D’Andrea & Partners: Trusted Legal Counsel for Multinational Companies

Carlo Diego D’Andrea, a prominent figure in the legal field, is recognized for his extensive knowledge and experience in Italian and international law. Born on November 13th, 1978, in Viareggio, Tuscany, D’Andrea has played a pivotal role in fostering business relationships between Europe, China, and other developing countries. As the Founder and Managing Partner of the international law firm D’Andrea & Partners Legal Counsel, he leads a team of attorneys at law across a variety of different countries such as China, Italy, Vietnam, India and the UAE as well as many other professionals dedicated to providing comprehensive legal services to multinational companies (MNCs) as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) alike.

D’Andrea & Partners Legal Counsel is a rapidly growing law firm that has made a name for itself in the field of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), particularly in large-scale deals between Italy and China as well as India and Italy. Their expertise in this field has been recognized by many multinational companies (MNCs) entrusting them with their relocation projects, which is undoubtedly a key factor in their global development. The firm is notably one of the few international law firms in the world with authorization from the Ministry of Justice of the People’s Republic of China to duly operate as a law firm in China.

Over the years, D’Andrea has further developed into new service sectors and incorporated a group of business service entities into a corporate network of businesses, known as DP Group, catering to clients’ interests over the entirety of their global foreign direct investment requirements. Our group has now expanded to 6 niche lines of business consultancy services, which already covers 5 major territories globally, comprised of approximately 100 professionals and growing.

D’Andrea’s educational background reflects his commitment to continuous learning and international exposure. He pursued a law degree at the Università degli Studi di Teramo, laying the foundation for his legal expertise. He further expanded his horizons by studying the Chinese language at Nanjing Normal University. D’Andrea later earned a Master’s degree in Giurista di Impresa (Corporate Lawyer) from the Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli. His academic pursuits also included an enriching Erasmus Scholarship program at the Universitat de Barcelona.

During his professional career, D’Andrea served as the Managing Partner of a leading European law firm in China from September 2009 to September 2013. In this role, he played a vital part in assisting European companies in navigating the complexities of the Chinese legal system. He facilitated business operations, intellectual property protection, and the establishment of numerous European companies in China as an Italian lawyer based in China.

D’Andrea’s contributions extend beyond his professional accomplishments. He served as the Chair of the Legal & Competition Working Group at the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) Shanghai Chapter from April 2014 to May 2018. In this position, he actively participated in shaping legal and competition policies, advocating for fair business practices, and fostering a favorable business environment for European companies in China. His dedication and leadership within the EUCCC are evidenced by serving as a two-term Chairman of the Shanghai Chapter Board of the Chamber from May 2017 to May 2021. He is currently acting as the National Vice President of the EUCCC and since May 2023 has been re-elected as the Chair of the Shanghai Board of the EUCCC.

D’Andrea’s commitment to fostering business relationships can be seen in his roles as the Chairman of the Board of the EUCCC Nanjing Chapter from April 2012 to April 2014 and as the EUCCC National Vice President based in Beijing from May 2021 until May 2023. These positions further strengthened economic ties between Europe and China. Additionally, Nanjing Working Group Coordinator of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce from November 2011 to December 2016.

D’Andrea also currently holds board positions on various Director boards ranging from SMEs to MNCs operating globally, acting as a key decision maker in the operations of such entities.

As an esteemed legal professional, D’Andrea has dedicated himself to educating the next generation. He created and lectured on the course “Introduction to Italian Civil and Commercial Law” at Nanjing University School of Law on going  since March 2012. He is also serving as an Adjunct Professor of the course “International Organizations” at Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali (LUISS) University in Rome. Over the years, D’Andrea has established important agreements with educational institutions such as the University di Teramo in Italy and Shanghai Jiao Tong University for exchange programs and scholarship opportunities through D’Andrea & Partners Legal Counsel. In addition to the aforementioned, D’Andrea & Partners Legal Counsel is proud to collaborate with numerous other renowned universities worldwide, including Far Eastern Federal University & Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service of Russia, Symbiosis International University-Pune of India, D’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Bicocca University Milan ＆ Bocconi University Milan of Italy, as well as Sichuan International Studies University, and Nanjing Normal University in China. The firm acknowledges the importance of joint research projects, academic publications, and seminars in promoting legal knowledge exchanges, and is committed to cultivating long-term relationships with leading institutions in various countries.

D’Andrea is the author on a multitude of Practical Guides on how to do business in China, essential for anyone aiming to intelligently invest in a country which has quickly become one of the major global powers in matters of innovation, research and development. Covering the country’s nuances from a topical perspective as well as regionally in order to fully encompass the market. In order to provide comprehensive guidance on legal matters concerning the Chinese business market, a range of publications are available. These include Commercial Contracts in China, Chinese Labor Laws, Foreign Direct Investments in China, Free Trade Zones in China, Intellectual Property Rights in China, and E-commerce in China. By referring to these resources, businesses can gain valuable insights and information to navigate the complexities of operating in this dynamic marketplace.

In relation to readers deepening knowledge of the legal, fiscal, labor, and cultural aspects of the specific regions of China, the Invest in China Series has thus far issued Invest in China: The Southwest; ICE – Invest in China: Shanghai and The East; ICS – Invest in China: Shenzhen and The South, with more regional guides in the series to come!

Moreover, to cater to the increasing demands of the firm’s clientele, D’Andrea has provided guidance to enhance the knowledge of readers investing in various markets such as Vietnam, Italy, India, and Belarus. This is accomplished through the publication of Practical Guides that cover different aspects of investment in these regions. These guides expand the reader’s knowledge on the FDI landscape and provide a wider scope of information. For instance, the Invest in Italy and M&A in Italy guides offer insights into the Italian market. Similarly, the Certificate of Origin Vietnam, Foreign Direct Investments in Vietnam, and Industrial Zones Vietnam guides provide an overview of the Vietnamese market. Additionally, readers can learn about FDI in India through the FDI – Foreign Direct Investment in India guide and about investing in Belarus through the Foreign Direct Investments in Belarus guide.

The Guides are available in English, Italian, Chinese and Russian language versions as well as being made available in both printed and e-book formats, on the online store of ClassEditori, as well as on Apple iBooks, Amazon (in which a number of the guides have been established as Best Sellers in a number of categories), and Google Play.

D’Andrea is also actively involved in corporate social responsibility activities. Through his corporate endeavors, he supports the activities of the WILL (“Walk Into Life and Learn”) Foundation and contributes to charitable organizations such as Save the Children, Heart to Heart, and Medici senza Frontiere (MSF).

Environmental protection is a paramount concern in D’Andrea’s corporate life, leading to environmental action programs such as afforestation campaigns as well as the cleaning of our seas. Through deducting a nominal amount from all employees’ salaries, the firm will double in order to pay for the planting of trees to neutralize the carbon impact generated by all our employees.

Additionally, the firm conducts calculations based  on the carbon footprint of each employee of the firm in detail according to their daily activities (e.g. our business trips, flights, trains, postal services, car trips over the year) and formulates strict measures that all employees of the firm should take to help them reduce their carbon footprint at work, with this impact on the environment also required to be compensated via the planting of trees. The firm has planted over 330 trees in Inner Mongolia to cover the emissions of the carbon footprint of our employees (at Group level) in 2020 and 2021 alone, with the numbers growing year by year.

In order to help to improve the cleaning of our seas, the firm have been engaged in the program “Action For Blue”, which is committed to the objective of cleaning of our sea water and the reduction of pollution. All of our offices have been involved in the cleaning of our beaches and supporting associations which fight the plastic pollution of our seas. For this purpose, every September, on the occasion of the International Coastal Cleanup Day, each member of our group volunteers to clean up the coasts near Shanghai and using all the collected plastic bottles, in cooperation with recycling brands, giving new life to the waste.

D’Andrea and his firm have been the recipients of many plaudits for their excellence in service over the years, namely, The A-List 2021 and 2022, The China Awards 2022, Le Fonti Award 2021, an award from China Business Law Journal on CSR for the work in helping the less fortunate as well as ranked for notable Corporate & M&A achievements on asialaw – the only legal directory featuring comprehensive analysis on Asia’s regional and domestic firms.

Thanks to their first-class business skills, exquisite professionalism and exceptional customer reputation, D’Andrea and professionals of the firm have been given the honor to be in the A-List, selected by the China Business Law Journal in order to identify the top private practice lawyers in the China market. This recognition does not merely represent the approval of D’Andrea shown by domestic and foreign clients, but also demonstrates the comprehensive capabilities of the firm.

Organized by the Italy China Council Foundation and Class Editori, D’Andrea & his firm have won the China Award 2022 – one the most important award for italian Firms operating in China – and they been awarded with the “Capital Elite – Social Responsibility Award”, in recognition of the activities and projects with a strong social commitment that the firm regularly carries on through fostering dialogue and exchanges between Italy and China, particularly in the world of education, charity and environmental sustainability.

D’Andrea and his firm have been awarded as “Law Firm of the Year in Corporate and M&A” by Le Fonti, helped the firm to grow to reach the bracket of one of the most important international law firms, most notable for their work in the field of M&A.

In conclusion, choosing the right law firm and the right lawyer can make all the difference in successfully navigating the complex world of foreign direct investment and global expansion. With their extensive knowledge and experience in these areas, the firm D’Andrea & Partners Legal Counsel and indeed Carlo Diego D’Andrea can provide you with the guidance and support needed to achieve your goals and protect your interests.

From handling legal compliance issues to negotiating deals, the team at D’Andrea & Partners has the expertise and resources to help you succeed. So if you’re looking for a trusted partner for your foreign direct investment needs, look no further than D’Andrea & Partners Legal Counsel and Carlo Diego D’Andrea.