Sicilian-born, with 14 years of experience between Italy, Spain, and the United States. Qualified Canon and Civil Lawyer, with a practice focused mainly on EU Banking & Finance Law, Vatican Financial Law, and previous experiences in U.S. Tax Law.

Education

Italy

Ph.D. in Law ( topic: “processi di armonizzazione del diritto tra storia e sistema”; fields: Philosophy of law) at the University of Teramo [1], graduated with the highest grade available and ranked first in the class of 2019 [2]. Previously, I obtained a Law Degree (Laurea Magistrale) from Lumsa University of Rome [3], and a Postgraduate Master’s in Law and Management of Public Services. In 2006, I began the preparatory theological and philosophical biennium studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas – “Angelicum” [4], which resumed later in 2012 at the Pontifical Lateran University [5], where I earned a License in Canon Law (J.C.L.), Summa cum Laude. Immediately after, at the same University, I began a Doctorate in Canon Law (J.C.D./D.Can.L. – dissertation defense TBD). I have completed a Postgraduate Certificate of Specialization in Vatican Financial and Tax law, from Lumsa University of Rome.

 

References: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

 

Around The World

I received a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Taxation at Georgetown University Law Center (Washington, DC) [6]. A Visiting Scholar at University of Pennsylvania Law School (Penn Law) [7] during the Summer term 2017, for my Ph.D. research. I have also spent a period abroad in Madrid (Spain) obtaining a “Licenciatura en Derecho” (J.D. equivalent) at UFV – Universidad Francisco de Vitoria [8]. I earned a Diploma in “Praxis administrativa circa processus dispensationis super matrimonio rato et non consummate et nullitatis sacra ordinationis” at the Studium of Apostolic Tribunal of Rota Romana (Vatican) [9]. I also obtained the Diploma of the Studium of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints [10], which qualifies the accredited Postulators (able to follow the processes of beatification/canonization). Moreover, I attended the course “The procedure for the delicta Reservata” held at the Pontifical Urban University [11], under the patronage of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (Vatican) [12].

 

References: [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

Certificates and Courses

I earned several minor certificates, among which: Democratic Development by Stanford University and Coursera; English Common Law: Structure and Principles by University of London International Programmes and Coursera (with distinction); RYLA on Governance & Leadership organized by KPMG Rome and Rotary District 2080; training course on the “fundamental juridical values” – III° ed. “Stato e giustizia Oggi” of UCGI; a specialization course in Civil Law, Civil Procedure Law, Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Law for the bar exam from the Institute of Advanced Legal Training Direkta; and many other certificates, RYLAs, and conferences, both nationally, and internationally.

Career

2022 – Present

From May 2022 , I joined CMS as a Counsel, in the Banking and Finance group of the Rome Practice (CMS Adonnino Ascoli & Cavasola Scamoni). Our team is focused on Capital Markets, Fintech (Blockchain & Crypto in particular), and Public Finance.[13][14]  With 78 offices in more than 40 countries, CMS is a Future Facing firm that combines deep local market understanding with a global overview. 

In March 2023 I was ranked by Legal500 as one of the “Key Lawyer” within the Bank Regulatory practice of CMS Italy.[15] In May 2023 our Team won the “LegalCommunity Fintech Law Firm of the Year under 40″, and I was selected as finalist as a Lawyer of the Year in 4 different categories (Fintech, Banking & Finance, Private Equity, and Insurance). [16][17][18].

2019 – 2022

From July 2019 to July 2020, during the OPT year, I worked with the International Tax and Transaction Services Practice of Ernst & Young in the United States. Being part of a fantastic network of over 700 offices around the world offered me terrific professional exposure and diverse skill sets.

When I moved back to Italy in Fall 2020, I resumed working at DM Law & Consulting, focusing again on Banking and Finance Vatican Law. I served mainly international law firms (among them, the Financial Regulation practice of Addleshaw Goddard LLP) and financial institutions (including one of the top four UK banks). But the experience oversea offered the opportunity to add new opportunities to the firm’s core services. Among those, the structuring and execution of incorporation of foreign companies in Italy, focusing on M&A operations; assisting foreign non-profits in developing local networks and tax-advantageous strategy planning; and serving as counsel in disciplinary procedures and mediation for cases of priestly misconducts.

2015 – 2019

Attorney-at-law in Rome at the Studio Legale Mancini until July 2018, I focused on Canon Law, Vatican Law, and in particular, Vatican Financial Law.

In December 2016, with the help of other young professionals, I decided to start my consulting firm, DM Law & Consulting, where I advised banks, non-profit organizations, and other law firms on Vatican Financial Law (amongst them Credit Suisse, and the Italian office of DLA Piper); assisted foreign corporations with interest in Italy on the tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions and other transactions. Among them, a major Lebanese company for investments in oil infrastructures.

As pro bono, I have also held the position of Legal Counsel for Treasures of the Church since 2016.

2009 – 2015

I completed the 2-year lawyer traineeship, first at Studio Sormanti, focusing on Criminal Law, and then at the Studio Orsini-Baglio, focusing on different areas of Civil Law, and a focus on Banking Law. I have also completed the notary traineeship at Studio Notaio Cavalaglio in Rome.

Other Professional Experiences

From January to April 2019, I worked as a Research Assistant for an invitation-only Conference on the Legal Issues in the Clergy Abuse Crisis, under the leadership of Prof. Amy Uelmen. In that role, I researched and wrote the foundational documents for the conference; drafted a tailored Canon Law Supplement based on my expertise and previous work experiences; actively participated in the discussion during the workgroups; and assisted in preparing the details for the conference.

In 2018, I worked in Brussels as a lecturer for EDS, on EU Law and EU organizations for Italian students that visited Brussels’ European Institutions for the project “Alternanza Scuola Lavoro” (Italian Law n.107/2015, par. 33 and 43).

In 2016, I became a member of the Editorial Board of the “International Journal of Business and Globalisation” (E-ISSN: 1753-3635/ISSN:1753-3627), and in 2017, a member of the Editorial Board of the “International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business” (E-ISSN: 1741-8054/ISSN: 1476-1297).
In 2021, I was admitted as a member of the prestigious Consociatio Internationalis Studio Iuris Canonici Promovendo, the leading and most influential association of Canon Lawyers worldwide.

From December 2014 to 2022, I served as an Expert Fellow/Teaching Assistant of IT Law – Legal aspects of computing at the University of Teramo, and Expert Fellow/Teaching Assistant of Philosophy of Law at the division of Avezzano of the same institution (Prof. Guido Saraceni). From 2010 to 2012, I collaborated with the Chair of the Juvenile Criminal Justice of Libera Università Maria Santissima Assunta (Prof. Guido Mussini).

 

References: [13][14][15][16][17][18]

Some Numbers

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Conferences

Speaker and/or Moderator at academic conferences and major events.

For a partial list, click here.

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Courses & Certifications

Other Courses and Certificates

For a partial list, click here.

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Awards and Honors

For the social commitment, services to the community, and academical merits.

Social Commitment

 

My extra-curricular activities include 18 years of commitments with cultural associations and non-profit organizations.

Service to the Community

A founding member of Rotary Roma Polis (2016-2019) and board member the following year; member of the Lions Club International – Club Roma Urbe from 2015 to 2019; founding member and first President of Leo Club Roma Urbe for the year 2016/2017 (in that year, it was also the biggest club in the District 108L); former member of Rotaract Club Roma Est (2007-2016). I received the awards Melvin Jones Fellowship on February 17, 2017, by the Lions International; the Paul Harris Fellowship in March 2017 by the Rotary Foundation; and the George F. Hixson Fellowship award in April 2017 by Kiwanis International.

From April 2007 to February 2013, I was the chairman of Movimento Renovatio, which within three years, thanks to the commitment and dedication of many young people, developed across 7 regions of Italy. Until 2015 I served also as their delegate at the Forum Nazionale dei Giovani (FNG, now CNG or National Council of Youth): the national platform of youth organizations recognized by the Italian Parliament through statute law no. 311/2004. In that context, I served as commissioner for the FNG in the “Foreign Affairs, Mobility and International Cooperation” Commission for two terms (2010-2015), during which I had the opportunity to be a member of the Italian delegation for the bilateral meetings between the Italian FNG and the Russian counterpart, and the Italian member of the European Youth Forum (EYF) task-force on Youth Rights and Non-discrimination meeting, which was held in Helsinki in June 2014. On that occasion, we contributed to the policy paper that was presented by the EYF to the European Institutions. In June 2014, I was elected as a member of the Board of Arbitrators (internal appeals board) of the FNG by the General Assembly and re-elected for a second term in 2016. On January 25, 2017, I served as a member of the Forum nazionale delle associazioni studentesche maggiormente rappresentative at the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities, and Research, created by decree of the Italian President of Republic n. 567/1996, on representing the legal office of StudiCentro.

Since 2013, I have been involved and firmly committed to an international organization whose focus is serving the poor and the sick, and whose mission resonates deeply with my heart.

 

Service as a Students, during my university years

During the LL.M. I was elected as Vice President of the Tax Council at Georgetown Law. While I was attending the LUMSA Law School, I was committed to serving my colleagues as a Student Representative to the Board of the Faculty of Law (elected in 2007 with 402 votes out of 805 valid ballots spread across four candidates), and then as the President of the Student Council of the entire LUMSA University. Moreover, I have been in charge of the international area of the Campus Ministry of the Pontifical Lateran University for the A.Y. from 2012 to 2015.

Skills & Hobbies

Languages

With the desire to learn more languages in the future, currently, I enjoy communicating in the following ones:
  • Italian(Native)
  • English(Fluent/Bilingual)
  • Spanish(Fluent)
  • Portuguese(Intermediate)
  • French(Elementary)
  • Latin(Intermediate)

Tech Skills

I am versatile with various systems and apps: from the most common Office suite and iWork to WordPress platforms and some basic HTML language knowledge. In addition to that, I am familiar with several of the most well-known software for graphic design, web design, audio-video editing, and legal databases (LexisNexis, WestLaw, BloombergLaw).

Hobbies & Other Informations

My hobbies include horse riding, collecting antiques, and pretending to be a tour guide for my friends visiting Rome (and for a non-profit twice a year). At a young age, I also spent time fencing and trying falconry. Art and museums are how I relax and enjoy my spare time: this website used to have a section with a blog on art and architecture. A proud member of the group of people with the ‘terrible’ habit of buying more books than a lifespan will allow reading. I cultivated my passion for music by clumsily composing, and starting in 2005, for I enrolled in SIAE (Italian Society of Authors and Editors, a public institution that works in synergy with the Italian State) for a few years as a composer.

Soft Skills

From the Linkedin profile.
  • Leadership
  • Teamwork
  • Public Speaking
  • Highly self-motivated
  • Event Management