Raffaele Giarda
Biography
Raffaele Giarda co-heads the Corporate/M&A Practice in the Firm’s Italy offices and has led the Global TMT Industry Group of Baker McKenzie between 2018 and 2022. He contributes articles to law journals, and often moderates and speaks at Italian and international conferences and seminars on tech legal and regulatory issues, including foreign direct investments regulations.
Mr. Giarda is a lecturer at the University of Rome as well as at the Italian National School for Public Administration. He joined the Firm in 1989 and became partner in 1999.
Practice Focus
Mr. Giarda assists domestic and multinational clients in the areas of technology, telecoms, media, M&A, corporate law and commercial contracts as well as foreign direct investments compliance. He advises and lectures on regulatory matters as well as on wireless networks and services, infrastructures rollout and provision, satellite networks, media platforms, mobile virtual network operators (MVNO), interconnection and access, the Internet of Things (IoT), disruptive technologies, connected vehicles, Machine Learning (ML), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Metaverse scenarios.
Representative Legal Matters
- Advised Over-The-Top and new entrants on authorizations and other regulatory issues in new technology, public electronic communication networks, mobile services, rights of use of frequencies and numbering resources, internet access, IoT, satellite network and communications services, MVNO, VAS, data transmission, Closed Users Groups, Wi-Fi, WLAN, NGN, eCall technology and similar services.
- Assisted a media company in its sale to an Italian broadcasting company.
- Assisted and represented a bidder in all public tenders (in the form of spectrum auctions or beauty contests) launched by the Italian Government in the wireless sector, and in the granting of frequencies rights of use since the 1998 market liberalization in Italy.
- Assisted a Dow 30 company in connection with all corporate aspects, shareholder agreement negotiations, regulatory issues and commercial matters related to the investment in, and then divestment of, a major Italian mobile telecoms operator.
- Assisted a leading multinational satellite broadcasting player and content provider in connection with its acquisition of rights of way and network related services from the largest wireline network provider in Italy.
- Assisted operators in the negotiation of MVNO and interconnection agreements concerning direct, reverse, fixed-mobile, mobile-mobile, carrier pre-selection arrangements and local loop unbundling, as well as IRU agreements, roaming hub, M2M services and mobile backhaul.
- Advised car manufacturers in connection with the launch of their connected car projects.
- Assisted a global IT enabler in relation to its offering to connected car stakeholders.
- Participated, upon invitation from the Italian Government, in the consultation sessions related to the liberalization of the telecommunications market in Italy, on behalf of new entrants.
- Represented operators before the Italian Regulatory Communications Authority and the Ministry of Communications.
Professional Honors
- Consistently ranked in Band 1 for Telecommunications law, Chambers Global, 2000-2023
- Recommended lawyer, International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers
- Recommended lawyer, Legal 500 EMEA
- Recommended lawyer, IFLR: The Guide to the World’s Leading Business Law Firms
- Italian Telecommunications Lawyer of the Year, Legalcommunity Awards, 2015
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Rome Bar Association
- Expert of the Matter - Connected Car Committee established by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development
Admissions
- Italy (1992)
- Italy Supreme Court
Education
- New York University (M.C.J.) (1994)
- Columbia University (Summer Program American Law) (1990)
- University of Rome (J.D., with honors) (1989)
Languages
- English
- Italian
Studio Professionale Associato a Baker & McKenzie is a member of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein.