Experience
Francesco is a seasoned litigator advising clients on litigation and arbitration matters relating to commercial, corporate, financial and insurance disputes with a strong international focus.
He regularly acts for financial institutions on wide range of disputes including asset management, investment banking, wealth management, trust litigation asset recovery, enforcement and investigations. He also acts for major insurers and brokers with respect to a variety of claims including, third party liability, financial lines, product liability, D&O.
Francesco has extensive experience in assisting major companies on product liabilty, commercial and corporate disputes (e.g., post-acquisition, R&W claims, directors’ and shareholders’ disputes, unfair competition claims) including with respect to commercial and real estate matters, before Courts and Arbitral Tribunals.
His practice also includes assistance to international aircraft lessors in a variety of disputes including with reference to aircraft repossession, airport charges and disputes with airport management companies.
During his career Francesco also advised corporations and investment funds in multi-parties and class action litigation proceedings brought by consumers’ associations
Memberships
Law Degree from Università degli Studi di Milano (1994)
Admitted to the Milan Bar Association (1998)
Admitted to act before the Supreme Courts of Jurisdiction (2011)
Testimonials
- Leading Lawyer, Legal500 EMEA 2018
- Leading Lawyer Legal500 EMEA 2025.
What clients say:
“Francesco Maruffi is unique in his fast response times and ability to navigate very complex areas of law with an international element and in respect of trusts”.
“Francesco Maruffi is a strategic litigator with an unrivalled ability to remain calm and to manage client expectations”
“Highly reactive to developing situations, and the time sensitivities it creates. Direct and practical advice, which is considered and strategic.”
Recent cases
- Acting for major UK financial institution in several judicial proceedings, including before the Supreme Court, against an Italian financial intermediary following breach by the latter of an agreement for the sale of secured loan portfolios for an aggregate value of Euro 440 million.
- Acting for a major international financial institution in Euro 80 million litigation regarding the breach by a major Italian bank as assignor of a bulk assignment agreement pursuant to Article 58 of the Italian Consolidated Banking Act.
- Acting for major UK financial institution in the management of disputes regarding the assignment of salary secured loans portfolios.
- Acting for a major international insurance company in Euro 70 million litigation proceedings before the Tribunale Regionale and Tribunale Superiore delle Acque Pubbliche regarding an insurance liability policy with an Italian Province for damages occurred to the industrial plant and machineries of a third party as a result of severe floodings.
- Acting for leading China based insurance company in litigation proceedings against Enel SpA in connection with the enforcement of insurance bonds for the aggregate amount of Euro 23 million and parallel arbitration proceedings in the UK.
- Acting for a major UK based international insurer with regard to a civil liability claim and connected criminal proceedings against the insured company, a construction consortium and its directors started by the heirs of a worker following s fatal accident whilst working on the insured's construction site on the Italian motorway.
- Acting for major US headquartered insurer in international arbitration and court proceedings arising out of a post M&A dispute involving a shareholder and managing director of the target company.
- Acting for an international luxury goods Group in several contractual disputes on manufacturing agreements with suppliers both before courts as well as mediation chambers
- Acting for a Dubai based real estate developer in international construction arbitration proceedings against the builder of a 5-star luxury hotel in the city of Milan.
- Acting for Italian based leading operator in natural gas transport and storage, in several proceedings aimed at protecting its rights on the LNG pipelines against landlords' illicit conduct.
- Assisting an international Swiss based asset management player acting as trustee in connection with a Trust related dispute.
- Assisting an international investment company in a post-acquisition litigation of industrial site regarding material breach of contract by the seller and the construction company which caused the site to collapse with relevant consequential damages for the purchaser.
- Acting for the Italian Stock Exchange Company and its subsidiaries in commercial disputes and insolvency-related proceedings
- Acting for international export trading group in litigation proceedings arising out of a breach contract by and Italian carrier of its obligation under a freight forwarding agreement involving the loss of a material amount of coffee stocked at the depository warehouse in Koper (Slovenia)
- Acting for international property investment manager in several disputes in connection with the breach of lease agreements by Italian tenants and relevant enforcement proceedings, including protecting client’s interests following bankruptcy declaration of the tenants and claw back proceedings issued by bankruptcy receiver.
- Acting for leading NYSE listed aircraft lessor in several disputes arising from breach of lease agreements with major airlines companies aimed at aircraft repossession, including enforcement and protection of lessors’ rights in a variety of insolvency proceedings as well as against Italian Airport Authorities.
- Acting for an international oil & gas player in turn-key construction ICC arbitration proceedings regarding an IGCC plant.
- Acting for several companies (based in the UK, Luxembourg and Italy) of a leading institutional manager in various Madoff-related proceedings brought by financial intermediaries and individuals for damages allegedly incurred in connection with Madoff fraud.
- Acting for a Silicon Valley-based supplier of high-performance components used in high-voltage power conversion in litigation proceedings arising out from alleged defective supplies.
- Acting for China based Telecom operator in commercial disputes with Italian company for alleged breach of contract
- Acting for leading US financial institution in litigation regarding the breach of a syndicated loan agreement and relevant financing facilities totalling EUR 30million, granted in connection with the construction of the Tanzania airport.
- Acting for leading international investment fund in a multi-party dispute involving Italian investors, claiming alleged mismanagement, underperformance, improper fund-gating and liability misrepresentation in prospectus against the ManCo the SICAV and relevant Directors.
- Acting for leading German bank in several disputes brought by Banca Popolare Italiana SpA seeking reimbursement for damages up to Euro 1.8 billion allegedly incurred as a result of the illicit conduct of the former members of the Board of Directors in connection with Banca Antonveneta takeover
Articles
- 12 February 2025 “Portata e valore probatorio della già accertata manipolazione Euribor: la parola alla Corte di Giustizia | LinkedIn
- 30 January 2024 "A few things you should know before applying to the Court for an order for payment against your client"
- 23 February 2023 "EU Court of Justice judgment in Case C-555/21 on reimbursement of costs upon early redemption by a consumer of banking mortgage loan"
- 4 April 2022 - "Covid fuori dalle polizze infortuni, ma una sentenza riconosce i danni" (Il Sole 24 Ore)
- 15 November 2020 "Italy: Injury policies COVID-19 - The discussion is becoming intense"(https://www.lexology.com/r.ashx?l=9SBDUQW