German-Italian Group
International Desk · Germany
Germany and Italy have traditionally enjoyed close and multifaceted ties. Germany is by far Italy's most important trading partner, accounting for around 12.5 per cent of Italian imports and exports. Italy, in turn, is Germany’s fifth most important trading partner. Total bilateral trade amounted to approximately EUR 169.2 billion in 2025. The goods covered by this trade relationship are numerous and range from automotive components and precision machinery to chemical products. Italian luxury goods and food products are in high demand on the German market.
These figures are underpinned by countless supply relationships, services and cross-border transactions, which in turn need to be actively managed and legally compliant.
Legal advisers specialising in German-Italian business relations
At CMS, we established the German-Italian Group to offer the best possible advice to companies doing business between the two countries. The idea is to offer trading partners, investors, companies with branches in the other country and companies aiming to expand precisely the support they need for their business, without them having to worry about which country's laws they should be operating under.
Range of services offered by the German-Italian Group
The German-Italian Group at CMS provides advice across the full spectrum of national and international commercial law. As a client, you have access to the expertise of highly specialised lawyers across all relevant areas of law, whom we bring together in advisory teams tailored to your business, depending on the task or project at hand. By delivering integrated cross-border legal and business advice, we make it easier for you to operate in the other country.
The CMS German-Italian Group consists of bilingual lawyers and tax advisers from partner firms CMS Hasche Sigle (Germany) and CMS Adonnino Ascoli & Cavasola Scamoni (Italy). The large number of successful projects we have jointly handled over the years demonstrates that our own German-Italian collaboration works extremely well, delivering real benefits for our clients.
The lawyers in our German-Italian Group advise German companies that have commercial contacts in Italy or wish to invest there, as well as Italian companies that operate in Germany. A particular advantage is that communication, including vital correspondence, is conducted in the client's native language – quickly, simply and with consideration for the culture-specific nuances that can ultimately make all the difference.
Well-connected and recognised by local institutions
In addition to in-depth legal expertise, the lawyers in the German-Italian Group have excellent connections with local authorities and institutions. We see our role as extending beyond pure legal and tax advice to opening doors and building bridges for our clients.
Depending on the requirements of the specific mandate, we assemble interdisciplinary and cross-border teams led by a German or Italian partner who is also your dedicated contact person.
As one of the world's largest commercial law firms, CMS is notable for its in-depth industry knowledge, which enables us to excel both in an ongoing advisory capacity and also in the context of complex project and transaction structures: We have a thorough understanding of the market and the specifics of the individual sectors, including in the following areas:
- Automotive
- Banks and Financial Services Providers
- Construction and Real Estate
- Biotech and Life-Sciences
- Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals
- Energy and Utilities
- Trade and Service Sector
- Hotels and Tourism
- Leasing Companies
- Maschinery and Engineering
- Media
- Food, Beverages and Tobacco
- Private Equity and Venture-Capital
- Shipping
- Haulage and Transport
- Technology
- Telecommunikation, Internet, E-Commerce
- Textiles and Fashion
- Insurance
Trust and security are crucially important for long-term investment in a partner country. The CMS German-Italian Group builds solid bridges for both sides that minimise the risks and maximise the potential. Not least because we appreciate the value of excellent bilateral economic ties in our own business.
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