The Centre of European Law is pleased to invite students, academics, and alumni, for a discussion on the future of international trade law.

Keynote address by esteemed alumnus Francesco Gianni (LLM, 1975), who is visiting King's from Milan, Italy. Francesco Gianni is a Founding Partner and Head of Corporate/M&A at Gianni & Origoni. Opening welcome is from Andrea Biondi, Professor of European Union Law and the Advocate General for Italy at the Court of Justice of the European Union General.

Amid efforts to reform the WTO and the rising use of unilateral and coercive trade actions, what future is there for international trade law? This lecture evaluates the opportunities and challenges for an increasingly fragmented international community and what their common interests and divisions suggest about potential evolutions of trade law in and outside of the WTO.

Avvocato Francesco Gianni, Founding Partner and Head of Corporate/M&A at Gianni & Origoni

Francesco is considered one of the top experts in M&A and structured finance in Italy and is highly regarded across Europe. He has achieved 'Lawyer of the Year' at the Legal community Corporate Awards in 2022, 2020, and 2018. He achieved 'Lawyer of the Year (Corporate/M&A)' at the Legal Awards in 2019, 2015, and 2013. Francesco ranks in the '50 best Italian business lawyers' (released by Legal community), is included in the Hall of Fame of The Legal 500, and is described as "one of the best lawyers in the country" by Chambers & Partners.

Francesco delivers lectures at conferences all over the world and has been a contributor to many of the most prominent legal publications. He is a practicing member of the Italian Bar and is a member of the New York Bar.

Andrea Biondi, Professor of European Union Law and the Advocate General for Italy at the Court of Justice of the European Union General

Professor Andrea Biondi is a distinguished legal scholar and practitioner, currently serving as the Advocate General for Italy at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

He also continues to hold his longstanding position of Professor of European Union Law and Director of the Centre of European Law at King’s College London. Professor Biondi is widely published and sits on the advisory boards of several leading legal journals. His research focuses on European Union law, particularly state aid, trade regulation, and judicial protection of EU rights. Previously, he has served as Vice Chair of the Board of Appeal of the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER).

Discussant
Ivan Smyth, Deputy Director at HM Treasury Legal Advisers

Ivan graduated from the King's Law School in 1996 with a Diploma in EC Competition Law. Ivan is currently Deputy Director (Trade and Negotiations Team), Treasury Legal Advisers, for the Government Legal Department.

Schedule

17:45: Registration opens & guests arrive

18:10 – 18:15: 'Welcome' from Andrea Biondi, Professor of European Union Law and the Advocate General for Italy at the Court of Justice of the European Union

18:15 – 18:40: Keynote address from Avvocato Francesco Gianni, Founding Partner of Gianni & Origoni, on "Is there a future for International Trade Law?"

18:40 – 19:00: Audience Q&A facilitated by Professor Andrea Biondi

19:00 – 20:00: Networking reception

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Avvocato Francesco Gianni, Founding Partner and Head of Corporate/M&A at Gianni & Origoni

Andrea Biondi, Professor of European Union Law and the Advocate General for Italy at the Court of Justice of the European Union General

DiscussantIvan Smyth, Deputy Director at HM Treasury Legal Advisers

Schedule

Discussant
Ivan Smyth, Deputy Director at HM Treasury Legal Advisers

Avvocato Francesco Gianni: ‘Is there a future for international trade law?