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.
