Italian Desk at Sherrards: Dedicated Support for UK-Italy Legal Matters

26th March 2025 | Maximilian Marmor | International, Italian Desk, Cross-Border

As part of Sherrards’ continued international outreach, our newly formed Italian Desk offers a bespoke and professional service to clients seeking legal advice on UK-Italian matters.

Combining in-depth local knowledge with practical cross-border expertise the Italian Desk is headed by Francesca Rossi, partner in our Private Wealth team. Francesca grew up near Venice, but moved to London after completing her Italian law degree and qualified as a solicitor in 2007. Working in London for the past fifteen years, Francesca has cultivated a formidable network of Italian related contacts and clients. She also sits on the board of the British Italian Law Association.

Since joining Sherrards last October, Francesca has been instrumental in developing this initiative, to add to the firms well established French and German desks. Francesca is supported by partner Greg Pooler, who specialises in commercial litigation and trainee solicitor Max Marmor, who studied Italian at university.

On the Ground in Italy

To coincide with the launch of the Italian Desk, Francesca recently travelled to Rome and Milan to meet with a range of professionals including lawyers, accountants, and representatives from the British and Italian business communities. Taking place in late February, the trip was designed to establish and strengthen relationships that will directly benefit clients with UK-Italy interests.

Some highlights of Francesca’s trip include attending the STEP Global Congress in Rome, where Francesca engaged with international private client advisers on cross-border wealth and succession planning. In Milan, she held meetings with members of the British Chamber of Commerce for Italy, as well as representatives of the British Consulate and the Department for Trade and Industry. She also met with leading Italian law firms and professional advisers, focusing on how best to support clients needing coordinated legal advice across both markets.

Cross-Border Developments and Legal Change

The launch of Sherrards’ Italian Desk comes at a key time for UK-Italy cross-border legal matters. Changes in UK and EU laws post-Brexit continue to shape the way businesses operate between the UK and EU.

Italian legislative changes are on the horizon, including reforms aimed at attracting foreign investment and updates to corporate governance and tax, which will influence how UK companies engage with the Italian market. The upcoming changes present positive news for people or companies looking to invest in Italy. In addition to this, Italy’s Non-Dom regime, the favourable inheritance tax rates and its recognition of trusts make it an attractive destination for UHNW individuals looking to relocate.

Francesca and the Italian Desk are well placed to guide clients through these developments, combining local understanding with Sherrards’ established expertise in a variety of legal sectors.

Supporting Clients Going Forward

The Italian Desk is part of Sherrards’ broader strategy to enhance our international services and build stronger connections with overseas markets. Whether Italian businesses and individuals investing in or relocating to the UK, or UK companies seeking to do business in Italy, our team can offer seamless, tailored advice to support cross-border transactions and resolve complex international issues.

We welcome enquiries from both existing and new clients who may benefit from this service, and invite anyone with interests in the UK or Italy to contact Francesca Rossi or a member of the Italian team to discuss how we can assist.