Giovanni E. Spinelli

Giovanni Spinelli is the firm’s Managing Partner.
His practice areas include general corporate and commercial transactions with an emphasis on international mergers, acquisitions and finance. He frequently assists Italian and other European companies in establishing and developing their presence in the United States, and regularly advises several high-profile clients in the fashion and banking industries. Mr. Spinelli is head of the firm’s Fashion Law Group.

Mr. Spinelli was born in London, England, and was educated in the United States, Sweden, England and Italy. He graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Florence (J.D. 1991 – summa cum laude) and the Yale Law School (LL.M. 1994). Prior to joining Pavia & Harcourt in 2001, Mr. Spinelli was an associate in the New York offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.

Mr. Spinelli sits on the Board of Directors of The Armitage Foundation, is Secretary of the Gruppo Esponenti Italiani, and is the General Counsel of the Italian American Chamber of Commerce, New York Chapter. Mr. Spinelli is fluent in Italian, French and Spanish, and proficient in Portuguese.

Mr. Spinelli speaks frequently on subjects related to his practice areas. His prior speaking engagements include:

• L.U.I.S.S. Guido Carli, Rome – Master of Fashion Law: “Navigating Omni-Channel Distribution Challenges for Luxury in the United States” – May 11, 2024;
• Bocconi University, Milan – EMiLUX Executive Master in Luxury Management: «Introduction to the U.S. Legal System» – December 16, 2021, November 15, 2022;
• Bocconi University, Milan – Master of Science: «Managing the Multinational Corporation: An Introduction to the U.S. Legal System» – October 5, 2021 – September 27, 2022;
• Italian Reputation Focus USA: Panel Member – New York, May 6, 2021;
• Union Internationale des Avocats: Focus USA – «International Business Law and International Contracts» – New York, March 12, 2021;
• UniCredit International Forum: Focus USA – «Introduzione al sistema legale americano» – Confindustria Alto Milanese – Legnano, November 15, 2018;
• UniCredit International Forum: Focus USA – «Introduzione al sistema legale americano» – Milan, October 27, 2017 – Turin, October 23, 2017;
• UniCredit International Forum: Focus USA – «Crescita economica e opportunita per le imprese» – Firenze, June 7, 2016; Parma, June 6, 2016;
• UniCredit International Forum: Focus USA – «Crescita economica e opportunita per le imprese» – Verona, November 17, 2015;
• New York State Bar Association – European Regional Meeting: «Negotiating with U.S. Distributors» – Bergamo, March 8, 2013.

Mr. Spinelli is admitted to the New York Bar.