a football player

2022

Confidential client

Società leader nella fornitura di servizi di digital transformation, nella valutazione dei rimedi legali e contrattuali disponibili per ripristinare il sinallagma contrattuale nell’ambito di alcuni contratti di appalto “chiavi in mano” pesantemente impattati dallo straordinario ed imprevedibile aumento dei costi energetici avvenuto a seguito dello scoppio della guerra tra Russia e Ucraina

2021

Pininfarina

Successful assistance to Pininfarina, before the Courts of Milan and Turin, against the claims brought by a minority shareholder challenging the complex 2015 transaction that led to the tender offer for all shares of the company launched by Indian group Mahindra & Mahindra

2021

Cerved Credit Management

In a multi-million arbitration before the Milan Chamber of Arbitration relating to the alleged defaulting performance of a procurement contract for the management of certain NPLs portfolios

2021

Confidential client

A minority quotaholder of an Italian company active in the automotive industry in the challenge of certain quotaholders’ resolutions passed with abuse of majority

2020

Confidential client

A leading design manufacturer in the interim proceedings against the former CEO held liable for having breached certain non-compete undertakings

2020

Confidential client

An international media company, in an out-of-Court dispute against the Italian Series A League relating to the economic impact of Covid-19 restrictive measures on certain contracts for international broadcasting services of the Series A football games

2018

Live Nation Italia

In the cautionary proceedings commenced by the Italian Society of Authors and Publishers (S.I.A.E.) to inhibit “secondary ticketing” in relation to the tickets for the admission to the U2 concerts held in Rome in July 2017

2016

Bios

In its capacity as former controlling shareholder of SNIA, in the litigation brought by the Extraordinary Administration of SNIA to claim damages in excess of €4 billion in relation to an alleged misconduct in the demerger of SNIA

2016

Confidential client

A Swiss private bank in a litigation concerning the alleged invalidity of a deed of pledge and alleged misconduct in the constitution and enforcement of the relevant pledge

Confidential client

In a litigation regarding alleged directors’ and statutory auditors’ liability started by the minority shareholders of an Italian holding company. pursuant to article 2393 bis of the Italian Civil Code

ONGOING

Confidential client

Leading service provider in the automotive sector, in a pre-contractual liability and unfair competition dispute against a consortium participated by a large majority of the Italian private agencies handling car-related matters

ONGOING

Pininfarina S.p.A.

As defendant, in the litigation commenced by a minority shareholder for alleged abuse of majority by the former majority shareholder of Pininfarina S.p.A. and alleged violation of the mandatory duties applicable to listed companies in connection with a change of control

ONGOING

Castello di Casole S.p.A.

Former portfolio company of Erste Abwicklungsanstalt, in a litigation started against the Italian Ministry for the Economic Development to challenge the validity of a ministerial order revoking a financial aid as a result of a breach of the beneficiary’s obligations

ONGOING