Zunarelli Studio Legale Associato
Via Santo Stefano n. 43
40125 Bologna (BO)
A law firm
associated in Italy and abroad
Zunarelli Law Firm
Our Firm advises and represents Clients both in Italy and abroad in a wide range of different areas of practice, offering assistance in all the main areas of interest to companies through an extensive network of offices and correspondents that ensure our Clients have efficient and tailored support.
Our legal professionals serve on boards of companies and foundations, they are esteemed members of academic bodies, and they also advise Italian State Institutions on the drafting of laws and regulations, having long represented the Italian Government in the Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization and in other renowned organizations.
Our Partners’ academic, institutional and professional achievements have earned us a solid reputation both in Italy and abroad, which has led us to become one of the law firms of choice in Italy especially for the transportation and logistics industry.
A large team of professionals
By relying on a large team of experts in all the main branches of law, and on well-established relations with other renowned firms and professionals specializing in other legal and economic areas, we are able to offer our Clients efficient assistance in every critical phase of business, but ˗ more and more often ˗ also preventive advice aimed at avoiding possible critical issues arising from the rapid changes in the relevant legal frameworks.
Leading Firm
Legal 500
EMEA 2024
– The Legal 500 –
Shipping
Administrative and Public Law
Dispute Resolution (Firms to watch)
Top Tier Firm
Legal 500
EMEA 2024
Full-service practice with experts in dispute resolution, corporate M&A, and administrative and public law
– The Legal 500 – Bologna Leading Firm
Chambers Ranked
In Europe
2024
I found the firm to be formidable in their management of the problem raised
– Chambers Partners – Shipping
Navigating the Global Landscape
In a global landscape increasingly shaped by geopolitical tensions, protectionist pressures, and disruptions in global value chains, operating in international markets may appear more complex than in the past. Nevertheless, in this phase of transformation, internationalization remains a key driver for businesses seeking to strengthen their competitive position, access new opportunities, and diversify operational risks.
Expanding beyond national borders – through direct investments, commercial agreements, or production strategies – is no longer an exclusive prerogative of large multinationals. It has become a real need for SMEs aiming to consolidate their growth in a sustainable and resilient manner.
China and Asian countries
China and Asian countries
The increasing regulatory complexity, the strategic importance of Asian markets, and the operational challenges posed by the local environment make it essential for Italian businesses to rely on qualified legal support with a strong local presence. Zunarelli – Studio Legale Associato has been active in China and South-East Asia for years, through its direct office in Shanghai and two Asian Desks based in Bologna and Milan, thus ensuring both an on-the-ground presence and a direct interface with European clients.
Thanks to a team of professionals with extensive international experience, the Firm assists Italian and European companies - ranging from SMEs to structured industrial groups - throughout all stages of their activities in Far Eastern markets: from company establishment to commercial contracts, from intellectual property protection to the handling of litigation, arbitration, or administrative proceedings.
In line with market developments, the Shanghai office hosts a business unit coordinated by the lawyer Andrea Sorgato, specializing in Pharmaceutical and Health Law, and serving companies in the life sciences, medical devices, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and functional foods sectors. For more information, please visit the dedicated website: www.healthlawasia.com.
Areas of practice
- Establishment of local entities: assistance with the establishment of Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprises (WFOEs), joint ventures with Chinese partners, representative offices, and commercial distribution facilities.
- Financed transactions: support in managing international projects with access to public financing instruments (e.g., SIMEST), including the acquisition of equity interests in local companies.
- Cross-border contracts: drafting and negotiation of supply, distribution, licensing, R&D, technology transfer, and industrial partnership agreements.
- Intellectual property protection: filing, protection, and defence of trademarks, patents, designs, and copyrights before the relevant authorities of the People’s Republic of China and other Asian jurisdictions.
- Litigation and debt recovery: judicial and out-of-court assistance in commercial and corporate disputes, credit recovery, and contractual breaches.
- Anti-counterfeiting actions: administrative and judicial measures to halt illegal activities involving trademark and patent infringement or slavish imitation by local operators.
- Regulatory assistance: support in interactions with local authorities for obtaining licenses, permits, certifications, and authorizations, including in regulated industries such as healthcare, food, and technology.
- Research and Innovation: assistance in setting up R&D centres, negotiating joint development agreements, and establishing collaborations between Chinese and Italian companies.
Africa and OHADA region
2. Africa and OHADA region
The African continent continues to represent a strategically significant region for companies seeking to expand into new markets, gain access to key resources, and contribute to the development of infrastructure, energy, and agribusiness sectors. Conducting business in such contexts requires comprehensive, cross-sectoral and locally rooted legal support.
Our Africa Desk assists Italian and international companies across the continent, through a multidisciplinary in-house team and well-established partnerships with local law firms and industry experts. The Firm’s activities specifically focus in the OHADA area (West and Central Africa), North Africa (MENA), the Middle East, and Mozambique, where the Firm collaborates with a leading law firm based in Maputo.
We also benefit from the expertise of Orphée Haddad, French lawyer and of Counsel for the Firm with solid experience in international law and specific expertise in African legal systems.
France, Poland and European Markets
France, Poland and European Markets
The economic relations between Italy and France represent one of the most solid and strategic partnerships in Europe. The strong industrial integration, complementarity between production systems, and intense trade exchanges make France a key destination for Italian enterprises and a significant source of investment into Italy.
At the same time, Central and Eastern Europe are emerging as dynamic markets of strategic importance within the European Union. Poland has become a major manufacturing and logistics hub, attracting growing interest from Italian and European investors.
The Desk France, coordinated by Orphée Haddad, member of the Barreau de Paris, assists clients in cross-border matters involving the French and Italian legal systems, while for Poland and the other European markets, the Firm operates in close partnership with a network of trusted local law firms.
Through this integrated approach, the Firm stands as a reliable partner for businesses pursuing growth and consolidation across both established and emerging European markets.
Russia and Balkans
Russia and Balkans
The Russia and Balkans Desk of the Firm provides strategic legal assistance to Italian and foreign companies in their economic relations with the Russian Federation, the Balkan countries (specifically Croatia, and Serbia) and Slovenia. Activities in this geographical area take place within a complex and constantly evolving geopolitical context, which requires a structured and targeted approach, while at the same time offering multiple business and investment opportunities. The Firm assists companies in the identification and management of legal risks, in the establishment and organization of new business entities, as well as in ensuring regulatory compliance and, where possible, continuity of operations. The Desk is coordinated by Attorney Andrea Piras, who has specialized training in Russian law and a deep knowledge of the language and culture of the region, and works in close cooperation with local professionals in the relevant countries.
