
Partner
massimiliano.danusso@belex.com
Main office: London
Focus Team: Banks, Debt Capital Markets, Insurance
Expertise
- Banking and Finance, with particular focus on:
- Capital Markets
- corporate finance operations
- credit-linked notes and derivatives
- bond offerings
- covered bonds
- securitisations
- Advising financial institutions on highly complex derivative and financial litigation, both civil and criminal
- Foreign Languages: English
Background
- Board member since 2021
- Managing Partner of the London office
- Team leader of the Debt Capital Markets Focus Team
- Member of the Banks Focus Team
- Member of the Insurance Focus Team
- Member of the Africa Committee and of the Africa Team
- Country Partner for the United Kingdom and for the United States of America Midwest (FL, TX)
- Joined in 2016 as a Partner
- Appointed P.R.I.M.E. Finance Expert
- Member of the Editorial Board of the Capital Markets Law Journal, edited by the Oxford University Press
- Officer of the IBA Capital Markets Forum
Ranking and Awards
Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 EMEA international legal directory list Massimiliano one of Italy’s major experts in banking and financial law, securitisations and debt capital markets
Testimonials
“Massimiliano Danusso provides a great technical service with superb commercial advice and an outstanding ability to deliver on complex documentation in record time.”
(The Legal 500 EMEA)
Qualifications
- Member of the Italian Bar
- Solicitor registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for England and Wales (2019)
- SJD in Civil Law from University of Rome
- LL.M. from the Ann Arbor University, Michigan
- Law degree from La Sapienza University in Rome
Knowledge Sharing

ESG Insights | Sustainable securitisations: tapping into the ‘old’ to catch the wave of new opportunities
Financing that takes into account environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors has been gaining prominence for several years now, so much so that ESG assets are expected to represent a third of global assets under management by 2025. Indeed, investors are increasingly seeking produc
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The High Court of Justice of England and Wales hands down a landmark judgment on derivative contracts entered into by an Italian local authority
On the heels of the Italian Supreme Court’s well-known Cattolica decision of May 2020, a new chapter has been written in the long-running legal debate over certain derivative contracts entered into by a small local authority in Italy. This time, the High Court of Justice of England and Wal
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More certainty with non-possessory pledges over movable assets
Decree No. 114 of 25 May 2021 of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which establishes a register for Italian non-possessory pledges, has finally been published in the Italian Official Gazette. Non-possessory pledges widen the possibility for entrepreneurs registered in the competent compan
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Article 56 of the “Cura Italia” Decree: moratorium on the payment of loan instalments and effects on derivative contracts
On 17th March 2020, the government passed Law Decree no. 18/2020 (the “Cura Italia” Decree), as converted into law and in course of publication in the Italian Official Gazette, introducing, inter alia, new measures to support businesses suffering from ca
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Brexit Update: Italy prepares for a no deal Brexit and converts into law the Brexit Decree
On 20 March 2019, the Italian Council of Ministers approved the Law Decree No. 22 of 25 March 2019, which came into force on 26 March 2019 (the “Brexit Decree”), introducing urgent measures in order to manage the potential effects of a “no-deal” Brexit scenario on the activities of UK
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Development Decree: new amendments to the Italian Securitisation Law
Law Decree No. 34 of 30 April 2019 (the so-called Decreto Crescita, or "Development Decree") has introduced some further, significant amendments to the "Italian Securitisation Law" aimed, inter alia at (i) fostering the transfer of “unlikely to pay” (UTP) receivables; (ii) introducing chang
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Alert Brexit: Brexit Decree
The Italian Council of Ministers has approved a law decree introducing urgent measures in order to manage the potential effects of a “no-deal” Brexit scenario on the activities of UK banks, investment firms, e-money and payment service institutions, insurance companies, insurance and reinsu
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BonelliErede announces upcoming leadership changes - 4 October 2023
At the partners’ meeting, Massimiliano Danusso was elected as Chairman and Eliana Catalano as Managing Partner of the firm. They will take office on 1 January when the current board’s mandate ends. The other members of the new board will be elected at the December partners’ meeting. As an
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BonelliErede introduces its ESG group - 30 November 2021
BonelliErede has launched a multidisciplinary ESG group in response to the ever more important ESG (environmental, social and governance) challenges facing the corporate world today. The ESG group is an offshoot of the firm’s Corporate Governance Focus Team, which will oversee its work. It br
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BonelliErede renews its board and executive leadership and makes up four new partners - 31 May 2021
At BonelliErede’s partners’ meeting on Friday, 28 May, the partnership was called on to renew the board and executive roles of the firm – leader in Italy for legal and tax services. Board members Andrea Carta Mantiglia, Stefano Nanni Costa and Stefano Simontacchi are now joined by Giulia
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