SPEAKERS
Speakers
Michael McAuley
Michael McAuley was called as an Advocate of the Bar of Quebec in 1983 and a Barrister and Attorney of Bermuda in 2000. He practised in Montreal with the law firm now known as Borden Ladner Gervais; in Bermuda, with Appleby; and in Guernsey, with Carey Olsen. McAuley specializes in both contentious and non-contentious trust and inheritance matters and has been counsel in many offshore trust disputes. His publications on the law of trusts include: “Truth and Reconciliation: Notions of Property in Louisiana’s Civil and Trust Codes” in Re-imagining the Trust — Trusts in Civil Law (Cambridge University Press 2012). McAuley is past Chair of the trusts committee of the International Bar Association. He is a retired Academician of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law. Michael is a former president of the estates and trusts section of the Canadian Bar Association (Quebec Branch) and a former president of the trusts section of the International Bar Association. He is a retired academician of The International Academy of Estate and Trust Law. Michael has very recently completed teaching the course—Death & Property—at McGill University. He teaches this subject transsystemically, that is to say, across systems and traditions. Transsystemically, instructors and students have no vested interest in a specific jurisdiction; instead, they have a stake in all systems any one of which can be used to teach a particular topic or institution of the law of inheritance. Michael addresses us today from Montreal. Traveller, not tourist, he is a stakeholder in each of us as well as in our common success.
Makiko Mizuuchi
Makiko Mizuuchi is a partner in the Legal Profession Corporation CastGlobal. She practices all aspects of family law, with particular specialism in international Inheritance and will. She practices divorce and, Hague Convention cases as well. In Japan, she handles inheritance cases for the heirs of the foreigners who pass away in Japan, or who have inherited property in Japan. She has submitted expert opinions regarding Japanese family law to courts in England, Australia, and Canada. In addition, she is a member of International family law division of the family Law Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (“JFBA”) and during 2015 and 2022 she gave lectures to several bar associations in Japan, as part of the seminar series hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the Central Authority of Hague Convention), and a lecture for consular officers in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the topic of the practice of the courts hearing Hague Convention cases. Furthermore, she is a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (“IAFL”). She obtained B.A. from Faculty of Law, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, and Master of Laws, from Graduate School of Law, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo.
Sophie Ducamp-Monod
Like any French notary, Sophie Ducamp-Monod deals with local transfers of real estate either inter vivos or by death. However, she specializes in deploying her skills on an international scope. Her experiences extend to both civil and tax matters where non-residents are involved. Thus, she usually helps non-residents to write the marriage contract or the change of matrimonial regime, to anticipate the transfer of their assets in case of death by drafting the will or gift, to settle the transfer of the assets in case of the death of a non-resident, to draw up partition of worldwide assets in case of divorce or death, all of this, working with the local advisors involved. She occasionally publishes articles connected with International Private law, the last one in Revue Internationale du Patrimoine, Mars 2021, “La réception en France d’un trust valablement constitué en Pays de Common Law, ou comment faire entrer un cercle dans un carré ? » She can speak fluently either in English or Spanish. She is member of AIJUDEFA (Asociación Internacional de Juristas de Derecho de Familia)
Alexander Boiché
Alexander Boiché is a specialist in international family litigation and notably conflicts of jurisdictions or conflicts of laws, recognition of foreign judgments. As such, he conducts numerous judicial training programs for colleagues and judges in this domain both in France and abroad. Seeking to promote sustainable solutions, he also specializes in the drafting of international marriage contracts, divorce and parental authority agreements. He is also trained in collaborative law and Mediator specialized in NVC. Since 2006, he has been an editor for the “Actualité Juridique Famille” law review edited by Dalloz in charge of international family law report and case-laws He is a fellow of the IAFL. He is the treasurer of the French Committee of Private International Law
André Castelli
Since 1996 in Frankfurt with “Dolce Lauda Rechtsanwälte Avvocati Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mbB, focus on German and Italian and cross boarder succession matters, regular publications in the German law magazine ZEV „Zeitschrift für Erbrecht und Vermögensnachfolge“ of C.H. Beck Verlags. Member of the German – Italian jurists association, the ERA „Europäische Rechtsakademie“ in Trier and board member of the international Network of law firms „World Link for Law“. Languages: Italian, German, English, French. 1990 Law graduate, University of Cagliari, Italy 1994 University of Exeter, UK, LL. M. in European Legal Studies, with Distinction 1994 Admitted as a lawyer in Italy as Procuratore legale / Avvocato at the bar of Cagliari 1995 J. W. Goethe Universität Frankfurt a. M., LL. M., on German law 1997 Admitted after exam as a lawyer in Germany as Rechtsanwalt at the bar of Frankfurt a.M. 2010 Admitted at Italian Superior jurisdictions (Court of Cassazione, Constitutional court etc.)
Karin J. Lundell
Karin J. Lundell is a partner in the estate planning and family law practice groups of Pavia & Harcourt LLP. Ms. Lundell advises individuals in estate planning, charitable giving, and the preparation of complex trusts and wills. Her goal is to find creative solutions tailored to the specific needs of each client that achieve tax effective transfers of wealth to future generations. She also represents clients in the negotiation and preparation of prenuptial agreements and divorce settlements, where her expertise in tax and estate planning is especially valuable in guiding clients to make informed decisions when structuring financial settlements. Ms. Lundell has an undergraduate degree (licence-es-lettres) in Russian Studies from the University of Paris III, Paris, France and had a career as a translator at the United Nations before attending law school. She received her J.D. degree (1999) and Master of Laws (LLM) degree in Taxation (2001) from New York University School of Law. Ms. Lundell speaks fluent French and Russian and lived for many years in France and Switzerland. She is admitted to the New York State Bar and the Bar of the District of Columbia and is a member of the New York City Bar Association, New York State Bar Association and the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners.
Masami Kittaka
Admitted to Tokyo Bar Association in 2009, specialising in family law with particular focus on international family cases. Education: International Christian University (B.A.,1997), University of Tokyo School of Law (J.D., 2007), Pittsburgh University Law School (LL.M., cum laude, 2008). Membership: International Family Law Section of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations; Hague Convention Committee of Tokyo Bar Association. Other notable positions: Lecturer at Chuo University Law School. Languages Spoken: English, Japanese Practice Areas: Adoption, Appeals, Child Care/Public Law, Child Custody/Residence/Visitation/Contact, Child Support, Cohabitation, Collaborative Law, Divorce, Domestic Abuse/Violence/Protection Orders, Emergency Procedures/Injunctions, Enforcement: Child Custody, Enforcement: Child Support, Enforcement: Property Division, Enforcement: Spousal Support, Finance: Insolvency, Finance: Pensions/Superannuation/Retirement and Employment Benefits, Finance: Property Issues, Hague Convention/Child Abduction, Mediation, Modification/Variation: Child Custody, Modification/Variation: Child Support, Modification/Variation: Property Division, Modification/Variation: Spousal Support, Parentage/Paternity, Relocation/Removal from Jurisdiction, Same Sex Partnerships, Spousal Support/Maintenance/Alimony
Chris Murphy
Director, Senior Deceased Estate Administrator, WILLS & ESTATE PLANNING Chris Murphy is a shareholder director at Legacy Fiduciary Services and has been with the company since 2010. He is an admitted attorney who specialises in estate planning, administration of estates and drafting of wills. A member of the International Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, Murphy is also a member of the Fiduciary Institute of Southern Africa (FISA) and holds the Fiduciary Practitioner of Southern Africa (FPSA®) designation. Murphy deals mainly with deceased estate administration, for a limited number of clients annually. His responsibilities include managing Legacy Fiduciary Services Private Trust, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Legacy Fiduciary Services.
Dr. Mohammed Haitham Salman
With more than 23 years of experience, Dr. Salman has a Ph.D. in International Business Law from the University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK. He completed his professional and practical studies in the College of Law of England and Wales. His studies covered international mergers and acquisitions, international arbitration law, capital markets and loans, international joint ventures, and international business organizations. He has worked in a wide field of business law areas in the UAE. As a legal consultant in leading law firms, he handled construction projects, maritime law, drafting legislations, sports law, and corporate law. He also spent four yearsworking as a legal advisor for the Business Administration Legislations Division before accepting the role of senior legal advisor in Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) and Abu Dhabi Development Department (DED). Dr. Salman also served as the chair of the law program in Abu Dhabi University, where he also taught business law, employment law, and handled all legal aspects of contract management in the university. He is a recurrent visiting lecturer of business law in Chiefly Business School, the Swiss Business School, the University of Atlanta, and the Arabian Gulf University. To add to his list of already impressive credentials, Dr. Salman is a fellow of the International Bar Association (IBA) and a member of the Society of Legal Scholars (SLS) in London, UK.
Cynthia Catalino
Cynthia Catalino is certified as a specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Her practice includes all aspects of probate and trust administration, estate and gift tax planning, and the representation of executors, trustees and beneficiaries in probate court. Ms. Catalino is highly respected by her peers. Los Angeles Magazine listed her as a Southern California Super Lawyer in 2009-2010 and 2012- present. She has the highest peer review rating available from Martindale Hubbell for experience and integrity. Cynthia Catalino taught Estate Planning as an Adjunct Professor at Whittier Law School and she was an editor of the California Tax Lawyer from 2000 to 2003. Ms. Catalino is an active member of the Taxation Section of the California State Bar and she has served on its Executive Committee. Ms. Catalino is a member of the American and Los Angeles County Bar Associations, and the Trusts and Estates and Taxation Sections of the State Bar of California. Ms. Catalino is also a member of the International Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners (“STEP”). Additionally, Cynthia Catalino is fluent in Italian and she has significant experience advising Italian clients in a variety of legal matters.
Giacomo Guarnera
Founding-Partner of the law firm Guarnera Advogados. “Cavaliere al Merito” of the Italian Republic, in 2002. Delegato Estero – Brasile – ASSORETIPMI – Associazione Reti di Imprese Pmi, biennium 2021/2022 President of “Promo Brasile Italia” Milan association, since 2020; President of “Itálicos do Brasil” São Paulo association, since 2019; President of the “Ethics Council” of the Brazilian Fencing Confederation, since 2019; President of “Patronato ACLI” São Paulo, since 2018; Member of “Omnia Italian Desk nel Mondo”, since 2018: Vice-President of “G.E.I – Gruppo Esponenti Italiani” São Paulo, since 2017; Vice-President of the Italian-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and Industry of São Paulo, from 2000 to 2014; Founding-Partner and Secretary-Director of “G.E.I – Gruppo Esponenti Italiani” São Paulo, from 2000 to 2017; Founder and President of “São Lourenço” São Paulo association, since 1997;
Melisa Romero
Melisa Romero is a senior lawyer in the Litigation department. Her practice focuses on the conduct of trial litigation, representing clients in complex commercial matters and class actions in the areas of consumers law, banking, environmental and insurance law. Since 2008, she has been a Visiting Professor of the Law Department at Universidad Torcuato di Tella. She also works as Coordinator of the ProBono Commission of the Bar Association of the City of Buenos Aires. Visiting Professor of the Law Department at Universidad Torcuato di Tella since 2008.
Ingrid Iselin
Ingrid Iselin is a partner and co-head of the Private Clients’ Team of Kellerhals Carrard, one of the largest law firms in Switzerland. She is a certified SBA inheritance law specialist and has extensive experience and expertise in inheritance litigation and estate planning. Ingrid Iselin represents her clients, both Swiss and foreign, in negotiations as well as before the Swiss courts and authorities. She also advises foreign and Swiss private clients on their estate planning, entrepreneurs on business transfers, and the various persons involved in an estate (executor, banks, family offices, etc.) on the administration and settlement of complex estates. Ingrid Iselin has been appointed by the Swiss federal Office of Justice as a member of the Expert Commission for the revision the inheritance law provisions of the Swiss Civil Code which will come into force on 1rst January 2023. She is also a member of the Contentious Trusts and Estates SIG steering Committee.
Al Ameer Ghanem
Al Ameer graduated from Ain Shams University holding a bachelor’s degree in Law and holds another degree in Computer Science from the Modern Academy in Cairo. He is a member of the Egypt Bar Association. Al Ameer has over ten years of legal experience in the UAE. He started his career with MIO Law Firm in 2009 as a Legal Assistant, therefore he has extensive understanding of the procedures in Dubai courts and handled all the courts processes such as court registration, notifications, legal notices, etc. Currently, he is a Senior Legal Consultant experienced in all different aspects of a litigation process and well-practiced in matters related to Civil matters (Personal Status, Labour, and Commercial) and Criminal Law. He is planning to pursue his master’s degree in Commercial Law. He speaks Arabic and English fluently.
Rocco Franco
Rocco Franco is a Founding Member and the Managing Partner of Pini Franco LLP, a boutique law firm in the City of London established 25 years ago. Rocco qualified as an Avvocato in 1992 and as a Solicitor in 1994. He has practised law throughout his professional career in the City of London. He has an extensive experience in respect of setting-up business operations and advising clients on international civil and commercial matters, particularly between the UK and Italy. Rocco acts for individuals, institutional clients and well known Italian businesses of different sectors including fashion retail, logistics, engineering and banking. He advises a number of Italian Associations and their members on civil, corporate, commercial and procedural aspects of English law. He is a Director and Board Member of the Italian Chamber of Commerce for the UK and a long standing member and current President of the British Italian Law Association. He is also a member of Business Club Italia, a Council Committee member of the Associazione Internazionale dei Giuristi di Lingua Italiana. Rocco is past President of the Rotary Club of the City and Shoreditch. He is also a Trustee of a few other charitable organisations in the UK. He frequently lectures in London and writes articles on commercial legal topics for various legal publications. He is often invited as a speaker to international conferences particularly in Italy.
Bijal Ajinkya
Bijal Ajinkya is a Partner in the Direct Tax, Private Client and Investment Funds Practice Groups in the Mumbai office with over 20 years of experience. Bijal regularly features on an annual basis in the Chambers & Partners (Asia – Pacific), Citiwealth Leaders List, Legal 500, International Tax Review (Asia Pacific), Who’s Who Legal “Corporate Tax Guide 2022, Private Client Global Elite, Expert Guides – Tax 2022, Indian Lawyer 250 Law Business Research as a leader in the field of taxation and private client in India. She is regarded as a Distinguished Practitioner by AsiaLaw Profile 2022. She is recognised by Asian Legal Business in their ranking as Asia’s Top 15 Female Lawyer. Legal Era Leading Lawyers Rankings 2022 has recognized her as Leading Lawyer Champion – Tax. Bijal previously served as an officer-elect on the Individual Tax & Private Client Committee of the International Bar Association. She is ex-officio member of the Steering Committee of the International Wealth Advisors Forum. She regularly contributes to the IVCA with respect to changes which should be made on the regulatory and tax landscape for investment funds. Bijal is a regular speaker at domestic and international forums on Indian tax matters, international tax matters and estate planning. She is regularly invited to participate on television channels as an expert on the current controversies in tax in India. Bijal has authored several articles and publication on matters of international tax, fund formation and estate planning.
Ugo Friedmann
Ugo Friedman has been a notary public for over thirty years. He usually makes conferences on fiscal aspects of succession law He has been serving since 1989 as part of the Commission for the Tributary Studies for the National Council of Notaries, particularly taking part in comments on the reforms of the fiscal text of succession law As expert in fiscal, he has published studies with the commission as well as reports in various study meetings He has organised various courses for italian and french notaries with ACENODE Lyon with the cooperation of Euorpean Commission He speaks fluently English and French.
Carolina McCardel
Specialist in Civil and Process Civil Law by Paulista School of Law (EPD) https://www.epd.edu.br/ Wide experience as a lawyer in Family law for vocation. Certified by Hoffman Institute (Center of Human Development, validated by Harvard University with the focus on leardership and human enhancement ----- https://processohoffman.com.br/.) Member of Brazilian Family Law Institute (IBDFAM) https://ibdfam.org.br/
Alexis de Selliers
Notary Public in Lausanne (CH), who deals with all civil issues related to the professsion of notaries public, but also receiverships, public inventaries, inheritance succession.
Clara Rubio Goenaga
Clara Rubio Goenaga is a Semi-Senior Lawyer in the Litigation Department. Her practice focuses on civil and complex litigation, representing clients in the areas of inheritance law, consumers law and health law.
Francesca Rossi
Francesca Rossi is a Partner in the Private Client department of Pini Franco LLP. Francesca has over 10 years of experience advising on a full range of private client work, including domicile and residence, inheritance tax conditional exemptions and foreign aspects of estate administration. Her particular focus is on cross-border matters and related succession and tax advice for individuals with international connections. She also advises on remittance basis issues, UK estate planning, trusts and administration of estates. A native of Italy and so bilingual, Francesca works closely with the other members of the Private Client team on a variety of matters relating to tax, wills and successions, especially those with an Italian connection. She has extensive practical experience of Anglo/Italian matters, having worked for many years in a London firm specialising in assisting Italian born or domiciled clients. She handles complex, high quality private wealth work and often assists other professionals in resolving issues involving Italian assets and successions. Francesca is a full STEP member and sits in the committee of the City of London Branch as Student Liaison Officer. She is also a long standing member and Honorary Treasurer of the British Italian Law Association (BILA).
Charles Evison
Charles Evison is an admitted attorney, who specialises in estate planning as well as drafting of wills and trusts. He is a member of the Fiduciary Institute of Southern Africa (FISA) and holds the Fiduciary Practitioner of Southern Africa (FPSA ®) designation. He was a commercial attorney for many years. He joined Legacy Fiduciary Services as a director soon after it was established in 2010. Evison’s focus is the fiduciary arena and the ever-evolving trust law, within which parameters he strives to find simple and practical solutions to often complex challenges. He manages a team that looks after trust administration, which includes accounting, setting up the trust, drafting the deed as well as drafting loan agreements.
Mara M. Mahana
Mara counsels high net worth individuals, business owners, real estate investors, artists and their families in all aspects of personal estate planning, wealth preservation and transfer strategies, as well as trust administration. Her practice also encompasses estate tax and gift tax planning in addition to the preparation of estate and gift tax returns. Mara is a trusted advisor to trustees, personal representatives and beneficiaries in all aspects of probate and trust administration. Mara has authored several published articles on estate planning law, is a recurring speaker for National Business Institute and Lorman seminars regarding trust and probate matters, gives estate planning seminars to bank and business clients and is an update author for CEB’s “Crossover Issues in Estate Planning and Family Law” treatise.
Joana Alves Cardoso
Joana Alves Cardoso represents the values implemented in our practise. Throughout her career as a lawyer she has demonstrated a special interest in commercial, finance and family law, and prides herself in always working closely and in a straight-forward manner with the clients. Her professional career has enabled her with the opportunity to advise various entities from local to multinational corporations and individual clients. Additionally, she actively takes part in various international organisations. She is the President of the UIA (Union Internationale des Avocats) Commission of International Estate Planning and founding member of the AIJUDEFA (Asociación Internacional de Juristas de Derecho de Familia). She has also been actively contributing for both organisations as a speaker in several sessions on Family Law and International Estate Planning. She maintains close-knit international cooperation with law firms located in different jurisdictions that are fostered in excellence, reciprocity and integrity, generating greater connectivity with the clients.
Local Representatives
Muriel Cadiou
Ms. Cadiou is the founding partner of CADIOU-BARBE. Admitted to the bar in 1994 and earned a post-graduate degree in comparative law from New York University in 2002. Originally a litigator for French and American business law firms, where she developed extensive experience in commercial and tax litigation, but now has been working exclusively within family law where she focuses on complex cases involving international or cross-border jurisdictional issues for high net worth individuals with large financial and asset concerns. She has received the national certification on family and patrimonial law by the French national Bar Council. Her qualifications and training in transactional analysis and non-violent communication have enabled her to organize child custody, establish a residence and visitation rights with respect and a sense of humanity while honoring the best interest of the child. Graduated as a mediator and trained in collaborative law (including a thesis on Mediation & ADR in Family Law), this has allowed her to reach negotiated separation agreements and to prevail on litigation.
Adriano Villa
Adriano Villa is country partner for Japan and heads the firm’s Japan Desk in Milan and the firm’s office in Tokyo, which he frequently visits during the year. Adriano is to date the only Italian lawyer ever to have ever been admitted to practice in Japan as a foreign lawyer (“Gaikokuho-jimubengoshi”), in 1998. Mr. Villa regularly represents large and medium-sized Japanese enterprises with operations in Italy or doing business with Italian companies as well as large Italian companies and SMEs with operations in Japan or doing business with Japanese companies. He has extensive experience of acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures and start-ups, as well as commercial negotiations and drafting of a broad range of contract types (licence, agency, distribution, etc), arbitration and general legal and business consultancy.
Andrea Rusca
Andrea E. Rusca is a Swiss and Italian national. He grew up in Lugano, studied law in Neuchâtel and, after his lawyer training period in Geneva, was admitted to the Geneva Bar in May 1995. Thereafter, he studied in Washington DC where he obtained an LL.M. “with distinction” from Georgetown University Law Center in 1997. While working in Washington DC, he prepared the bar exams and was admitted to the New York Bar in 1998. Andrea Rusca acquired solid legal competencies with various international law firms in Geneva, Paris and Washington DC, two international arbitration organizations: The World Bank – International Centre for the Settlement of International Disputes (ICSID) in Washington DC and the Secretariat of the ICC Arbitration Court in Paris as well as multinational companies in Switzerland and Italy.
Louise Houle
Louise Houle is a member of the Quebec Bar and her practice focuses on tax and estate planning, especially for families holding real estate in Canada, the United States and Europe. She also advises wealthy families on matters pertaining to trusts as well as Canada-United States cross-border tax planning. Louise Houle has extensive experience in complex national and international business structuring as well as in estate planning. She is very familiar with matters relating to personal taxation and death taxes in Canada and the United States, inheritance and estate taxes in Europe as well as philanthropy, non-profit organizations and charities. Louise Houle is designated as a TEP, Society of Trusts and Estates ( STEP). She is also a member of the Estate Planning Council of Canada and of the Canadian Tax Foundation.
Alessandra Tarissi de Jacobis
Alessandra Tarissi de Jacobis, partner of De Berti Jacchia and head of the Los Angeles desk, has been appointed co-chair of the International Intellectual Property Rights Committee of the American Bar Association (Aba-Ipl), a position she will hold until August next year.
Thomas Paoletti
Thomas Paoletti began practising law in 1997 in Rome, his home city. He originally moved to Dubai to assist Italian companies and entrepreneurs interested in entering the market in the Middle East. Following his years of private practice in Rome, Thomas launched the Paoletti Law Group in the United Arab Emirates to offer advice and assistance to companies that require international legal support with actionable knowledge that reaches across jurisdictions and understands multiple markets. With ever-increasing interconnectedness between nations, markets, corporations, and people, Thomas Paoletti is committed to giving clients the holistic guidance and dynamic support required to thrive through internationalisation.
Rodolfo Dolce
Dr. Rodolfo Dolce is licensed to practice law in Germany and Italy and was admitted to the bar in Frankfurt am Main and in Siena (Italy). He is a specialist lawyer for in international business/ commercial law, employment law as well as a certified translator and interpreter for the Italian language. He is a partner at Dolce Lauda Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mbB. He specialises in advising German and Italian companies regarding on German, Italian and international corporate law, trade law and employment law. He also acts as an arbitrator in international arbitration proceedings. A detailed curriculum vitae for this can be provided upon request.
Gisella Levi Caroti
Gisella Levi Caroti has been practicing in the areas of corporate and commercial law with Herzfeld + Rubin, P.C. for more than thirty years, representing European clients doing business in the United States. Ms. Caroti advises corporate clients in connection with a wide variety of transactions such as corporate structuring, mergers and acquisition, and disposition of businesses, international joint ventures, and shareholder and operating agreements. Additionally, Ms. Caroti represents corporate clients in commercial transactions involving manufacturing, distribution, financial agreements, real estate, and employment and intellectual property matters. Before coming to the United States, Ms. Caroti practiced corporate and commercial law in Italy as a partner of a law firm in Milan. She is a frequent speaker at Universities, Bar Associations, and Trade Organizations in Italy.
Alan Keep
Alan Keep is the managing partner of Bowmans. He advises on the structuring and implementation of significant black economic empowerment transactions as well as joint ventures, asset disposals and acquisitions in the South African market. He has B.Com and LLB degrees from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Higher Diploma in Tax Law from the University of Johannesburg and specializes in corporate law and tax law. Recent major transactions that Alan has advised on include acting for SABMiller in the formation of its African soft drink joint venture with The Coca Cola Company, and the disposal of its strategic stake in Tsogo Sun Limited, advising Fountainhead Property Fund in its acquisition by Redefine, advising Standard Bank on various issues relating to its Tutuwa black economic empowerment transaction, and advising BP on the conclusion of its empowerment transaction with Kapela Investments. He has advised on the structuring and implementation of numerous significant black economic empowerment transactions in the South African market.
Giacomo Guarnera
Giacomo Guarnera is the founding-partner of the law firm Guarnera Advogados. He has graduated in Jurisprudence with honorable mention by the Law Faculty of Palermo, in 1985. Afterwards, he has graduated in Law by the Law Faculty of the University of São Paulo, in 1994. Mr. Guarnera is a lawyer in Italy since 1989 and a member of Brazilian Bar (OAB) São Paulo Section since 1995. Giacomo Guarnera, as a Senior Partner of the firm, is responsible for the sectors of M&A, joint ventures, international contracts, foreign capital, arbitration, legal, commercial and corporate processes, international legal processes, tax law, Italian law, real estate law. Additionally, he is the president of “Promo Brasile Italia” Milan association, since 2020; president of “Itálicos do Brasil” São Paulo association, since 2019; president of the “Ethics Council” of the Brazilian Fencing Confederation, since 2019; president of “Patronato ACLI” São Paulo, since 2018; member of “Omnia Italian Desk nel Mondo”, since 2018: vice-president of “G.E.I – Gruppo Esponenti Italiani” São Paulo, since 2017.
Moderators
Guglielmo Maisto
Guglielmo Maisto founded Maisto e Associati in 1991. He is a Professor of international and comparative tax law at the Università Cattolica di Piacenza. He is Chair of the European Region of the International Fiscal Association and President of the Italian Branch of the same organization (IFA), member of the Board of Trustees of the International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD) in Amsterdam, member of the Practice Council of New York University (NYU) Law’s International Tax Program and member of the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy. He represents the Italian Association of Industries (Confindustria) at the OECD Business Industry Advisory Committee in Paris. He acted as a consultant to the Ministry for European Community Affairs and was a member of the EU Joint Transfer Pricing Forum. He is a member of several law societies and of the editorial board of various Italian and foreign tax legal journals. He usually participates as speaker to several annual tax conferences.
Giuseppe Trimarchi
Professor Giuseppe Trimarchi has been a notary public for over twenty years as well as an associate professor of Bankruptcy Law at Pegaso University. He has served as part of the Commission for the Study of Enterprises for the National Council of Notaries, particularly taking part in the group study dedicated to the reform of cooperative companies. He is also the founder and president of the “Civil Law” Association (www.civillaw.it). An expert in corporate law, he has dozens of publications under his belt, as well as monographs, comments and contributions appearing in some of the most renowned magazines of the sector. In 2010 he moved his professional headquarters to Milan. His professional background led him to an experience in 2015 where he served as Visiting Professor and coordinator of the MC&CL Master’s Degree program at New York’s Fordham University Law School. His fluent English and inclination for teaching have also allowed him to take on, since 2004, a teaching role for a preparation course dealing with aspiring notary publics, put on by the Civil Law Association. He speaks English at the following level IELTS certificate.
Daniela Horvitz
Daniela graduated from the University of Chile Law School in 1999. She undertook postgraduate studies in Chile and abroad (Harvard University and California Western School of Law). She specializes in family law, and has been featured among the best family lawyers in Chile by Leading Lawyers (2017, 2020 and 2021) and Idealis (2019). She works at Horvitz & Cia., a law firm founded by her father. She also teaches litigation at the University of Chile, the Institute of Judicial Studies (Instituto de Estudios Judiciales) and the University Adolfo Ibáñez, among others. She is a member of the Chilean Bar Association; founder and former president of the Chilean Association of Family Lawyers (AAF); president of the Family Law Commission of the International Association of Lawyers (UIA); fellow and former Governor At Large of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL); member of the American Bar Association (ABA); honorary member of IBDFAM; member of the Societé Génerale de législation comparée; member of the NYC Bar Association; and member of ASIME. She has lectured at various national and international forums. Among her written contributions, Thompson Reuters’ Family Law, a global guide from practical law stands out, with its six editions. She has organized and lectured at various national and international conferences.
Alberto Malatesta
Admitted at the Milan bar and at the Italian Supreme Court bar in Italy. His practice focuses mainly on litigation and especially arbitration and ADR systems in international cases. He regurarly acts as Arbitrator appointed by the parties, sole arbitrator and chairman of the arbitral tribunal under arbitrations ad hoc, the UNCITRAL Rules, the ICC Paris Rules and the Milan Chamber of Arbitration. He is credited as International Mediator in civil and commercial matters at the Italian Ministry of Justice. He is professor of Private International Law at the Law School of the University LIUC-Carlo Cattaneo in Italy. He also teaches International Business Law within the Ph. D. Program of Legal Studies at the University Bocconi of Milan. He served as delegate of the Italian Government at the Hague Conference of Private International Law (2005 - 2012). He held several courses and conferences on private international law and arbitration law at various law school and institutions through Europe and South America. He is the Secretary General of the Italian branch of the International Law Association, a world-wide reputed association, with its headquarters in London.
Francesca Zanasi
Ms. Zanasi is the founder of I.F.L International Family Law Firm. She has developed a specific experience in family and inheritance law. Assisted by professional investigators, she is an expert in the recovery of assets presumably part of the estate but not found at the time of the opening of the succession. She is the author of contributions for specialized publications such as Giuffrè Editore and Wolters Kluwer and has collaborated for years with La Stampa. She is co-founder of the Milan Juvenile Chamber and sits on the board of Child Priority, a foundation sponsored by Condè Nast Editore. He is a member of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL). Member of the Council of the Milan Bar Association since March 2019, for which she holds the position of Delegate President of the International Relations Commission (CRINT) as well as Adjunct Counselor in the Family Commission. In 2021 she is founder and first President of the Italian CRINT Union, an association that gathers all the representatives of the International Relations Commissions of the Italian Bars.
Véronique Moissinac Massenat
Criminal defense on behalf of individuals and companies in France and overseas. Significant experience in anti-money laundering, setting up compliance proceedings in worldwide financial institutions (France, Spain, Poland, Mauritius, UK, Thailand). Assisting clients in complex multi-jurisdictional litigation (Spain, Switzerland, Caribbean, Africa, South America) International family law Mediator (IFOMENE, Institut Catholique de Paris, 2022). PhD in International Law, summa cum laude, University of Paris-Sorbonne, (2002) Dissertation : parallel proceedings and inconsistent judgments in international litigation, director : H. Muir Watt
Giovanni Cristofaro
Giovanni advises Italian and international clients on matters concerning planning, management and use of family assets (including company shareholdings and artworks) with a focus on family wealth planning, including succession, intra-family wealth transfers and trusts. Giovanni Cristofaro joined Chiomenti in 2006; he was a Firm Consultant from 2015 to 2016 and became a partner in 2017.
Domenico Damascelli
He has worked as a notary since 1998, associate professor of Private international law, and called to the bar in 2018. He can receive documents in English, French, and Spanish. Expert in successions and inheritances, including those of an international sphere. Member of The International Academy of Estate and Trust Law (TIAETL). Member of the International Law Association (ILA). Member of the Groupe de travail de droit international privé of the CRIDON of Paris. Co-author and executive manager of Argilla IUS, digital notary form, interactive and commented, in three volumes. Speaker at numerous national and international seminars and conferences on private international law and the law of the European Union.
Andrea Natale
Professor of Civil Law at the University of Parma, where I teach a course, in addition to that on Civil Liability, on Internet Law and Artificial Intelligence. Graduated from the University of Milan (1994). Lawyer since 1998, subsequently qualified in the Superior Jurisdictions. I obtained a PhD in Private Law from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (2003), as well as a National Scientific Qualification, in Private Law, and for the position of Professor (2013). I deal mainly with contracts: in addition to typical contracts, I have gained significant experience in the areas of financial intermediation (factoring, and in general the circulation of credit), as well as insolvency procedures, working for leading credit institutions. I have held, and still hold, the role of Director without delegated powers in companies and financial intermediaries. I have been appointed as arbitrator in several arbitrations, including those entrusted to the administration of the Milan Chamber of Arbitration. Before devoting myself to my professional activity, I worked for an investment bank in Luxembourg (1995). Author of more than one hundred publications on contract law, obligations and mortis causa successions, including the following monographs: Autonomia privata e diritto ereditario, Padua, 2009; Il debitore ceduto, Padua, 2012; La circolazione del credito nelle procedure concorsuali, Milan, 2018. I am also editor of Le vicende traslative del credito, Milan, 2020. Full member of the Società Italiana degli Studiosi del Diritto Civile (SISDiC), and an associate of the Associazione Civilisti Italiani, as well as a member of the national scientific committee of the journal Diritto delle Successioni e della Famiglia.
Gregor Christandl
Gregor Christandl has been a full professor at the Institute for Civil Law, Foreign and Private International Law at the University of Graz since October 2021. Professor Christandl's work focuses on civil law as well as European and international private law. He deals in particular with the succession law, tort law and contract law. In all these areas he works on a comparative law basis, with particular emphasis on Italian as well as German, French, English and Spanish law.
William Sias
William C. Sias, a Senior Deputy County Counsel in the Office of County Counsel, County of Los Angeles, California. Mr. Sias is currently handling mental health conservatorship arising under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act. He received his law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He has an LL.M, in Taxation from the University of San Diego, School of Law and a Certificate in Estate Planning from Golden Gate University. He has been certified as a legal specialist in Estate planning. Trust and Probate Law since 2015. Mr. Sias is certified as an instructor for trial advocacy by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA). He has taught NITA's trial advocacy program in Los Angeles since 2015. In October of 2021, he was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the California Lawyers Association, commonly known as TEXCOM. Comprised of 35 attorney who volunteer their time for six-year terms, TEXCOM works towards a logical development of the law in the field of trusts, estates and probate.
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Organizing Committee
Francesca Zanasi
Ms. Zanasi is the founder of I.F.L International Family Law Firm. She has developed a specific experience in family and inheritance law. Assisted by professional investigators, she is an expert in the recovery of assets presumably part of the estate but not found at the time of the opening of the succession. She is co-founder of the Milan Juvenile Chamber and sits on the board of Child Priority. Member of the Council of the Milan Bar Association since March 2019, for which she holds the position of Delegate President of the International Relations Commission (CRINT) as well as Adjunct Counselor in the Family Commission. In 2021 she first President of the Italian CRINT Union, an association that gathers all the representatives of the International Relations Commissions of the Italian Bars.
Ruggero Rubino-Sammartano
Ruggero Rubino Sammartano is an Italian and French licensed practitioner, with 20 years of practice, focusing on commercial law and international dispute resolution (litigation and arbitration). He gained experience in law firms in London New York, Paris and Munich and works on cross-border transactional matters from a commercial and corporate law perspective. Rubino Sammartano is Co-editor-in-chief of the law review “Il Foro Padano” and is member of the Board of Directors of the European Court of Arbitration. He regularly lectures on arbitration and mediation and publishes in these fields in different languages.
Francesco Dialti
Before joining CBA in May 2017 as Partner, Francesco developed his professional experience working for leading Italian and international law firms, initially as Associate, and from 2014 as Partner in the Milan office of an international law firm (Watson Farley & Williams). He mainly advises domestic and international banks on banking law, asset finance and structured finance. His experience also includes advising financial institutions, corporates and investors on real estate finance, project finance, asset finance (with a special focus on transactions made in the field of port sector and shipping, also for M&A issues), and structured finance. He regularly lectures on banking and finance matters in Masters and postgraduate courses.
