Nicola Fiordalisi

Head of the Italian Practice / Milan

Nicola Fiordalisi is in the Corporate Practice and is the Head of the Italian Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.

  • Full Bio

    Nicola advises global corporations on cross-border transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, establishment of U.S. operations, structured finance and private equity deals. He also proactively addresses restructuring and business growth issues and provides top-tier international strategic and business growth planning for commercial investment and manufacturing operations for both Italian and U.S. clients.

    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 currently licensed to practice law in Illinois. Nicola has a proven track record of collaborating closely with clients from both countries. He structures their financial, commercial, and investment transactions, with a primary focus on the manufacturing, hospitality and energy sectors.

    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. He is an author and speaker on topics of international trade and the legal aspects of doing business in Italy and the U.S. Mr. Fiordalisi is also a former adjunct law Professor at Chicago Kent College of Law (LLM Programs) as well as at Loyola University School of Law (JD and LLM Programs) where he taught “Strategic Counseling to International Clients.”

  • Bar Admissions

    Illinois

  • Education

    Law School
    • Loyola University Chicago School of Law
    • Università di Bologna

  • Languages

    English, Italian

  • Recognitions


    The Title of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, 2015, bestowed by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano

  • Publications and Speaking Engagements


    Turin Chamber of Commerce – U.S. Business Forum, November 2015. Speaker: “Agency and distribution agreements in the U.S. Strategic consideration, pitfalls and planning of product liability exposure.”

    UNINDUSTRIA BOLOGNA, May 2013. Roundtable with Companies of the Emilia Romagna area about “Doing Business in the U.S.”

    Connecting with Italian Biotech: New Policies, New Opportunities, Italian Trade Commission, Assobiotec, Federchimica — “Inbound-Outbound Financing,” 2009 (Atlanta, Georgia)

    The University of Texas Health Science Center, in partnership with Italian Trade Commission, Nanotech IT, Airi — In Italy, Nanotechnology is a Priority – “U.S. and Italy Landscape, Business Environment and Opportunities,” 2009 (Houston, Texas)

    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,” 1999 (Chicago, Illinois)

    LaSalle National Bank of Chicago and The Chicago Manufacturing Association — “How to Play Smart in the International Market,” 1997 (Chicago, Illinois)

    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,” 1996 (Chicago, Illinois)

  • SGR Publications

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