Roberto Gilardino

HORIZONS CORPORATE ADVISORY

Roberto Gilardino is Regional Partner at Horizons, supervising the advisory’s activities in North Asia along with additional countries including Australia, Brazil, Cyprus, Indonesia, Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Qazaqstan.

From the Horizons lead office in the heart of downtown Shanghai, Roberto, in addition to his portfolio, oversees the advisory’s transnational operations. His Shanghai-based team, whose expertise rests in corporate issues and property safeguard, liaises day-to-day with Horizons’ regional offices, serving as the advisory’s global gateway.

Roberto’s background and skill-set lie in international business and corporate law with a special attention on corporate government, strategy and shareholder protection. He is further highly judicious in providing clients with robust M&A support and negotiation analysis. Having a deep sense of cross-cultural issues in cross-border transactions and corporate matters, Roberto and his team provide clients with unique insights and strategies related to the difficult-to-read, often behind the scenes, nuances in transnational business.

Serving as a versatile leader, Roberto is equally able to tend to highly positioned clients and liaise with governmental entities, as he is able to roll up his sleeves and attend to the nuts and bolt work corporate advisory.

Prior to joining Horizons, Roberto served professionally in ministries, governmental bodies and the private sector, primarily in China.

An Italian national, Roberto is fluent in Italian, English, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese.

Cengiz Söylemezoglu

UNITEDKS LAW FIRM

Cengiz Söylemezoglu is the founding and senior managing partner at United KS Law Firm in Istanbul, Turkey. The prestigious firm delivers up-to-date legal services to meet domestic and international clients’ needs in a world of globalization.

Mr. Söylemezoglu’s practice is focused in the areas of company contractual & commercial law, company & corporate law (incl. M&A), intellectual property law, international law & trade, product liability, labour & employment law, construction law (incl. Energy Law), capital markets & stock exchange and dispute resolution & litigation (arbitration).

Mr. Söylemezoglu holds a law degree from Marmara University School of Law, Istanbul. Additionally, he has an MBA degree in Account and Finance Master Degree from Marmara University School of Business, Istanbul; a Diploma in European Community Law from University of Wolverhampton, Holborn College, London; a degree in Marketing, Public Relations, Advertising and Sales and Sales Management from London University, School of Business; and Computer Science degree from Lewisham College, London.

Lucia Myriam Netti

HORIZONS CORPORATE ADVISORY

Lucia Myriam Netti is the Regional Partner at Horizons, overseeing the advisory’s activities in Europe, Russia and Belarus.

In her multi-faceted role with the advisory, Lucia adeptly serves companies in developing business in the EU and Eastern Europe regions. Her expertise includes international, corporate and industrial law, as well as transnational business negotiation and related problem-solving strategies.

Using a versatile skill set for the advisory, Lucia works to successfully bridge companies from the territories of EU, Russia and Belarus, as well as facilitate opinions and transactions within the European Union. She is an exceptional project manager in overseeing corporate matters, particularly the drafting of complex contracts.

Prior to joining Horizons, Lucia served a number of law firms, acted as legal consultant to governmental entities, and as counsel in business relations and international issues. She further has a wealth of experience as a highly sought-after university lecturer and workshop speaker in Italy, Russia, Belarus and Moldova.

Lucia is a graduate of the University of Law of Turin (Italy).

She additionally holds a postgraduate degree from the School of the Legal Careers for Judges and Lawyers (Turin, Italy), as well as a Master in International Contracts in Milan (Italy).

An Italian national, Lucia is fluent in English and Italian.

Ahmed Mussa

Ritz Attorneys at Law

Ahmed Mussa is the Head of Legal Department – Transaction Services and International Partnership and Business Development at Ritz Attorneys at Law. He is also the Vice-Chairperson of the Practice Management Committee.

Ahmed holds a Bachelor Laws [Hons] degree from the Islamic University in Uganda. He was subsequently admitted to practice law in the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal, the High Court of Malawi and all Courts subordinate thereto, in 2019. He has currently completed a Master of Laws degree [LLM] in Energy [Mineral and Petroleum Extraction and Use] at the University of Cape Town in the Republic of South Africa.

Bas Besseling

MARXMAN ADVOCATEN

Bas Besseling is the founder of Marxman Advocaten in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. The firm’s clients include businesses, public authorities, semi-governmental organisations and not-for-profit organisations.

Active within the law for 30 years, Mr. Besseling is a valuable partner for business owners across a variety of areas. He has years of experience in supervising (international) transactions and restarting companies after bankruptcy in various insolvency processes. He has also implemented extensive restructuring and corporate recovery projects and provided many companies with an effective approach to (liquidity) problems in both the short and long term.

His extensive experience makes Mr. Besseling a great consultant and manager who knows how to devise an all-around strategy that takes into account important legal implications. He has served as a trustee and administrator in medium and large bankruptcies and receiverships. What’s more, he has held management positions in (international) organisations and has developed a wealth of legal and financial expertise across during his career.

Mr. Besseling graduated from Erasmus University in Rotterdam in Private Law and Corporate Law. He is a graduate of both the Grotius post-graduate specialisation in insolvency law and in corporate and business law. He has further completed the specialisation program in Financial Economy for insolvency lawyers.

Mr. Besseling is affiliated with INSOLAD. In addition to his native Dutch, he is fluent in German and English.

Cesar Amendolara

VELLOZA ADVOGADOS ASSOCIADOS

Cesar Amendolara is a partner of the corporate and M&A practice at Velloza Advogados Associados in São Paulo, Brazil. He also coordinates  the firm’s China Desk.

Velloza Advogados is highly regarded for its keen sense of business knowledge and legal know-how related to the corporate lifecycle, including complex cross-border transactions. The firm’s client base includes financial institutions, vehicle manufacturers, chemical, pharmaceutical and oil industries, foodstuff retailers and wholesalers, insurance carriers, credit card operators, hotels, construction companies and corporations focused on infrastructure and technology.

The firm operates with expertise serving foreign groups that invest in Brazil and Brazilian groups that invest abroad. With respect to Chinese clients, Velloza’s China Desk has specialized professionals with experience in Chinese culture and fluent in Chinese.

Mr. Amendolara’s areas of expertise include corporate mergers and acquisitions (M&A), foreign direct investment in Brazil, Brazilian overseas investment, startups and fintech, and banking and insurance.

He serves as Professor of Commercial Law for bachelor degree students at Faculdade de Direito da Uni-FMU (SP), Monitor of Commercial Law to bachelor degree students at Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de São Paulo (USP) and Professor of Agreement and Bank Law of Escola Paulista de Direito – EPD Incumbent Member of Instituto dos Advogados de São Paulo (IASP).

Among his associations includes being a Member of the Legal Comission of Instituto Brasileiro dos Executivos de Finanças de São Paulo (IBEF/SP) and Member of Latin America Regional Forum of the International Bar Association – IBA.

Mr. Amendolara holds a Master in Commercial Law degree and a Bachelor Degree in Law, both from Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de São Paulo (USP).

In addition to his native Portuguese, Mr. Amendolara speaks fluent English and Spanish.

Chiluba Mumba

EQUITAS LEGAL PRACTITIONERS

Chiluba Mumba is managing partner at Equitas Legal Practitioners in Lusaka, Zambia. She is one of the newest members of CCG, having joined the association in 2020. 

Equitas is a multidisciplinary firm providing a broad range of corporate advisory services. Among these include dispute resolution/settlement litigation, debt recovery, perfection of securities (various forms of charges and mortgages), commercial transactions, conveyance and real estate, employment law, public policy, and public and private enterprises partnerships. The firm also provides energy, mining and environmental projects advisory services. 

Ms. Mumba is a legal practitioner with ten years standing on the Roll of Legal Practitioners. She has served as in-house counsel at the Energy Regulation Board as Legal Officer and rose through the ranks of management as Legal Counsel-Senior Manager Legal to Director Legal and Board Secretary, well-acquiring a great deal of experience with In-House Board advisory, Corporate Governance and regulatory matters related to the Energy sector and other cross-cutting issues. 

Prior to the latter Ms. Mumba practiced as an advocate in the firms of Central Chambers, Musa Dudhia & Company and Milner Katolo & Associates. She previously served as a member of the Licensing Committee of the Securities and Exchange Board Committee.

Ms. Mumba holds a Master of Laws Corporate and Commercial Law from the University of London and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Zambia (UNZA). She is an Advocate of the High Court of Judicature for Zambia with an audience before the Court of Appeal, Constitutional Court and Supreme Court of Zambia. She further serves as a Commissioner for Oaths. 

Danny Luk

HORIZONS CORPORATE ADVISORY

Danny Luk is a Senior Equity Partner at HORIZONS CORPORATE ADVISORY HOLDING LTD, overseeing the firm’s activities in Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore. His longstanding career as Hong Kong Certified Public Accountant allows the advisory to provide exceptional financial services to its clients.

Danny has more than 25 years’ experience in the public accounting industry in both Hong Kong and Mainland China, specialising in tax planning, investigation, appeals and planning. He expertly serves numerous clients across a broad range of industries, employing an ethically sound and transparent approach towards business that provides complete clarity for every transaction. This allows clients to be confident in important decisions related to financial and tax issues as well as wealth management, trusts and a host of IPO needs. 

Among his professional associations, Danny is a Practising Member of The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. 

Prior to joining Louis Lai & Luk in 1986, he served as a Tax Assessor at the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department for more than a decade. 

A native of Hong Kong, Danny is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese and English.

Dubravka Kosic

LAW OFFICE KOSIC

Dubravka Kosic the founder and senior partner at Law Office Kosic in Belgrade, Serbia. She is one of the newest members of CCG, having joined the association in 2020.  

Law Office Kosic is focussed on corporate and contract law, labour law, energy and natural resources law, criminal liability and economic offences, banking and tax law, competition law, telecommunications and media law, free zones, IP law, disputes and arbitration. 

The team at Law office Kosic is made up of highly motivated talents with a wealth of international education and experience. Under Mrs. Kosic’s leadership, the firm has become one of the leading commercial law practices in the Eastern Balkans, highly recognised for its contribution to the practice of law in Serbia as well as its efforts in international law, including playing a significant role in cross-border investment projects in the Republic of Serbia. 

During her career, Mrs. Kosic has forged long-term cooperation with domestic and foreign companies and is lauded for her high level of professionalism and expertise. She has cooperated with some of the most prestigious law firms in the region and worldwide, and further is a member of various professorial associations and achieved numerous honours and awards for her legal work.

Mrs. Kosic holds a PhD, LLM and bachelor degree (LLB) from University of Belgrade Faculty of Law. In addition to her native Serbian, she is fluent in English and Italian.

Fernando Veiga Gomes

ABREU ADVOGADOS

Fernando Veiga Gomes is a partner with Abreu Advogados in Lisbon, Portugal. The firm was founded in 1993 and is one of the most dynamic and recognised Law Firms in Portugal, and is committed to developing institutional relationships with several legal Associations and international Law Firms around the world.

In his practice, Mr. Veiga Gomes is focussed on corporate and commercial law (corporate, mergers & acquisitions), sports law, intellectual property and IT law. He is president of the Sports Law Commission of the Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA).

Mr. Veiga Gomes holds a law degree from the University of Lisbon Law School.

Fernando Hernández Gómez

VÁZQUEZ ALDANA HERNÁNDEZ GÓMEZ & ASOCIADOS (VAHG)

Fernando Hernández Gómez is a partner at Vázquez Aldana, Hernández Gómez & Asociados in Guadalajara (VAHG), Mexico. The firm serves its clients by advising them professionally during their decision-making processes and remains committed to providing legal and strategic counsel of the highest quality standards.

Mr. Hernández’s speciality areas of practice include Corporate Law; Mergers, Acquisitions and Joint Ventures; Corporate reorganizations; Work-out / recovery and financial; Banking and Finance Law; Stock and Securities Exchange; Project Finance; Real Estate; and Estate Planning.

Mr. Hernández holds degrees in Economic and Corporate, Contract Law and Tax Law from Universidad Panamericana, as well as Masters in Business Administration (MEDEX, Instituto Panamericano de Alta Dirección de Empresas) and Education degree from Universidad Panamericana Campus Guadalajara.

Gad Matalon

LAWYALTY

Gad Matalon is a partner at Lawyalty Avvocati Associati based in Milan, Italy. For more than 20 years he has assisted companies and foreign multinational groups with their business activities across various sectors.

Mr. Matalon handles a wide number of commercial transactions, including sale of goods, distribution, agency, supply and construction contracts. He is further engaged in mergers and acquisition and other company law matters.

Mr. Matalon has represented clients before all courts, including arbitration and mediation, in commercial disputes or litigation regarding shareholders, directors, or other companies’ bodies.

He often speaks at seminars and conferences about international contracts and company law and is a member of the Advisory Board of Consulegis EEIG, an international network of law firms.

Mr. Matalon holds a law degree from Milan State University. He also has studied English Law at City of London Polytechnic, with an emphasis on trade law and employment and company law.

Jeffery Daar

DAAR & NEWMAN

Jeffery Daar is a principal of the law firm Daar & Newman in Los Angeles, USA. The firm is a long established general practice law firm dedicated to providing the highest quality of representation to its clients, including acting as a gateway for international business both inbound to and outbound from the U.S.

Mr. Daar’s expertise includes strategic planning, complex state and federal litigation, innovative dispute resolution, and international transactions and disputes. His practice focuses on both litigation and transactional projects.

Mr. Daar’s extensive litigation background gives him added insight into structuring transactions for clients along with his entrepreneurial approach to problem-solving and dispute resolution.

He has served as a City of Los Angeles Commissioner for more than 15 years, including having held a seat on the Board governing the Los Angeles airports.

Mr. Daar holds a law degree from the University of California at Davis and a bachelor’s degree from Claremont McKenna College.

Julian Cockain-Barère

MORVILLIERS SENTENAC & ASSOCIÉS

Julian Cockain-Barère is a partner at Morvilliers Sentenac & Associés, an international law firm founded in 1987 and based in Toulouse, France. The firm also has a branch office in Bordeaux.

Mr. Cockain-Barère is the partner at his firm responsible for international markets. His key client focus is on inward and outward investment, real estate, company and commercial transactions and employment law. His firm’s main activities include M&A, corporate restructuring, private equity funds and other forms of corporate finance, insolvency procedures, taxation, commercial contracts, employment law, intellectual property law (both contentious and non-contentious), regulatory and compliance, data protection, international law and commercial litigation.

Mr. Cockain-Barère obtained a law degree from Liverpool University in 1986, qualified as a lawyer in England and Wales in 1989 and was admitted as French Avocat and member of the Toulouse Bar in 2002. He practised law in London, Brussels and Stuttgart before joining his current firm in Toulouse in 1998. He is a member of the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce & Industry – Paris and is the elected co-Vice President of Consulegis, a network of international law firms.

Mabel Parengkuan

MOORES ROWLAND

Mabel Parengkuan joined Moores Rowland in 2001 as Partner of the Legal Department. She subsequently established the law firm Mabel and Associates, successfully leading it to become recognized as one of the reputable law firms in Indonesia. The firm is now associated with Marccus Partners under Moores Rowland Indonesia.

Ms. Parengkuan and her team assist foreign investors in establishing legal entities, forming joint ventures with local companies, restructuring and merging with local companies, as well as other legal transactions covering the full scope of foreign investment. She is additionally well-versed in property and labour laws, as well as finance and banking issues. Early in her career, Ms. Parengkuan was involved in revising the system for Indonesian land and building tax as a member of the team which led to the implementation of the new system in 1990.

Ms. Parengkuan is a Master of Law graduate from the University of Indonesia.

Maria Georgiou

GEORGIOS K. GEORGIOU LLC

Maria Georgiou is a partner at GEORGIOS K. GEORGIOU LLC in Larnaca, Cyprus. The firm’s specialised team offers legal services and assists clients in their cross-border transactions and complex litigation cases.

Ms. Georgiou’s primary area of practice includes immigration law, litigation and arbitration, corporate and commercial law, banking and financing, real estate construction, intellectual property and energy.

She was admitted to the Cyprus Bar in 2009 and is a member of the Famagusta Bar Association Committee. Ms. Georgiou is also a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and registered in the Register of Meditators of the Ministry of Justice in Cyprus for civil disputes and commercial disputes.

Ms. Georgiou holds a law degree from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a Master of Laws (LLM) in Commercial and Corporate Law from Queen Mary, University of London. She speaks both Greek and English.

Marlies Hoecherl

CAPITAL LAW

Marlies Hoecherl is a partner at Capital Law Limited. The firm is based in Cardiff, Wales, UK, with an office in London. Capital works both nationally and internationally to offer all the legal services that a trading organisation needs.

Ms. Hoecherl advises on M&As, corporate reorganisations and a wide variety of commercial contracts including SLAs and commercial joint ventures, primarily with cross-border aspects. She also has specialist expertise in the education, the energy sector and the food and drink sector. Her specialist expertise in the education sector extends to Africa, Asia and a number of European countries.

Ms. Hoecherl is an in-demand speaker on the subject of Brexit, both in the UK and at international events.

In 2013, she was appointed to the board of Consulegis, an international network of independent law firms. She is further Capital Law’s representative to the China Collaborative Group (CCG), a collective of legal service providers serving cross-border investors, and their counterparts, on business deals connected to China’s “One Belt, One Road”.

Ms. Hoecherl holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of London. Aside from her legal career, she also holds a master’s degree from University of Wales and PhD in Archaeology from Cardiff University. She speaks German and French fluently, and reads Italian and Spanish.

Martin Hütte

HÜTTELAW

Martin Hütte is the founder and a senior partner of HütteLAW Ltd. in Cham, Switzerland. HütteLAW is a midsize firm set in central Switzerland where it is focussed on company law, contract law, relocation, M&A transactions and all related topics.

Mr. Hütte has extensive expertise in the financing of corporate law projects and M&A transactions, banking and financial market law, restructuring and reorganization, and sports law. He has additional expertise in management and administration of services for trade and production companies.

Mr. Hütte has a master degree in Swiss and European law. He is an attorney at law admitted to all courts in Switzerland and serves as a trained specialist for companies and trade law in Germany.

Slavi Dimitrov

DIMITROV AND PARTNERS LAW FIRM 

Slavi Dimitrov is managing partner at Dimitrov and Partners Law Firm in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is one of the newest members of CCG, having joined the association in 2020. 

Since its founding in 1993, Dimitrov and Partners has grown to become a full-service firm focussed on commercial and corporate law, banking & finance, contracts and torts, tax law, employment law, and criminal law.

Under Mr. Dimitrov’s leadership, Dimitrov and Partners lawyers have built an outstanding reputation for the firm’s work in company formation and restructuring, M&A, project financing, competition law, and project investments, including in real estate, construction and energy sectors. The firm is further highly recognised for excellence in litigation.

In his career, Mr. Dimitrov has focussed on corporate law, banking and finance law, taxes, and criminal law. His experience spans more than 30 years, where he has been held in high esteem for commercial ventures modelling, negotiation skills, keen analyses of matters from various legal and economic perspectives, and the forging of well-rounded strategies.

Before establishing a private legal practice, Mr. Dimitrov served magistrate in the Bulgarian judicial system.

Mr. Dimitrov holds a Master of Law degree from Sofia University, a master’s degree in EU Law from Sofia University “Kliment Ohridski” and degree in Foreign Commerce and International Law from the University of National and World Economy, Sofia. In addition to his native Bulgarian, he is fluent in English and Russian.

Bas Besseling

MARXMAN ADVOCATEN

Bas Besseling is the founder of Marxman Advocaten in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. The firm’s clients include businesses, public authorities, semi-governmental organisations and not-for-profit organisations.

Active within the law for 30 years, Mr. Besseling is a valuable partner for business owners across a variety of areas. He has years of experience in supervising (international) transactions and restarting companies after bankruptcy in various insolvency processes. He has also implemented extensive restructuring and corporate recovery projects and provided many companies with an effective approach to (liquidity) problems in both the short and long term.

His extensive experience makes Mr. Besseling a great consultant and manager who knows how to devise an all-around strategy that takes into account important legal implications. He has served as a trustee and administrator in medium and large bankruptcies and receiverships. What’s more, he has held management positions in (international) organisations and has developed a wealth of legal and financial expertise across during his career.

Mr. Besseling graduated from Erasmus University in Rotterdam in Private Law and Corporate Law. He is a graduate of both the Grotius post-graduate specialisation in insolvency law and in corporate and business law. He has further completed the specialisation program in Financial Economy for insolvency lawyers.

Mr. Besseling is affiliated with INSOLAD. In addition to his native Dutch, he is fluent in German and English.

Cengiz Söylemezoglu

UNITEDKS LAW FIRM

Cengiz Söylemezoglu is the founding and senior managing partner at United KS Law Firm in Istanbul, Turkey. The prestigious firm delivers up-to-date legal services to meet domestic and international clients’ needs in a world of globalization.

Mr. Söylemezoglu’s practice is focused in the areas of company contractual & commercial law, company & corporate law (incl. M&A), intellectual property law, international law & trade, product liability, labour & employment law, construction law (incl. Energy Law), capital markets & stock exchange and dispute resolution & litigation (arbitration).

Mr. Söylemezoglu holds a law degree from Marmara University School of Law, Istanbul. Additionally, he has an MBA degree in Account and Finance Master Degree from Marmara University School of Business, Istanbul; a Diploma in European Community Law from University of Wolverhampton, Holborn College, London; a degree in Marketing, Public Relations, Advertising and Sales and Sales Management from London University, School of Business; and Computer Science degree from Lewisham College, London.

Dubravka Kosic

LAW OFFICE KOSIC

Dubravka Kosic the founder and senior partner at Law Office Kosic in Belgrade, Serbia. She is one of the newest members of CCG, having joined the association in 2020.  

Law Office Kosic is focussed on corporate and contract law, labour law, energy and natural resources law, criminal liability and economic offences, banking and tax law, competition law, telecommunications and media law, free zones, IP law, disputes and arbitration. 

The team at Law office Kosic is made up of highly motivated talents with a wealth of international education and experience. Under Mrs. Kosic’s leadership, the firm has become one of the leading commercial law practices in the Eastern Balkans, highly recognised for its contribution to the practice of law in Serbia as well as its efforts in international law, including playing a significant role in cross-border investment projects in the Republic of Serbia. 

During her career, Mrs. Kosic has forged long-term cooperation with domestic and foreign companies and is lauded for her high level of professionalism and expertise. She has cooperated with some of the most prestigious law firms in the region and worldwide, and further is a member of various professorial associations and achieved numerous honours and awards for her legal work.

Mrs. Kosic holds a PhD, LLM and bachelor degree (LLB) from University of Belgrade Faculty of Law. In addition to her native Serbian, she is fluent in English and Italian.

Fernando Veiga Gomes

ABREU ADVOGADOS

Fernando Veiga Gomes is a partner with Abreu Advogados in Lisbon, Portugal. The firm was founded in 1993 and is one of the most dynamic and recognised Law Firms in Portugal, and is committed to developing institutional relationships with several legal Associations and international Law Firms around the world.

In his practice, Mr. Veiga Gomes is focussed on corporate and commercial law (corporate, mergers & acquisitions), sports law, intellectual property and IT law. He is president of the Sports Law Commission of the Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA).

Mr. Veiga Gomes holds a law degree from the University of Lisbon Law School.

Gad Matalon

LAWYALTY

Gad Matalon is a partner at Lawyalty Avvocati Associati based in Milan, Italy. For more than 20 years he has assisted companies and foreign multinational groups with their business activities across various sectors.

Mr. Matalon handles a wide number of commercial transactions, including sale of goods, distribution, agency, supply and construction contracts. He is further engaged in mergers and acquisition and other company law matters.

Mr. Matalon has represented clients before all courts, including arbitration and mediation, in commercial disputes or litigation regarding shareholders, directors, or other companies’ bodies.

He often speaks at seminars and conferences about international contracts and company law and is a member of the Advisory Board of Consulegis EEIG, an international network of law firms.

Mr. Matalon holds a law degree from Milan State University. He also has studied English Law at City of London Polytechnic, with an emphasis on trade law and employment and company law.

Julian Cockain-Barère

MORVILLIERS SENTENAC & ASSOCIÉS

Julian Cockain-Barère is a partner at Morvilliers Sentenac & Associés, an international law firm founded in 1987 and based in Toulouse, France. The firm also has a branch office in Bordeaux.

Mr. Cockain-Barère is the partner at his firm responsible for international markets. His key client focus is on inward and outward investment, real estate, company and commercial transactions and employment law. His firm’s main activities include M&A, corporate restructuring, private equity funds and other forms of corporate finance, insolvency procedures, taxation, commercial contracts, employment law, intellectual property law (both contentious and non-contentious), regulatory and compliance, data protection, international law and commercial litigation.

Mr. Cockain-Barère obtained a law degree from Liverpool University in 1986, qualified as a lawyer in England and Wales in 1989 and was admitted as French Avocat and member of the Toulouse Bar in 2002. He practised law in London, Brussels and Stuttgart before joining his current firm in Toulouse in 1998. He is a member of the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce & Industry – Paris and is the elected co-Vice President of Consulegis, a network of international law firms.

Lucia Myriam Netti

HORIZONS CORPORATE ADVISORY

Lucia Myriam Netti is the Regional Partner at Horizons, overseeing the advisory’s activities in Europe, Russia and Belarus.

In her multi-faceted role with the advisory, Lucia adeptly serves companies in developing business in the EU and Eastern Europe regions. Her expertise includes international, corporate and industrial law, as well as transnational business negotiation and related problem-solving strategies.

Using a versatile skill set for the advisory, Lucia works to successfully bridge companies from the territories of EU, Russia and Belarus, as well as facilitate opinions and transactions within the European Union. She is an exceptional project manager in overseeing corporate matters, particularly the drafting of complex contracts.

Prior to joining Horizons, Lucia served a number of law firms, acted as legal consultant to governmental entities, and as counsel in business relations and international issues. She further has a wealth of experience as a highly sought-after university lecturer and workshop speaker in Italy, Russia, Belarus and Moldova.

Lucia is a graduate of the University of Law of Turin (Italy).

She additionally holds a postgraduate degree from the School of the Legal Careers for Judges and Lawyers (Turin, Italy), as well as a Master in International Contracts in Milan (Italy).

An Italian national, Lucia is fluent in English and Italian.

Maria Georgiou

GEORGIOS K. GEORGIOU LLC

Maria Georgiou is a partner at GEORGIOS K. GEORGIOU LLC in Larnaca, Cyprus. The firm’s specialised team offers legal services and assists clients in their cross-border transactions and complex litigation cases.

Ms. Georgiou’s primary area of practice includes immigration law, litigation and arbitration, corporate and commercial law, banking and financing, real estate construction, intellectual property and energy.

She was admitted to the Cyprus Bar in 2009 and is a member of the Famagusta Bar Association Committee. Ms. Georgiou is also a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and registered in the Register of Meditators of the Ministry of Justice in Cyprus for civil disputes and commercial disputes.

Ms. Georgiou holds a law degree from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a Master of Laws (LLM) in Commercial and Corporate Law from Queen Mary, University of London. She speaks both Greek and English.

Marlies Hoecherl

CAPITAL LAW

Marlies Hoecherl is a partner at Capital Law Limited. The firm is based in Cardiff, Wales, UK, with an office in London. Capital works both nationally and internationally to offer all the legal services that a trading organisation needs.

Ms. Hoecherl advises on M&As, corporate reorganisations and a wide variety of commercial contracts including SLAs and commercial joint ventures, primarily with cross-border aspects. She also has specialist expertise in the education, the energy sector and the food and drink sector. Her specialist expertise in the education sector extends to Africa, Asia and a number of European countries.

Ms. Hoecherl is an in-demand speaker on the subject of Brexit, both in the UK and at international events.

In 2013, she was appointed to the board of Consulegis, an international network of independent law firms. She is further Capital Law’s representative to the China Collaborative Group (CCG), a collective of legal service providers serving cross-border investors, and their counterparts, on business deals connected to China’s “One Belt, One Road”.

Ms. Hoecherl holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of London. Aside from her legal career, she also holds a master’s degree from University of Wales and PhD in Archaeology from Cardiff University. She speaks German and French fluently, and reads Italian and Spanish.

Martin Hütte

HÜTTELAW

Martin Hütte is the founder and a senior partner of HütteLAW Ltd. in Cham, Switzerland. HütteLAW is a midsize firm set in central Switzerland where it is focussed on company law, contract law, relocation, M&A transactions and all related topics.

Mr. Hütte has extensive expertise in the financing of corporate law projects and M&A transactions, banking and financial market law, restructuring and reorganization, and sports law. He has additional expertise in management and administration of services for trade and production companies.

Mr. Hütte has a master degree in Swiss and European law. He is an attorney at law admitted to all courts in Switzerland and serves as a trained specialist for companies and trade law in Germany.

Slavi Dimitrov

DIMITROV AND PARTNERS LAW FIRM 

Slavi Dimitrov is managing partner at Dimitrov and Partners Law Firm in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is one of the newest members of CCG, having joined the association in 2020. 

Since its founding in 1993, Dimitrov and Partners has grown to become a full-service firm focussed on commercial and corporate law, banking & finance, contracts and torts, tax law, employment law, and criminal law.

Under Mr. Dimitrov’s leadership, Dimitrov and Partners lawyers have built an outstanding reputation for the firm’s work in company formation and restructuring, M&A, project financing, competition law, and project investments, including in real estate, construction and energy sectors. The firm is further highly recognised for excellence in litigation.

In his career, Mr. Dimitrov has focussed on corporate law, banking and finance law, taxes, and criminal law. His experience spans more than 30 years, where he has been held in high esteem for commercial ventures modelling, negotiation skills, keen analyses of matters from various legal and economic perspectives, and the forging of well-rounded strategies.

Before establishing a private legal practice, Mr. Dimitrov served magistrate in the Bulgarian judicial system.

Mr. Dimitrov holds a Master of Law degree from Sofia University, a master’s degree in EU Law from Sofia University “Kliment Ohridski” and degree in Foreign Commerce and International Law from the University of National and World Economy, Sofia. In addition to his native Bulgarian, he is fluent in English and Russian.

Cesar Amendolara

VELLOZA ADVOGADOS ASSOCIADOS

Cesar Amendolara is a partner of the corporate and M&A practice at Velloza Advogados Associados in São Paulo, Brazil. He also coordinates  the firm’s China Desk.

Velloza Advogados is highly regarded for its keen sense of business knowledge and legal know-how related to the corporate lifecycle, including complex cross-border transactions. The firm’s client base includes financial institutions, vehicle manufacturers, chemical, pharmaceutical and oil industries, foodstuff retailers and wholesalers, insurance carriers, credit card operators, hotels, construction companies and corporations focused on infrastructure and technology.

The firm operates with expertise serving foreign groups that invest in Brazil and Brazilian groups that invest abroad. With respect to Chinese clients, Velloza’s China Desk has specialized professionals with experience in Chinese culture and fluent in Chinese.

Mr. Amendolara’s areas of expertise include corporate mergers and acquisitions (M&A), foreign direct investment in Brazil, Brazilian overseas investment, startups and fintech, and banking and insurance.

He serves as Professor of Commercial Law for bachelor degree students at Faculdade de Direito da Uni-FMU (SP), Monitor of Commercial Law to bachelor degree students at Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de São Paulo (USP) and Professor of Agreement and Bank Law of Escola Paulista de Direito – EPD Incumbent Member of Instituto dos Advogados de São Paulo (IASP).

Among his associations includes being a Member of the Legal Comission of Instituto Brasileiro dos Executivos de Finanças de São Paulo (IBEF/SP) and Member of Latin America Regional Forum of the International Bar Association – IBA.

Mr. Amendolara holds a Master in Commercial Law degree and a Bachelor Degree in Law, both from Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de São Paulo (USP).

In addition to his native Portuguese, Mr. Amendolara speaks fluent English and Spanish.

Fernando Hernández Gómez

VÁZQUEZ ALDANA HERNÁNDEZ GÓMEZ & ASOCIADOS (VAHG)

Fernando Hernández Gómez is a partner at Vázquez Aldana, Hernández Gómez & Asociados in Guadalajara (VAHG), Mexico. The firm serves its clients by advising them professionally during their decision-making processes and remains committed to providing legal and strategic counsel of the highest quality standards.

Mr. Hernández’s speciality areas of practice include Corporate Law; Mergers, Acquisitions and Joint Ventures; Corporate reorganizations; Work-out / recovery and financial; Banking and Finance Law; Stock and Securities Exchange; Project Finance; Real Estate; and Estate Planning.

Mr. Hernández holds degrees in Economic and Corporate, Contract Law and Tax Law from Universidad Panamericana, as well as Masters in Business Administration (MEDEX, Instituto Panamericano de Alta Dirección de Empresas) and Education degree from Universidad Panamericana Campus Guadalajara.

Jeffery Daar

DAAR & NEWMAN

Jeffery Daar is a principal of the law firm Daar & Newman in Los Angeles, USA. The firm is a long established general practice law firm dedicated to providing the highest quality of representation to its clients, including acting as a gateway for international business both inbound to and outbound from the U.S.

Mr. Daar’s expertise includes strategic planning, complex state and federal litigation, innovative dispute resolution, and international transactions and disputes. His practice focuses on both litigation and transactional projects.

Mr. Daar’s extensive litigation background gives him added insight into structuring transactions for clients along with his entrepreneurial approach to problem-solving and dispute resolution.

He has served as a City of Los Angeles Commissioner for more than 15 years, including having held a seat on the Board governing the Los Angeles airports.

Mr. Daar holds a law degree from the University of California at Davis and a bachelor’s degree from Claremont McKenna College.

Mabel Parengkuan

MOORES ROWLAND

Mabel Parengkuan joined Moores Rowland in 2001 as Partner of the Legal Department. She subsequently established the law firm Mabel and Associates, successfully leading it to become recognized as one of the reputable law firms in Indonesia. The firm is now associated with Marccus Partners under Moores Rowland Indonesia.

Ms. Parengkuan and her team assist foreign investors in establishing legal entities, forming joint ventures with local companies, restructuring and merging with local companies, as well as other legal transactions covering the full scope of foreign investment. She is additionally well-versed in property and labour laws, as well as finance and banking issues. Early in her career, Ms. Parengkuan was involved in revising the system for Indonesian land and building tax as a member of the team which led to the implementation of the new system in 1990.

Ms. Parengkuan is a Master of Law graduate from the University of Indonesia.

Roberto Gilardino

HORIZONS CORPORATE ADVISORY

Roberto Gilardino is Regional Partner at Horizons, supervising the advisory’s activities in North Asia along with additional countries including Australia, Brazil, Cyprus, Indonesia, Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Qazaqstan.

From the Horizons lead office in the heart of downtown Shanghai, Roberto, in addition to his portfolio, oversees the advisory’s transnational operations. His Shanghai-based team, whose expertise rests in corporate issues and property safeguard, liaises day-to-day with Horizons’ regional offices, serving as the advisory’s global gateway.

Roberto’s background and skill-set lie in international business and corporate law with a special attention on corporate government, strategy and shareholder protection. He is further highly judicious in providing clients with robust M&A support and negotiation analysis. Having a deep sense of cross-cultural issues in cross-border transactions and corporate matters, Roberto and his team provide clients with unique insights and strategies related to the difficult-to-read, often behind the scenes, nuances in transnational business.

Serving as a versatile leader, Roberto is equally able to tend to highly positioned clients and liaise with governmental entities, as he is able to roll up his sleeves and attend to the nuts and bolt work corporate advisory.

Prior to joining Horizons, Roberto served professionally in ministries, governmental bodies and the private sector, primarily in China.

An Italian national, Roberto is fluent in Italian, English, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese.

Danny Luk

HORIZONS CORPORATE ADVISORY

Danny Luk is a Senior Equity Partner at HORIZONS CORPORATE ADVISORY HOLDING LTD, overseeing the firm’s activities in Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore. His longstanding career as Hong Kong Certified Public Accountant allows the advisory to provide exceptional financial services to its clients.

Danny has more than 25 years’ experience in the public accounting industry in both Hong Kong and Mainland China, specialising in tax planning, investigation, appeals and planning. He expertly serves numerous clients across a broad range of industries, employing an ethically sound and transparent approach towards business that provides complete clarity for every transaction. This allows clients to be confident in important decisions related to financial and tax issues as well as wealth management, trusts and a host of IPO needs. 

Among his professional associations, Danny is a Practising Member of The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. 

Prior to joining Louis Lai & Luk in 1986, he served as a Tax Assessor at the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department for more than a decade. 

A native of Hong Kong, Danny is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese and English.

Chiluba Mumba

EQUITAS LEGAL PRACTITIONERS

Chiluba Mumba is managing partner at Equitas Legal Practitioners in Lusaka, Zambia. She is one of the newest members of CCG, having joined the association in 2020. 

Equitas is a multidisciplinary firm providing a broad range of corporate advisory services. Among these include dispute resolution/settlement litigation, debt recovery, perfection of securities (various forms of charges and mortgages), commercial transactions, conveyance and real estate, employment law, public policy, and public and private enterprises partnerships. The firm also provides energy, mining and environmental projects advisory services. 

Ms. Mumba is a legal practitioner with ten years standing on the Roll of Legal Practitioners. She has served as in-house counsel at the Energy Regulation Board as Legal Officer and rose through the ranks of management as Legal Counsel-Senior Manager Legal to Director Legal and Board Secretary, well-acquiring a great deal of experience with In-House Board advisory, Corporate Governance and regulatory matters related to the Energy sector and other cross-cutting issues. 

Prior to the latter Ms. Mumba practiced as an advocate in the firms of Central Chambers, Musa Dudhia & Company and Milner Katolo & Associates. She previously served as a member of the Licensing Committee of the Securities and Exchange Board Committee.

Ms. Mumba holds a Master of Laws Corporate and Commercial Law from the University of London and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Zambia (UNZA). She is an Advocate of the High Court of Judicature for Zambia with an audience before the Court of Appeal, Constitutional Court and Supreme Court of Zambia. She further serves as a Commissioner for Oaths. 

Ahmed Mussa

Ritz Attorneys at Law

Ahmed Mussa is the Head of Legal Department – Transaction Services and International Partnership and Business Development at Ritz Attorneys at Law. He is also the Vice-Chairperson of the Practice Management Committee.

Ahmed holds a Bachelor Laws [Hons] degree from the Islamic University in Uganda. He was subsequently admitted to practice law in the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal, the High Court of Malawi and all Courts subordinate thereto, in 2019. He has currently completed a Master of Laws degree [LLM] in Energy [Mineral and Petroleum Extraction and Use] at the University of Cape Town in the Republic of South Africa.