Rossella Sansone

As a partner in our Finance & Financial Regulation Group in Milan, I am a specialist in the regulation of financial markets, with extensive experience in asset management and financial services.

Since I joined Bird & Bird in 2004, my focus has been on banking, financial services and asset management regulation, advising prestigious financial institutions on their core business and regulatory compliance.

I represent domestic and international asset managers, banks, financial intermediaries, investment firms and insurance companies in regulatory and compliance matters, offering specific expertise in the organisational and procedural requirements set forth by the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID), the Undertaking for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities Directive (UCITS Directive), and the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD).

My work includes drafting agreement and related documents for banking, financial and insurance products and services; advising clients on regulatory issues, including disputes with regulatory authorities, and drafting essential operational agreements for financial institutions such as distribution agreements, outsourcing agreements and tied agent agreements.

In recent years, I have been involved in the incorporation of Italian asset management companies and collective investment schemes, including UCITS and non-UCITS funds, as well as setting up organisational models to be implemented by foreign UCITS when marketing their units in Italy.

• Supporting major Italian and international banks on issues arising from European and Italian regulations concerning the performance of investment services (MiFID II/MiFIR, PRIIPs), taking into account new rules on product governance and provision of investment advice, suitability assessment, inducements, conflicts of interest and giving information on costs and charges, transparency and reporting of transactions.
• Advising Italian and international asset managers on the implementation of UCITS and AIFMD framework within their business, as well as the setting up and passporting of investment funds and their relevant offering documentation, including advice on Italian rules on PIR - Piani Individuali di Risparmio (Individual Savings Plans).
• Supporting major banks, investment firms and asset managers to implement environmental social governance (ESG) criteria in their investment strategies and internal procedures, as well as on the products to be made available to their clients.