Charles Russell Speechlys adds Corporate, Fintech, IP and Art Law team in Milan with Arrival of Annapaola Negri-Clementi and Team

Charles Russell Speechlys is pleased to announce the arrival of Annapaola Negri-Clementi and her team to its Milan office, marking a significant step in the Firm’s strategic expansion and enhancement of its multidisciplinary private capital offering in Italy.

Annapaola joins the Firm as a distinguished corporate lawyer with a multifaceted practice that spans corporate transactions, financial markets and fintech, intellectual property (IP), board advisory roles, and a niche specialism in art law. Her team consists of a corporate senior associate, an intellectual property senior associate, and a senior art consultant who provides guidance on collections, exhibitions, and corporate art strategy.

Annapaola joins us from Pavesio e Associati with Negri-Clementi where she was an Equity Partner. She specialises in mergers & acquisitions (M&A), financial markets and fintech, IP and corporate governance and has over thirty years of experience spanning a broad spectrum of sophisticated corporate transactions, advising large industrial groups and companies in various sectors, both domestic and international. She has a strong reputation advising on innovative financial services and technologies at the intersection of law, finance, and digital transformation.

Annapaola is not only a corporate lawyer but has a well-developed art practice and is a recognised figure in the Italian art world. Her personal art collection will be showcased in the Milan office. Annapaola's practice includes advising private banks and family offices on art transactions, art wealth and collection management, and regulatory compliance in Italy's regulated art market, including Ministry of Culture registrations and export controls.

Annapaola has held a number of roles in financial services companies, as well as prestigious positions at large enterprises, industry associations and listed companies under the supervision of ECB, Consob and Bank of Italy. She also participates as a lecturer at leading universities and speaks regularly at conferences on art and on corporate Law.

“Annapaola’s arrival represents a major enhancement to our Milan offering,” said Nicola Saccardo, Partner and Head of the Firm’s Italian practice. “We are delighted to have Annapaola and her team join the Firm. Our Milan office has been on an exciting growth journey since its launch at the end of last year, going from two lawyers to ten. Her breadth of expertise and the strength of her team allow us to deepen our capabilities across corporate, financial markets and fintech, IP, and art law, providing clients with a truly distinctive private capital service.”

Annapaola Negri-Clementi, Corporate Partner, comments: “I am thrilled to be joining Charles Russell Speechlys at such a dynamic moment in the Firm’s international growth. In less than a year, the Milan office has quickly established itself as a hub for private capital expertise, and I’m excited and strictly committed to contribute to its continued expansion and diversification. My team and I look forward to collaborating across the Firm’s European and global network to deliver innovative, multidisciplinary solutions to clients — particularly those navigating complex corporate transactions, fintech solutions, intellectual property matters, and the regulated art market. This move represents a unique opportunity to build on our experience and help shape a truly distinctive offering for private capital clients in Italy and beyond.”

Michael Lingens, European Regional Lead at Charles Russell Speechlys, adds: “Our private capital strategy is flourishing globally, and the growth of the Italian practice supports our commitment to becoming the Firm of choice for clients in all the world’s major wealth hubs. Annapaola’s arrival, along with her team, reflects our commitment to building a multidisciplinary practice that meets the evolving needs of our clients in Italy and across Europe.”

Annapaola’s joins with a team of two Senior Associates, Arianna Leonardelli (Corporate) and Valeria Tommasi (IP), and Senior Art Consultant, Giorgia Ligasacchi, who will support Annapaola on the full range of matters across corporate law, IP and art advisory.