We are pleased to share the official photo of the firm at the Legalcommunity Labour Awards 2025, where Trifirò & Partners Avvocati was honored with the Law Firm of the Year award in the Litigation category.
In the photo, from left to right: Attorneys Claudio Ponari, Francesco Cristiano, Tommaso Targa, Paola Lonigro, Damiana Lesce , Marina Tona, Luca Peron , Marina Olgiati, Francesco Chiarelli.
Salvatore Trifirò
My professional history begins in 1955 joining the Firm of Prof. Cesare Grassetti, one of the biggest if not the greatest civil Attorney of the '900, Professor at the Civil Law Faculty at the University “Statale” of Milan, later Director of the same Faculty, and then also Professor of Employment Law at the Universities of Cagliari and Catania.
I was admitted to his Firm after passing the Milan Public Prosecutor’s exams, being the first among the 3.000 participants and having passed the test proposed with the drafting of a respondent’s brief in appeal on unfair competition. Prof. Grassetti asked me if I wanted to follow him in the academic career or in the legal profession. At the time I chose to continue as an Attorney. So, I began to deal, first under his guidance and then more and more independently, with all the most important disputes that were being debated in Italy between major national and foreign companies and the famous families of the time: from civil law to inheritance and family law, from corporate law to commercial law, patent law and employment law. In 1973 came into force the Reform on the employment proceedings that imposed, with specific reference to the employment cases, the orality of the trial and so the constant presence at the hearing became challenging even for the “fiery” climate of those years.
Against Prof. Grassetti's advice, according to which it would have been more productive for my professional future if I had overlooked employment law and continued to deal with civil law matters latu sensu (patents, unfair competition, appeals against shareholders' meeting resolutions of listed companies, etc.), since none of the attorneys in the Firm came forward to deal with employment litigations in those 'Years of Lead', I began to deal with them personally, attending court every day and obtaining victories, which were reported by the press and the media of the time. In Milan, I was the only attorney to assist companies and I had miraculously escaped two bombings of the “Red Brigades”. Although I mainly dealt with employment law issues, I continued to be interested in important civil law matters to which I added arbitration both as Attorney and as President.
In 1986 I built the Trifirò & Partners Firm with my brave collaborators of that time - still Partners of the Firm - whose have continued the work I had undertaken in the past years, giving - by handling tens and tens of thousands of cases and always aiming at the settlement of disputes before reaching litigation - a crucial contribution to the creation of “living” employment law: affirming important principles of law on legitimate trade union agitation, right to strike, individual and collective dismissals, redundancy, mobbing, employment and non-subordinate relationship, conciliation procedures and trade union law.
The Firm - in which I still practice - assists the most important national and foreign companies, their Managing Directors, General Managers and Employees to achieve their goals.
Stefano Trifirò
Stefano Trifirò has gained experience in Employment Law and Commercial Law, advising leading Italian and foreign companies in the manufacturing sector and the Fashion Industry in important corporate reconstruction, social liquidation and consequent liability actions. Stefano also provides regular legal assistance to primary Companies, Manager and Executives before all Courts, including the higher ones such as Constitutional Court, European Court of Human Rights and Court of Justice of the European Union, as well as in arbitration proceedings in various issues, including the appeal of individual dismissals, liability actions pursuant to article 2087 of the Italian Civil Code, management issues with reference to articles 2393 and 2476 of the Italian Civil Code, appeal of resolutions of shareholders' meetings.
He graduated from the University “Statale” of Milan. Stefano has been Attorney since 1991 and is the author of referred articles and notes for the main specialized journal and magazines such as Forbes, Il Corriere della Sera and Italia Oggi. He regularly participates as Speaker and Lecturer in conferences, seminars, webinars on Employment and Commercial Law.
He is a contributor to the scientific publications of Trifirò & Partners, T&P news and annual highlights, dedicated to specific issues of Labour, Corporate, Banking and Insurance Law.
Stefano has been a member of AGI - Italian Employment Lawyers Association - since its foundation.
Claudio Ponari
Claudio Ponari has been an Attorney since 1999 and has been admitted to practice before the "Corte di Cassazione” since 2015. He is experienced in Employment Law, Trade Union Law, providing legal advice and assistance for leading Italian and foreign multinational companies, particularly those operating in the textile, Fashion, communication, engineering industries, rubber and plastics, trade, credit. Within this context, through the Firm’s network, he advises clients on corporate restructuring and reorganization operations, with the aim of providing a benefit to foreign companies of Italian multinationals, mergers, transfers of companies or branches as well as in the management of employment relationships including the top-management one.
After he graduated in Law from the University “Federico II” of Naples, he obtained a Phd on Employment Law and Social Security Law and has been Professor in EU Employment Law at the University of Sannio.
Claudio is author of numerous articles and notes for specialized magazines, and co-author of monographic works. He participates as Speaker and Professor in conferences, seminars and webinars on Employment Law and Trade Union issues. He also collaborates on scientific publications of Trifirò & Partners, T&P news and annual highlights.
Claudio is a member of AGI - Italian Employment Lawyers Association.
Francesco Cristiano
Francesco Cristiano has been focused on Commercial Law and Employment Law advising, among others, leading Italian and multinational companies in the Oil and Gas and Engineering sectors, providing legal assistance in M&A operations, transfers of business and corporate governance. Francesco regularly provides legal assistance to leading companies, Directors and Top Managers, as well as in arbitration proceedings in civil and corporate matters. He also acts as an arbitrator in proceedings relating to the aforementioned matters.
He graduated in Law from the University of Milan, awarded as "Meritorious Graduate" by the ALGIUSMI Association for the Academic Year 2007/2008, Francesco has been appointed as an Expert of Private Law’s Faculty at the aforementioned University, where he also obtained a PhD’s title in Civil Law in 2013.
Francesco has been an Attorney since 2011 and is the author of numerous articles and notes for specialized magazines and newspapers, as well as being co-author of monographic contributions.
He regularly participates as speaker and lecturer in conferences, seminars and webinars.
He is a contributor to the scientific publications of Trifirò & Partners, T&P news and annual highlights, dedicated to specific topics of Employment Law, Corporate, Banking and Insurance Law.
Tommaso Targa
Tommaso Targa is an Attorney since 2002 and admitted to practice before the Supreme “Corte di Cassazione” since 2015, has gained experience in Employment Law, Trade Union, social security, agency and commercial representation, providing advice and legal assistance for leading Italian and foreign companies, with particular reference to those operating in industry, services and retail.
He graduated in Law from the Catholic University “Sacro Cuore” of Milan. Tommaso is the author of articles and notes for specialized magazines and newspapers, as well as co-author of a monograph book. He participates as Lecturer and Speaker in master’s courses, conferences, seminars and webinars on Labour Law and Trade Union issues. He also collaborates on scientific publications of Trifirò & Partners, T&P news and annual highlights.
Tommaso has been a member of AGI - Italian Employment Lawyers Association - since 2006.
Paola Lonigro
Paola Lonigro has gained experience in Employment Law and Trade Union Law, advising major Italian and foreign companies in the Insurance sector, Banking, Hospitality and Publishing sector as well as providing legal assistance in major corporate reorganization and restructuring operations. She also provides legal assistance in litigations based, moreover, on the affirmation of principles and case law guidelines of great impact and prestige within the aforementioned issues.
Paola also provides on a daily basis legal assistance to major Companies and Senior Managers / Directors before all Courts, including the higher ones such as the Constitutional Court, the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union, as well as in arbitration proceedings concerning appeal of resolutions of the Shareholders' Meeting and liability’s actions pursuant to article 2087 of Italian Civil Code,
After she graduated from the Catholic University “Sacro Cuore” of Milan, in 2017 she obtained a master’s degree as "Privacy Manager". Paola is also the author of articles and notes for different specialized magazines and newspapers such as Corriere della Sera and Il Sole 24 Ore.
She usually participates as Lecturer in conferences, seminars, webinars on Employment law and Trade Union law.
She is a secured contributor to the scientific publications of Trifirò & Partners, T&P news and annual highlights, dedicated to specific topics of Employment Law, Corporate, Banking and Insurance.
Damiana Lesce
Damiana Lesce has gained her professional experience in Employment Law, advising major Italian and foreign companies in various sectors (industry, trade, advertising, etc.), including listed companies. She has developed specific skills in the following areas: restructuring, insolvency and redundancy, company reorganizations for extraordinary operations, assistance in trade union negotiations, social security, international mobility of employees, issues of competition and confidentiality, litigation.
She has assisted many important Italian managers both during the beginning and the termination of the employment relationship. She is an expert in remuneration of top managers in the regulated sectors and frequently deals with corporate governance issues. She also provides legal assistance before all the Courts, including the higher courts. She graduated in Law from the University of Milan, has been an Attorney since 1998 and she is the author of articles and notes for the main specialized magazines and newspapers such as Forbes and Il Sole 24ore.
She participates as Speaker in conferences, seminars and webinars on Employment Law issues. She collaborates on scientific publications of Trifirò & Partners, T&P news and annual highlights, with articles dedicated to specific topics. She is a member of AGI - Italian Employment Lawyers Association.
Marina Tona
Marina Tona has developed significant experience in Employment Law and Trade Union Law, she advises major Italian and foreign companies in a wide range of sectors, including engineering, pharmaceutical, electrical energy, GDO sectors in major corporate restructuring operations, mergers, transfers of companies or branches, as well as in the management of employment relations, including managers.
Marina also has a broad advisory and contentious practice, assisting major companies with employment litigation, before all Courts including the highest one “Corte di Cassazione, and with appeals against individual and collective dismissals; proceedings for anti-union behavior; interpretation and application of collective bargaining agreements, management relations.
Marina has been an Attorney since 1994 and regularly participates as a speaker and lecturer at conferences, seminars and webinars on employment and trade union law. She regularly contributes to the scientific publications of Trifirò & Partners, T&P news and annual Highlights, dedicated to specific topics of Employment, Corporate, Banking and Insurance Law.
Marina is a member of AGI - Italian Employment Lawyers Association.
Luca Peron
Luca Peron has gained his experience in Employment Law, Union Law, Social Security Law, and specifically on agency contracts and, in general, all type of contracts in the business, advising leading companies in a wide range sectors including manufacturing, service, logistics and insurance sectors, both in extraordinary restructuring operations and in the management of day-to-day issues related to the above-mentioned topics.
Luca also regularly advises leading companies, top managers and directors in disputes before all courts, including higher ones, in all disputes relating to the management and termination of employment relationships, including those of an executive nature and related corporate offices, as well as agency contracts and outsourcing contracts in general.
He has graduated from the University of Milan. Luca has been an Attorney since 1998, and he is the author of articles and notes for specialized journals and newspapers.
He has contributed to specialized referred publications, such as: “Lavoro e Previdenza, Guide Giuridiche Ipsoa, AAVV, 2016”; “Il Jobs Act in 100 domande” published by RCS Media Group, AAVV, 2015; “Lavoro Guide Giuridiche Itinera”, published by Ipsoa, AAVV, 2014; “La Riforma del lavoro, dalla legge Fornero al Jobs Act”, published by RCS Quotidiani, 2012; “La riforma del diritto del lavoro”, published by RCS, AAVV, 2012.
He participates as a speaker at conferences, seminars, webinars on Employment Law issues. He is a regular contributor to the scientific publications of Trifirò & Partners, T&P news and annual Highlights, dedicated to specific topics such as Employment, Corporate and Banking and Insurance law.
Marina Olgiati
Marina Olgiati is a Partner at Trifirò & Partners Avvocati Firm, and she has been working at the Firm since 1991, dealing with Employment law and Trade Union Law.
She provides legal advice and assistance in litigation to national and international companies, belonging to many sectors (industrial, DMO, tertiary, banking, financial, etc.), as well as to top management, in relation to all aspects of employment relations and industrial relations (restructuring and reorganization, social security matters, collective agreements and trade union agreements under special laws, agreements with commercial agents, business contracts, company transfers, welfare and benefits plans).
After she graduated in Law from the University of Milan, she has been an assistant in the Chair of Civil Law, she is the author of publications in specialized journals, as well as in newspapers such as “Il Corriere della Sera, Il Sole24ore, Italia Oggi” and in economics and business magazines such as Forbes.
She frequently participates as a speaker at conferences and webinars on Employment and Trade Union Law issues.
She contributes to the Firm's monthly and periodical publications. She has been a member of AGI - Italian Employment Lawyers Association - since its foundation.
Francesco Chiarelli
Francesco Chiarelli has a wide experience in Employment Law and Trade Union Law, providing legal advice for major Italian and foreign companies operating in various sectors such as Services, including the DMO, Industrial and Communication regarding agreements for hiring managers - appointment directors; management of the employment relationship (remuneration policies, transfers, national-transnational secondments, disciplinary proceedings) individual dismissals - dismissal of directors - consensual resolutions; collective dismissals, transfers of branches of the company and related union procedures etc.
Francesco provides regular legal assistance to major companies before all the courts, including the higher ones, as well as in arbitration proceedings in relation to all the above-mentioned employment and union issues.
He graduated at Law from the University of Milan, Francesco has been a Lawyer since 2006 and collaborates regularly to the scientific publications of Trifirò & Partners, T&P news and annual highlights, dedicated to specific topics of Employment Law, Corporate, Banking and Insurance.
