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Ornella Belfiori

Ornella Belfiori

She/herLawyer
I would give a very positive evaluation, due to the professionalism, competence and experience of the team. I collaborated with Raffaella Quintana and Ornella Belfiori.
Client, Chambers Italy 2022 (Compliance)
About

A white-collar crime lawyer licensed to practice law in Italy, Ornella helps corporate and individual clients to navigate and resolve complex internal and government-led investigations, and to implement tailored and effective compliance and remediation programs.

Since joining DLA, Ornella has provided practical, day-to-day advice on economic sanctions and export controls issues of all varieties. She also regularly advises clients in international enforcement matters, including those arising under the FCPA and other anti-bribery legislations.

Ornella gained substantial experience in handling cross-border internal investigations across a broad range of topics including, among others, bribery and corruption, fraud, bankruptcy and tax crimes. She played a key role in a complex internal investigation relating to multibillion-Euro fraud charges, comprising forensic activities, four rounds of witness interviews, and the drafting of a remedial action plan including disciplinary measures.

Ornella is particularly skilled in creating successful strategies for handling trade sanctions enforced by the European Union and OFAC, as well as export controls regimes, also pursuant to the EU Dual-Use Regulation, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).  She frequently counsels clients in connection with custom related product classifications and supports them in liaising with competent Authorities (including the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, OFAC and the U.S. Department of State, in case of Blue Lantern checks) to obtain relevant licenses and authorizations.

Ornella routinely assists multinational companies in designing, developing, and implementing 231 Models, as well as global trade and anti-corruption compliance programs that meet local and international standards (FCPA, UKBA).

Ornella also maintains an active pro bono practice, including providing recommendations on the Draft Criminal Procedure Code of a developing country and contributing to the drafting of a Rule 9.2 submission to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. She drafted Rule 39 submissions and complete applications to the European Court of Human Rights in favor of asylum-seekers and refugees, mainly to impede collective pushbacks and to allow for family reunification. 

Ornella serves as a member of the International Sanctions & Export Controls team and of the Responsible Business group. 

Ornella received her J.D. from LUISS Guido Carli University and her Executive Master in International Sanctions and Trade Compliance from the Italian Compliance Association. Ornella completed specialization courses at Columbia University and American University Washington College of Law and is on the verge of completing the Master in Anti-Corruption Studies (MACS) offered by the International Anti-Corruption Academy.

EXPERIENCE

  • Assisting a leading pharmaceutical group for an internal investigation into misconducts allegedly committed by their employees in China, in close coordination with our colleagues based in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
  • Assisted a multinational company leader in the automotive sector in a comprehensive FCPA/anti-corruption risk assessment of their operations in Italy.
  • Conducted an internal defensive investigation for a multinational manufacturer and marketer of home appliances, in connection with charges of corporate criminal liability related to bankruptcy and tax criminal offences. 
  • Assisted the top executives of the Italian subsidiary of a multinational group leader in the automotive sector in a criminal investigation into allegations of commercial fraud and environmental crimes.
  • Selected, based on demonstrated performance, to be seconded to one of the four largest financial institutions in Italy, to provide advice on complex corporate compliance issues.
  • Assisted a leading multinational manufacturer by providing day-to-day advice in relation to trade sanctions and export controls compliance, also in relation to a multi-million EUR investment in the enlargement of a Russian plant.
  • Assisted the Italian branch of an U.S. multinational offering advanced engineering services in successfully mitigating risks related to trade sanctions and export control regimes by performing a sanctions risk assessment and eventually drafting a trade compliance program.
  • Advised a leading global healthcare group on the ‘feasibility’ of a transaction related to Syria, both from a trade compliance and legal/commercial perspective.
  • Assisted a leading Italian multinational in liaising with OFAC to submit a license application for a transaction related to Iran, in close cooperation with our colleagues in Washington.
  • Advised a major multinational active in the production of engines potentially having applications in avionics, about sanctions risks and export controls restrictions related to their product.
  • Advised a primary Italian multinational in relation to the potential implications deriving from the amendments made to the Military End User Rule and from the inclusion into the Military End User List, pursuant to the EAR.
     
Languages
  • Italian
  • English
  • French
Education
  • Master in Anti-Corruption Studies (MACS), International Anti-Corruption Academy
  • Executive Master in Sanctions & Trade Compliance, AICOM
  • U.S. & International Anti-Corruption Law, American University Washington


    Intro to U.S. Law, Columbia University


    J.D., LUISS Guido Carli (Criminal Law Concentration)

Publications

  • Co-author, "Q&A: enforcement of pharmaceutical product and medical device regulations in Italy", Lexology, 2020
  • Co-author, "Snapshot: private enforcement of healthcare laws and regulations in Italy", Lexology, 2020
  • Co-author, "European Compliance Benchmark" Final Report, ELSA International, 2017
  • Author, "CETA: an agreement has yet to be reached between European Union and Canada", Cammino Diritto, 2015
     

Prior Experience

Before joining DLA Piper, Ornella worked with leading Italian and international law firms.

Professional Qualifications

  • Admitted to the Rome bar

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