Profile
Bruno Cova, European Co-Chair of Restructuring & Insolvency and Compliance Groups, focuses his practice on complex transactions such as cross-border acquisitions and restructuring of distressed companies. He also regularly advises international corporations and financial institutions in dealing with corporate governance and legal risks issues, devising internal controls or contractual mechanisms to minimize those risks, investigating legal and compliance problems, and defending clients before regulatory authorities or in the context of criminal investigations.
Concentrations
- Restructuring and insolvency transaction
- Corporate governance
- White collar, internal investigations and compliance
Capabilities
Experience
- Officer, Italian Navy, 1984-1986
- Associate, Italian law firm, Milan, 1986-1989
- Associate, British law firm, London and Milan, 1989-1992
- Partner and office chair, U.S. law firm, Milan, 2005-2019
- Partner and member of the Executive Committee, Italian law firm associated with U.S. law firm, Milan, 2019-2023
- General Counsel, Eni Exploration and Production, 1992-2000
- Chief Compliance Officer, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2000-2001
- Group General Counsel, Fiat, 2001-2003
- Chief Counsel to the administrator of Parmalat, 2004-2005
Recognition & Leadership
- Chambers Global:
- Band 2, Compliance, 2024
- Band 3, Restructuring/Insolvency, 2024
- Leading Individual for Restructuring and Insolvency, Compliance and Corporate/M&A, 2021, 2022
- Chambers Europe: Leading Individual for Restructuring and Insolvency, Compliance and Corporate/M&A, 2021, 2022
- Legal 500:
- Hall of Fame Lawyer for Compliance, 2021, 2022
- Hall of Fame Lawyer for Restructuring and Insolvency, Compliance, 2021, 2024
- Recommended Lawyer for Dispute Resolution and Commercial, Corporate and M&A, 2024
- Legal 500 EMEA:
- Hall of Fame Lawyer for Compliance, 2024
- Hall of Fame Lawyer for Restructuring and Insolvency, 2024
- Recommended Lawyer for Dispute Resolution and Commercial, Corporate and M&A, 2024
- Who’s Who Legal:
- Leader (Global Elite) Investigations and Restructuring & Insolvency 2023
- Leader (Global Elite) Business Crime Defence, Investigations, and Energy 2022
- The Best Lawyers in Italy: Listed for Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law and Litigation, 2023-2024
- Listed, Thomson Reuters, "Stand-Out Lawyers," 2024
- MF Legal Week Award: Leading individual for Compliance & Regulatory, 2022
- Legal Community Awards: NPL Lawyer of the Year, 2016
- ILO Client Choice Awards: Insolvency & Restructuring category for Italy , 2016, 2015, 2011 and 2010
- Top Legal Awards: Restructuring Lawyer of the Year, , 2013 and 2010
- Legal Week Award: for his work for Parmalat in 2004
- Recipient (as General Counsel) of the European In-House Legal Team of the Year Award given to Fiat Group, 2003
- Recipient, British Council’s European Young Lawyers Scheme Award, 1989
- Member of the troika of experts advising the Corporate Governance Committee of the Italian stock exchange on corporate governance reforms
- Member of the High Yield Insolvency Committee within the Association of Financial Markets in Europe
- Former member of the European Commission’s Working Group on the reform of community law on cross-border bankruptcy
- Past-Chair of the Anti-Corruption Committee and the Corporate Counsel Forum of the International Bar Association
- Member of the Advisory Board of the Anti-Corruption Committee of the International Bar Association
- Founder and member of the Executive Committee of AISCA, the Italian association of company secretaries
- Member of the Executive Committee of Fondazione Giovanni e Irene Cova
- Member of the Advisory Board of the Global Counsel Leaders Circle
- Member, Milan Bar
Credentials
Education
- Università degli Studi di Milano
- King's College London
Admissions
- Italy
Languages
- Italian, Native
- English, Fluent