I
Our IP practice provides comprehensive protection for trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets. We offer end-to-end services from registration and prosecution to enforcement and litigation.
Practice Areas
Comprehensive Legal Solutions for Modern Business
We deliver sophisticated legal counsel across a focused range of practice areas, each backed by deep expertise and international experience.
Each engagement is led by a designated partner, with a team selected based on the matter and relevant jurisdictions.
10 practice areas·30+ jurisdictions·5 working languages
The ten areas
II
M&A transactions in Italy: legal due diligence, share and asset purchase agreements, joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, golden power (Decree-Law 21/2012, 21/2022), AGCM antitrust pre-clearance, post-deal integration and governance.
III
Banking and finance contracts, corporate lending and syndicated loans, project finance, security packages, Bank of Italy supervision, AML (Legislative Decree 231/2007), PSD2/PSD3, MiCAR (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114), and fintech operators.
IV
We protect brand integrity through proactive monitoring, enforcement actions, and strategic litigation. Our team works with authorities worldwide to combat counterfeiting and unauthorized use.
V
We advise businesses on GDPR compliance (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) and the Italian data-protection framework: DPIAs, external DPO services, data breach management, extra-EU data transfers (SCCs and BCRs), and dealings with the Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante).
VI
As AI transforms industries, we help clients understand and comply with evolving regulations while protecting their innovations and managing associated risks.
VII
We provide comprehensive legal support to gaming operators, developers, and esports organizations, navigating complex regulatory frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.
VIII
Our litigation team represents clients before specialized courts throughout Italy and Europe, delivering strategic advocacy in commercial, corporate, and IP disputes.
IX
We assist clients in prosecuting counterfeiters and IP infringers through criminal actions, working closely with law enforcement and judicial authorities.
X
Integrated employment law counsel for businesses in transition, from contracts to contentious proceedings.
Practice — I. Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property
Protecting your most valuable business assets through long-term strategic planning.
The Intellectual Property practice is the firm's historical core, led by Francesco Carrelli Palombi (founder and trademark attorney registered in Italy and Spain) and Corrado Masetti Zannini De Concina (partner, IP and agri-food law). We coordinate European and international protection strategies covering trademarks, patents, industrial designs, and trade secrets, working alongside technical advisors and local offices in relevant jurisdictions.
We treat IP as a business tool: every strategy starts with a precise mapping of assets, competitive landscape, and target markets, and results in a portfolio plan that is sustainable over time.
Our Approach
We work toward sustainable portfolios, not isolated registrations. Active monitoring — anti-counterfeiting alerts, proactive oppositions, coordinated cross-border enforcement — is an integral part of the service. For extraordinary transactions, we provide structured IP due diligence and post-deal integration support.
Key Services
01
Trademark Registration and Portfolio Management
Multi-class and geographic strategies via WIPO/Madrid System and EUIPO, with annual renewal monitoring.
02
Patent Prosecution and Strategy
Coordination with Italian and foreign patent attorneys for national and international patent families.
03
Copyright Protection and Licensing
IP contracts, software development agreements, licensing arrangements, franchising, and merchandising.
04
Trade Secret Protection Programs
Internal policies, NDAs, staff training, and information security audits.
05
IP Due Diligence for M&A
Assessment of IP portfolios in extraordinary transactions and financing arrangements.
06
International IP Portfolio Coordination
Single point of contact for the Italian firm and foreign correspondents across more than 30 jurisdictions.
Sectors Served
Luxury & Fashion·Food & Beverage·Tech & Software·Pharma & Life Sciences·Manufacturing
Recent Insights
I.→II.→III.→
All Intellectual Property insights →Indicazioni geografiche per i prodotti artigianali e industriali: l'Italia adegua il proprio ordinamento al Regolamento (UE) 2023/2411
May 19, 2026 · 18 min read · Corrado Masetti Zannini De Concina
Trademark Protection in the Digital Age: NFTs and Virtual Goods
Nov 28, 2024 · 6 min read · Francesco Carrelli Palombi
Cross-Border IP Enforcement: Strategies for Global Brand Protection
Sep 18, 2024 · 7 min read · Francesco Carrelli Palombi
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about how we work and what we cover. For tailored answers, reach out directly.
- How do I register a trademark in Italy and the EU?
- In Italy a trademark application is filed with UIBM (Italian Patent and Trademark Office) at a government fee of EUR 101 for a single class via electronic filing. For EU-wide protection the firm files an EU Trade Mark (EUTM) at EUIPO with a base fee of EUR 850 for one class — covering all 27 Member States. International protection beyond the EU goes through the Madrid System (WIPO). Benches Law handles all three procedures end-to-end, including prior-art searches and opposition proceedings.
- What is the EU AI Act and who must comply?
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, the AI Act, is the world's first horizontal regulation on artificial intelligence systems. It entered into force on 1 August 2024 with phased application through 2027. It applies to anyone developing, importing, or distributing AI systems on the EU market. High-risk systems (HR screening, credit scoring, critical infrastructure, education) must satisfy documentation, human oversight, and EU database registration requirements. Sanctions reach EUR 35 million or 7% of global annual turnover, whichever is higher.
- What does an external Data Protection Officer (DPO) do?
- Under the GDPR, the Data Protection Officer is mandatory for organisations processing personal data on a large scale or handling special-category data. Benches Law provides external DPO services: monitoring GDPR compliance, acting as point of contact with the Italian data protection authority (Garante della Privacy), supervising data breach notifications (within the 72-hour deadline), and overseeing Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).
- What support do you provide for cross-border M&A transactions in Italy?
- Benches Law assists international investors acquiring Italian targets end-to-end: legal due diligence (red flag or full DD across corporate, IP, employment, real estate, contracts and litigation), share or asset purchase agreement drafting and negotiation, golden power notifications to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers under Decree-Law 21/2012 and 21/2022 when the target operates in strategic sectors (energy, defence, finance, critical technologies, healthcare), antitrust pre-clearance with the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) and the European Commission, and post-closing integration. Italian-specific rules on share and quota transfers (Articles 2470 and 2479-bis of the Civil Code) and on rep & warranty insurance are managed in-house.
- Does the firm work with foreign clients entering the Italian market?
- Yes. Benches Law regularly assists foreign businesses — European, American, and Chinese in particular — entering the Italian market: from trademark registration to GDPR compliance, from ADM licensing for online gaming to IP protection for Made in Italy products. The working languages cover Italian, English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and French.
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