Nicola Fiordalisi
About Nicola
For more than 30 years, Nicola Fiordalisi has been acting as US general counsel for numerous Italian companies and their respective U.S. subsidiaries. He has significant expertise in structuring cross-border transaction including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and establishment of U.S. manufacturing and sales operations and private equity deals.
Nicola has been instrumental in advising hundreds of Italian based companies on the establishment of their U.S. manufacturing and sales operations. Nicola’s expertise extends to advising multinational corporations on strategic cross-border issues such as site selection and state incentives tied to manufacturing operations.
Nicola is a frequent speaker, domestically and abroad, on legal aspects of international transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and conducting business in the United States. He is an author and speaker on topics of international trade and the legal aspects of doing business in Italy and the U.S.
Nicola received his Italian law degree (JD) from the University of Bologna (1987) and his US law Degree (JD) from Loyola University School of Law (1993). A native of Italy, Nicola is fluent in Italian and English. He is a member of the Italian Bar and the State Bar of Illinois.
Nicola serves as an Honorary Legal Adviser to the Italian Consul General of Chicago and Honorary Legal Counsel to the Italian Trade Commission of Chicago. Nicola is also a former adjunct law Professor at Chicago Kent College of Law (LLM Programs) and Loyola University School of Law (JD and LLM Programs), where he taught “Strategic Counseling for International Clients.”
*Admitted to practice law in Illinois.
Nicola's Practice
Representative Matters
- 2024 - present, Represented leading Italian manufacturer of standard to custom made mounting materials and fasteners: for a strategic acquisition of a US company’
- 2024 - present, Represented Italian leading manufacturer of chemical products with a establishment of a US operation and a subsequent JV a US company
- 2023 - present, Represented leading Italian manufacturer of circuit boards in multiple acquisition of US companies and subsequent corporate reorganization.
- 2020 - present, Represented Italian leading animal food procures in several transactions and presently an establishment of a manufacturing operation
- 2020 - present, Represented a manufacturer of farming precision tools in the asset acquisition of a significant customer.
- 2019 - present, Represented listed Italian largest IT consulting, systems integration, and digital services group listed company in four US acquisitions
- 2018 - present, Represented leading Italian company of semi-finished rubber products for automotive, electrical household appliances and pharmaceutical industry in a strategical Joint Venture with major US manufacturing company which evolved in a jointly owned manufacturing operation
- 2015 - present, Represented leading Italian manufacturer of alternator in an establishment of US Operation
- 2001 - present, Represented leading Italian manufacturer of hydraulic and industrial hoses, in a strategic acquisition and establishment of US operation
- 2015 - 2022, Represented luxury women shoes brand in their commercial establishment of a national presence in the US
- 2010 - 2021, Represented Largest Fresh Pasta Producer in Italy for all of the aspects of creating a manufacturing operation in the US.
- Coordinated the formation of hundreds of U.S. corporations and LLCs and advised on start-up activities including hiring employees and independent contractors, leasing proper premises, evaluating immigration aspects in connection with potential transfers of foreign employees, and structuring intra-company distributorship or commercial agency relationships.
Recognitions
The Title of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, bestowed by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano (2015)
Credentials
Education
J.D., Loyola University Chicago School of Law
J.D., Università di Bologna
Admissions
- Illinois
Languages
- English
- Italian
Thought Leadership
FARETE Confindustria Emilia, Speaker, “Doing Business in the U.S.: Still an Opportunity?", September 2025
Speaker, “Agency and distribution agreements in the U.S. Strategic consideration, pitfalls and planning of product liability exposure,” Turin Chamber of Commerce – U.S. Business Forum, November 2015
Roundtable with Companies of the Emilia Romagna area about “Doing Business in the U.S.,” UNINDUSTRIA BOLOGNA, May 2013
Connecting with Italian Biotech: New Policies, New Opportunities, Italian Trade Commission, Assobiotec, Federchimica — “Inbound-Outbound Financing,” Atlanta, Georgia, 2009
In Italy, Nanotechnology is a Priority – “U.S. and Italy Landscape, Business Environment and Opportunities,” The University of Texas Health Science Center, in partnership with Italian Trade Commission, Nanotech IT, Airi, Houston, Texas, 2009
Confindustria Bergamo, Camera di Commercio Industria, Artigianato & Agricoltura, A.S.S.I.S.T. srl (Bergamo) — “Il Percorso Ideale dell’Impresa Italiana nel Processo di Internazionalizzazione Verso gli U.S.” (The ideal path for an Italian company in the process of going international in the U.S.). Sponsored by the State of Illinois European Office, May 2006
La Camera di Commercio di Napoli e il Consolato degli Stati Uniti d’America (Napoli) — “Il Percorso Ideale dell’Impresa Italiana nel Processo di Internazionalizzazione Verso gli U.S.” (The ideal path for an Italian company in the process of going international in the U.S.). Sponsored by the State of Illinois European Office, May 2006
Unione Parmense degli Industriali (Parma) — “Il Percorso Ideale dell’Impresa Italiana nel Processo di Internazionalizzazione Verso gli U.S.” (The ideal path for an Italian company in the process of going international in the U.S.). Sponsored by the State of Illinois European Office, May 2005
Regione Marche (Ancona) — “Il Percorso Ideale dell’Impresa Italiana nel Processo di Internazionalizzazione Verso gli U.S.” (The ideal path for an Italian company in the process of going international in the U.S.). Sponsored by the State of Illinois European Office, May 2005
Assindustria Rimini (Rimini) — “Espansione commerciale e produttiva negli U.S.” (Commercial and produttiva expansion in the U.S.). Sponsored by the State of Illinois European Office, June 2004
Assindustria Modena (Modena) — “Espansione commerciale e produttiva negli U.S.” (Commercial and produttiva expansion in the U.S.). Sponsored by the State of Illinois European Office, June 2004
Assindustria Pesaro (Pesaro) — “L’Impresa Italiana Negli U.S.” (Italian companies in the U.S.). Sponsored by the State of Illinois European Office, June 2003
Treviso Glocal (Treviso) — “L’Impresa Italiana Negli U.S.” (Italian companies in the U.S.). Sponsored by the State of Illinois European Office, June 2003
Il Centro Studi “Il Ponte delle Idee” (Messina) — “L’impresa italiana negli Stati Uniti e le opportunità del momento” (Current opportunities for Italian companies in the U.S.), October 2002
Assolombarda (Milano) — “L’Impresa Italiana negli U.S.” (Italian companies in the U.S.) (September 2002)
PromoFirenze (Firenze) — “Aspetti Legali per Condurre Affari negli U.S.” (Legal Aspects on Doing Business in the U.S.). Sponsored by the State of Illinois European Office, May 2002
API (Bologna) — “Agevolazioni alle Imprese: L’esperienza Statunitense” (Company incentives: the American experience), May 2002
Assindustria Verona (Verona) — “Investire nell’Illinois” (Invest in Illinois). Sponsored by the State of Illinois European Office, May 2002
Consorzio per il Lavoro e le Attività Innovative e Formative (LAIF) (Cosenza) — “Tecniche di contrattualistica internazionale” (International contract techniques), April 2002
Centro Estero delle Camere di Commercio del Veneto & Camera Commercio Industria Artigianato & Agricoltura di Padova (Padova) — “Chicago, Porta D’Ingresso nel Mercato NordAmericano” (Chicago, the door to the North American market), 2000
SviluppoUmbria (Perugia) — “Opportunità e Sinergie nel Mercato NordAmericano” (Opportunity and synergy in the North American market), 2000
Loyola University School of Law, International Series — “The Ten Golden Rules, Trading with Italy,” Chicago, Illinois, 1999
LaSalle National Bank of Chicago and The Chicago Manufacturing Association — “How to Play Smart in the International Market,” Chicago, Illinois, 1997
State of Illinois (Governor Jim Edgar) Trade Mission (Rome, Florence, Verona, Milan, Turin) — “Opportunities for Foreign Investments in Illinois,” 1997
John Marshall Law School, Trade and Law Lecture Series — “Doing Business in Italy,” Chicago, Illinois, 1996
