Avv. Prof. Francesco del Bene

Avv. Prof. Francesco del Bene
Born in Lecce on July 31, 1964.
He received Juris Degree in 1990 at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”; Master in Banking and
Finance Law (Lecce, 1990-1991). He was admitted to the Italian Bar in 1993.
Professor of Banking Law and Fundamentals of Private Law at the University of Cassino (19962000); Visiting Professor, at the Helsinki School of Economics and Business Law, Helsinki,
Finland (2000); University of Insubria, Varese (2003-2005); Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies
of Pisa (2007-); Visiting Professor Washington University in St. Louis, School of Law (2013-2014).
Executive in charge of the Legal Consulting Group - Merchant Bank Division - Large Corporate,
IntesaBCI, Central Directorate, Milan (2000-2002).
It has been Of Counsel and Partner of leading international law firm including BBLP Pavia and
Ansaldo, Eversheds, Pirola Pennuto Zei & Associates PriceWaterhouse Coopers; Co-Founding
Partner of Del Bene De Vitis & Associati; Co-Founding Partner of Indipendent Legal Netwok
AVOCOM (Studio Del Bene & Associati, Studio Guslandi – Dottori Commercialisti e Revisori dei
Conti, Studio Balestra Orione, Vaccari – Farrauto, Studio Legale Prof. Avv. Guido Bonfante).
He has a specialization in the sectors of financial intermediation, banking and structured finance
[Non-performing credit, CLOs (Collateralized Loan Obligations) and CDOs (Collateralized Debt
Obligations), CMBS (Commercial mortgage-backed securities), CLN (Credit Linked Notes)],
corporate financing - working capital transactions, new investments, medium or long term debt
restructuring, securitization, M & A, real estate finance.
He is author of papers, articles, section of treatises, collective works, monographies (“A
Contribution to the Critical Re-evaluation of the Atypical and Abstract Features of the
Garantievertrag”, G. Giappichelli ed., Turin, 1997; “Acquisitions Causa Mortis, Recordation and
Good Faith Reliance”, Giuffrè ed., Milan, 2000; AA.VV., The Reform of Saving Law and corporate
governance. Act of the conference held in Milan on April 3, 2006, by Francesco del Bene, in
Quaderni del Notariato, IPSOA, Milan, 2006; “Strumenti finanziari e regole MIFID. Compliance,
Autorità di vigilanza e Conflitti di interesse”, by Francesco del Bene. Presentation of Sen. Giorgio
Benvenuto. Introduction of Prof. Anna Gervasoni. IPSOA Wolters Kluwer, Milano, 2009), case
notes on subject of civil law, bankruptcy and banking law.
He has been speaker at numerous conferences, workshops, symposia, conferences and seminars
of national and international level on issues of corporate law, finance and banking.
In 1993-1994 he coordinated the research and study of the Scientific Committee of the
Parliamentary Studies Institute, located in Rome, directed to the study and discussion of legal
and socio-economic issues.
He collaborated with the Monetary, Banking and Financial Studies Institute – “Luigi Einaudi”,
located in Rome, founded in 1965 by the Bank of Italy and ABI - Italian Banking Association.
It has been an effective member from 1997 to 1999 of the editorial board of the review "
Giurisprudenza di merito", Giuffrè ed. He also cooperates in various ways, with numerous
national and international reviews.
It was suggested, in March 2001, by the General Directorate of the Italian Commercial Bank
S.p.A., as member of the Technical Committee established at the CERADI of the University
LUISS-Guido Carli- for the development of the triennial project on the research on banking and
financial contracts.
He has been legal adviser, mainly in corporate governance and protection of savings, of the VI
Finance and Treasury Permanent Committee of the Senate of Italy (Pres. Sen. Mr. Giorgio
Benvenuto).
It is an ordinary member, among the others, of the Italian Association of European Lawyers (1995
-); IBA Banking Law Committee and Academics' Forum (1997 -); A.I.F.I. Associazione Italiana del
Private Equity e Venture Capital (2012-).
The independent publication "PLC Which LAWYER? - Restructuring and Insolvency Handbook
2007/2008, 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2010/2011 indicated Francesco del Bene as "highly
recommended lawyer" in the field of procedures for debt restructuring and bankruptcy matters.
The independent publication "PLC Which LAWYER? - Finance: Secured Lending Handbook
2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2010/2011, 2011/2012 suggested Francesco del Bene as "recommended
lawyer" in the field of corporate finance, including banking syndicate, and project finance.
Independent publications, "European Legal Expert" 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 in the field of
"Banking & Finance” and “Corporate & commercial" and Legal 500: Europe Middle East and
Africa 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 - Banking and finance include Francesco del Bene among the best
Italian lawyers.
The most authoritative independent publication Chambers Global 2010, 2011 and Chambers
Europe 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 includes Francesco del Bene (Rank 4, and then, Rank 3)
among the leading Italian lawyers most qualified in the field of Banking & Finance.
CORPORATE POSITIONS: (2010) Nuova Pansac S.p.A.; (2010) Valorizzazioni Immobiliari S.r.l.;
(2009) Quotatex LTD: member of the Board of Directors; (2009-2016) Leonardo Consulting S.r.l.
(CITIC Group): Sole Administrator; (2014-) San Marino Leonardo Consulting S.r.l.: Sole
Administrator; (2012-) Framingham Fund (Asset Management) LTD: General Counsel.
QUOTATION (RANKING) AND AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
1. PLC WHICH LAWYER? 2007 – Restructuring and Insolvency Handbook 2007/2008 –
Highly Recommended Lawyer (Italy)
2. EUROPEAN LEGAL EXPERTS 2007 – Banking and finance; Corporate and commercial
3. PLC WHICH LAWYER? 2008 – Restructuring and Insolvency Handbook 2008/2009 –
Highly Recommended Lawyer (Italy)
4. PLC WHICH LAWYER? 2008 – Finance: Secured Lending Handbook 2008/2009 –
Recommended Lawyer (Italy)
5. EUROPEAN LEGAL EXPERTS 2008 – Banking and finance; Corporate and commercial
6. CHAMBERS EUROPE 2008 – Banking and finance, Italy (Rank 4)
7. LEGAL 500: Europe Middle East and Africa 2008 – Banking and finance, Italy
8. PLC WHICH LAWYER? 2009 – Restructuring and Insolvency Handbook 2009/2010 –
Highly Recommended Lawyer (Italy)
9. PLC WHICH LAWYER? 2009 – Finance: Secured Lending Handbook 2009/2010 –
Recommended Lawyer (Italy)
10. EUROPEAN LEGAL EXPERTS 2009 – Banking and finance; Corporate and commercial
11. LEGAL 500: Europe Middle East and Africa 2009 – Banking and finance, Italy
12. CHAMBERS EUROPE 2009 – Banking and finance, Italy (Rank 4)
13. PLC WHICH LAWYER? 2010 – Restructuring and Insolvency Handbook 2010/2011 –
Highly Recommended Lawyer (Italy)
14. PLC WHICH LAWYER? 2010 – Finance: Secured Lending Handbook 2009/2010 – Leading
Lawyer (Italy)
15. EUROPEAN LEGAL EXPERTS 2010 – Banking and finance; Corporate and commercial
16. LEGAL 500: Europe Middle East and Africa 2010 – Banking and finance, Italy
17. GLOBAL LAW EXPERTS 2010 – Banking & Finance, Italy
18. INTERNATIONAL WHO’S WHO OF BANKING LAWYERS - WHO’S WHO LEGAL 2010 –
Banking, Italy (Rank 1)
19. CHAMBERS EUROPE 2010 – Banking and finance, Italy (Rank 3)
20. CHAMBERS GLOBAL 2010 - Banking and finance, Italy (Rank 3)
21. LEADING LAWYER 100, 2011 GUIDE – Banking Law
22. BANKING & FINANCE LAW EXPERTS, 2014
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS:
1. CORPORATE INTL MAGAZINE Practice Award 2009, 2010 "Best Law Firm in Italy for
Banking & Finance Legal Work"
2. FINANCE MONTHLY MAGAZINE Law Awards for Achievement 2010, 2011 - Banking &
Finance Law Firm Of The Year, Italy
3. GLOBAL LAW EXPERTS 2011, 2012, 2013 Award - Italian Banking Law Firm of the Year
4. CORPORATE INTL MAGAZINE 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Global Award "Banking &
Finance Law Firm of the Year in Italy"
5. ACQUISITION INTERNATIONAL Legal Award 2011 - Italian Banking and Finance Law Firm
of the Year
6. INTERCONTINENTAL FINANCE MAGAZINE’S Legal Excellence Awards 2011, 2012 in the
category of Law Firm of the Year – Banking, Italy
7. LAWYERS World Global Award Winner 2011-2012
8. ACQ Global Awards 2014, 2015 Sponsored by Financial Times, FT.com - Italy – Banking &
Finance Law Firm Of The Year
PUBLICATIONS:
• Treatises
1. Statutory Distances in Building Construction (Distanza nelle costruzioni), section of
ENCICLOPEDIA GIURIDICA TRECCANI, 1996 Supp., Ed. Enc. It., Rome
2. Additional Considerations in Italian Corporate Insolvency Procedures (Ulteriori profili
concorsuali societari), in BANKRUPTCY AND THE LAW OF INSOLVENCY PROCEDURES (Il
fallimento e le altre procedure concorsuali nel diritto vivente), L. Panzani, P. Cendon et al.,
UTET ed., Turin, 1999
•
Books
1. A Contribution to the Critical Re-evaluation of the Atypical and Abstract Features of the
"Garantievertrag" (Studio per una riconsiderazione critica dell'atipicità ed astrattezza nel
Garantivertrag), G. Giappichelli ed., Turin, 1997
2. Acquisitions Causa Mortis, Recordation and Good Faith Reliance (Acquisti mortis causa,
trascrizione e apparenza), Giuffrè ed., Milan, 2000
3. AA.VV., The Reform of Saving Law and corporate governance (Riforma del risparmio e corporate
governance. Atti del Convegno tenutosi a Milano il 3 aprile 2006 a cura di Francesco del Bene),
in Quaderni del Notariato, IPSOA, Milan, 2006
4. AA.VV. Financial Instruments and MIFID rules (Strumenti finanziari e regole MIFID, a cura di
Francesco del Bene), Wolters Kluwer IPSOA, Milano, 2009
5. The Law of Financial Bill (La disciplina della cambiale finanziaria), in IL DIRITTO PRIVATO
OGGI, P. Cendon et al., Giuffrè ed., Milan (publication pending)
6. Family’s Pacts, Trust and Succession by Will, in TRATTATO DI DIRITTO PRIVATO, M. Bessone
et al., G. Giappichelli ed., Turin (publication pending)
7. New forms of financing for SME: tax and regulatory developments. The internationalization of
financial markets: opportunities, success factors and rules of access to corporate financing.
(Nuove forme di finanziamento per le imprese: l’evoluzione normativa e fiscale.
L'internazionalizzazione dei mercati finanziari: opportunità, fattori di successo e regole di
accesso alla finanza d’impresa), Aracne Ed., Milano-Trieste (publication pending).
• Articles
1. Ordinary and Default Interest: Re-evaluation of the Traditional Distinction and the Question of
their Aggregability (In tema di interessi corrispettivi e moratori: il valore attuale della
distinzione tradizionale ed il problema della loro cumulabilità), RASSEGNA DI DIRITTO CIVILE,
E.S.I., fasc. III, 1995
2. The Effects of Bankruptcy on Existing Legal Relationships: When the Lessor Goes Bankrupt (Gli
effetti del fallimento sui rapporti giuridici preesistenti: l’ipotesi del fallimento del concedente nel
contratto di leasing), GIUSTIZIA CIVILE, fasc. IX, 1995
3. Volunteer Organizations and Social Cooperative Companies (L’organizzazione di volontariato e le
cooperative sociali), RIV. DEL DIRITTO DELLA FAMIGLIA E DELLE PERSONE, fasc. III, 1995
4. Loans in ECUs and the Defense of Uncoscionability (Mutuo in ECU e risoluzione per eccessiva
onerosità sopravvenuta), RIVISTA DI DIRITTO PRIVATO, Kluwer- Ipsoa ed., fasc. II, 1996
5. Notes on the Efficacy of Bona Fide Contractual Construction: Reliance and Constructive
Conditions (Notazioni critiche sull’effettività del canone ermeneutico ex fide bona tra tutela
dell’affidamento e presupposizione), GIUSTIZIA CIVILE, fasc. V, 1997
6. Notes on the Remedy of Reductio Ad Equitatem (Appunti sul rimedio della reductio ad
aequitatem), GIURISPRUDENZA DI MERITO, fasc. I-II, 1997
7. Fraudulent Trespass and the Judicial Recovery of Property (In tema di spoglio clandestino ed
esercizio dell’azione di reintegrazione), TEMI ROMANA, fasc. I, 1999
8. The significant role played by small and medium-sized enterprises in the Italian financial market,
in INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LAWYER, vol. 31 No. 3, 2003.
9. Introduction to real estate investment funds within Italian legal system, in INTERNATIONAL
BUSINESS LAWYER, vol. 32, No. 1, 2004.
10. The introduction of covered bonds in Italy, in Banking Law Newsletter, International Bar
Association, Vol. 14, No 2, 2006.
11. Conferimento d’azienda. Trasformazione da impresa individuale in società, scissione. Aspetti
civilistici, in Notariato, IPSOA, n. 3, 2006.
12. Disposizioni per la tutela del risparmio e la disciplina dei mercati finanziari:notazioni a margine
della riforma ed introduzione dei lavori, in AA.VV., The Reform of Saving Law and corporate
governance (Riforma del risparmio e corporate governance. Atti del Convegno tenutosi a Milano
il 3 aprile 2006 a cura di Francesco del Bene), in Quaderni del Notariato, IPSOA, Milan, 2006.
13. Cambiali finanziarie, chance da non perdere (Francesco del Bene – Maurizio Bernardi), in Il
Sole 24Ore del 01.10.2007, p. 40.
14. Meno pericoli col “patentino” salva derivati, in Libero Mercato del 22.11.2007, p. 4.
15. Il cammello e la cruna dell’ago della riforma, in Libero Mercato del 8.2.2008, p. 5.
16. L’alternativa: trust e mandato fiduciario (Francesco del Bene – Fabrizio Vedana), in ItaliaOggi7
del 11.5.2009, p. 9.
17. Banking Regulation 2009 – Italy (Francesco del Bene – Giorgio Lener), in Getting The Deal
Through, April 2009.
• Case Notes
1. Notes on Nontransferable Checks Issued to Joint Payees (Spunti critici in tema di cointestazione
congiunta di assegno bancario non trasferibile), BANCA, BORSA E TITOLI DI CREDITO, fasc.
VI, 1993
2. Juridical Formalism and Writing Requirements in Employment Contracts with Athletes
(Formalismo giuridico e prescrizione di forma ad substantiam nella disciplina del rapporto di
lavoro subordinato sportivo), GIURISPRUDENZA DI MERITO, fasc. IV-V, 1994
3. Application of Payments to Past Debts and the Burden of Proof (Disciplina dell’imputazione di
pagamento ed onere della prova), GIURISPRUDENZA DI MERITO, fasc. VI, 1994
4. The Right of Repossession of Real Property, Holding-over and Increased Damages under Art.
1591 of the Civil Code (Esercizio del diritto di ripresa, tardivo adempimento dell’obbligo di
rilascio del fondo e corresponsione dell’utile di gestione del predio a titolo di maggior danno ex
art. 1591 c.c.), NUOVA GIURISPRUDENZA CIVILE COMMENTATA, fasc. V, 1995
5. The Law of Parking Lots: Statutory Constraints to Their Alienability and "Implied At Law"
Contractual Clauses under Art. 1339 of the Civil Code (Disciplina degli spazi a parcheggio,
vincoli di destinazione ed inserzione automatica di clausole ex art. 1339 c.c.), NUOVA
GIURISPRUDENZA CIVILE COMMENTATA, fasc. II, 1996
6. Critical Considerations on Franchising Law: Equitable Balancing of the Parties' Interests and
Negative Injunctive Relief Against the Franchisor in Cases of Statutory Termination of the
Contract (Considerazioni critiche in tema di franchising: equo contemperamento degli interessi
e tutela inibitoria del franchisor in ipotesi di risoluzione ope iuris del contratto),
GIURISPRUDENZA DI MERITO, fasc. II, 1996
7. Unavailability of Preliminary Relief under Art. 700 of the Civil Procedure Code in Cases of
Suspension of Corporate Resolutions under Art. 2378 of the Civil Code (Sull’inammissibilità dei
provvedimenti d’urgenza ex art. 700 c.p.c. in fattispecie di sospensione di delibere societarie
disciplinata dall’art. 2378 c.c.), GIURISPRUDENZA DI MERITO, fasc. III, 1997
8. The Absence of Indemnification Claims for Lost Goodwill where the Tenant Fails to Offer to
Vacate the Premises upon Expiration of the Lease Under Art. 1216 Civil Code. Default Notice to
the Tenant and Its Liability under Art. 1224 of the Civil Code (Sull’inesigibilità del credito
all’indennità per perdita di avviamento commerciale in assenza di offerta, ex parte conductoris,
di riconsegna dell’immobile locato, ai sensi dell’art. 1216 c.c., in epoca successiva alla
cessazione del rapporto di locazione. Costituzione in mora del locatore e responsabilità ex art.
1224 c.c.), NUOVA GIURISPRUDENZA CIVILE COMMENTATA, fasc. II, 1997
• Presentations
1. Topical Workshop of the University of Lecce, School of Business (Lecce. March 26, 1994):
"Non-profit Organizations of Volunteers" (Le associazioni di volontariato). Made a presentation
on Volunteer Organizations and Social Cooperative Companies (L’organizzazione di volontariato
e le cooperative sociali), published in RIV. DEL DIRITTO DELLA FAMIGLIA E DELLE
PERSONE, fasc. III, 1995.
2. Topical Workshop of the University of Lecce, School of Business, Assindustria, Centro
Studi Giuridici “Michele De Pietro” (Lecce. December 11, 2003): “Riforma Tributaria e del
Diritto Societario. Approcci pratici e spunti di riflessione sulle principali novità per le imprese”.
Made a presentation on “I patrimoni dedicati, le S.p.A. unipersonali, i conferimenti ed i
finanziamenti nelle s.r.l.”.
3. Topical Workshop of Assindustria, Centro Studi Giuridici “Michele De Pietro”, Ordine dei
Dottori Commercialisti di Lecce, Camera Tributaria di Lecce (Lecce. March 11, 2005):
“Nuove forme di reperimento di risorse finanziarie per le imprese: aspetti civilistici e fiscali”.
Made a presentation on “Il leasing azionario quale strumento di capitalizzazione delle PMI ed
accesso alla quotazione: considerazioni a margine della proposta di legge Targetti”.
4. EuroFinance Conferences - 4th Annual Conference (Milan. 19-20 October, 2006): “Cassa,
Tesoreria e Finanza per Aziende in Italia”. Made a presentation on “Smobilizzo dei crediti in
blocco e miglioramento dei ratios di bilancio: profili giuridici e fiscali dell’operazione finanziaria di
cartolarizzazione”.
5. Topical Workshop of Assindustria, Ordine dei Dottori Commercialisti di Lecce, Consiglio
Notarile di Lecce, Confcommercio, Camera Tributaria di Lecce, Collegio dei Ragionieri di
Lecce, Associazione Italiana delle Aziende Familiari (Lecce. November 5, 2005): “Il
passaggio di azienda da padre in figlio e le riorganizzazioni patrimoniali. Aspetti civilistici
successori e fiscali”. Made a presentation on “Conferimento di azienda, trasformazione da
impresa individuale in società, scissione. Aspetti civilistici”.
6. Topical Workshop of Aurora Assicurazioni S.p.A., Unipol Merchant S.p.A., Informa –
Istituto Nazionale di Formazione, Pirola Pennuto Zei & Associati – Studio di Consulenza
Legale e Tributaria (Milan. April 3, 2006): “Riforma del risparmio e corporate governance”.
Made an introduction on worshop‘s general thematic published in AA.VV., The Reform of
Saving Law and corporate governance (Riforma del risparmio e corporate governance. Atti del
Convegno tenutosi a Milano il 3 aprile 2006 a cura di Francesco del Bene), in Quaderni del
Notariato, IPSOA, Milan, 2006.
7. Topical Workshop of Istituto di Studi Bancari di Lucca (Firenze. February 22-23, 2007): “La
Nuova Riforma del Risparmio”. Made a presentation on “Le tecniche di elezione del Consiglio di
Amministrazione e del Collegio Sindacale: composizione e modalità di nomina, requisiti di
indipendenza, requisiti di onorabilità e professionalità, persona giuridica amministratore, compiti
e poteri”.
8. Topical Workshop of FAM Fondazione Alma Mater, AIAF Associazione Italiana degli
Analisti Finanziari (Bologna, November 9-10, 2011): “La nuova disciplina delle obbligazioni
bancarie garantite”. Made a presentation on “La bankruptcy remoteness e l’incidenza delle
vicende dei crediti ceduti sull’operazione”.
PERSONAL
Personal
• Achievements:
(1993-1994) coordinator of research and study of the Scientific Committee of
the ISTITUTO STUDI PARLAMENTARI in Rome; (1995) awarded a scholarship for a one-year
period of research on the topic: "Causa del contratto. Atipicità e tipicità dei contratti di
intermediazione alla luce del neoformalismo giuridico", to be conducted at the UNIVERSITY OF
TOLEDO, Spain; (1997) promoted to the rank of Lieutenant of the Airforce Reserve in 1997;
(1999) bestowed with the title of Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and
Malta; (1998) contributor to the ENTE PER GLI STUDI MONETARI, BANCARI E FINANZIARI
"LUIGI EINAUDI", Rome, Italy, established in 1965 by Bank of Italy and ABI, the Italian
Banking Association; appointed in 2001, as a nominee of the Central Department of Banca
Commerciale Italiana S.p.A., as a member of the Expert Committee of CERADI, LUISS-Guido
Carli University of Rome, Italy, for the development of the triennial project on the Research on
Banking and Financial Contracts; (2006-present) scientific and legal adviser of INFORMA –
ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI FORMAZIONE in Milan; biography included in: 1) “Who’s Who in The
World”, edition 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009; 2) Dictionary of International Biography (Cambridge,
edition 2007, 2008, 2009).
• Government Appointments:
1. Report rendered before the Senate of the Republic as expert on the Saving Law Reform
("Riforma del Risparmio"). The related official documents will be written down in shorthand
and published by the Senate of the Republic;
2. Appointment as Added Member of the Experts' Committee for the Reform of Saving Law;
3. Member of the permanent Control Committee composed by technicians and politicians,
established for evaluating the so called "Credit's Democracy".