ITALIAN EMPLOYMENT LAW | ITALIAN LABOR LAW
30+ Years of Experience Navigating Italian Workplace Law
Through Good And Bad Times
WORKPLACE LAW FOR EMPLOYERS & EXECUTIVES
National & Cross Border Counsel | 365 Days a Year
Why a boutique law firm?
Italy is known for its extreme complexity in terms of the management of employment relationships, both for the multitude of nuances in the regulations (not always clear or easy to interpret) and for the potential negative consequences, possibly touching both economic aspects and public image, which companies may risk if the wrong decision, or decision not in line with employment and labour law regulations, is taken.
It is for this reason, as historical research also reveals, that both national and international companies prefer to work with boutique law firms which are specialized in employment law - where they can find the professionals which are exclusively dedicated to the subject matter offering exacting knowledge, efficiency and professionalism which are essential for solving the relevant and complex workplace issues they face on a daily basis.
Failla&Partners
Failla&Partners is an internationally recognized award-winning Law Firm exclusively specialized in Employment & Labour Law. Based in Milan, Italy, the team is guided by the 30+ years of experience of its Founder and Managing Partner Luca Failla, who is recognized both nationally and internationally for his strategic legal counsel and unique experience in the field.
Italian labor law is always a complex challenge for foreign businesses; a layered system of regulations built up over the years, with strong protections for workers’ rights. Today, amid new economic challenges, we find the Italian Labour market undergoing a profound transformation. As employers and their legal counsel survey a new landscape of work and productivity, a close partnership between the two parties is critical to ensuring business continuity and safeguarding employment wherever possible.
With this approach, Failla&Partners has positioned itself as a premier Italian Employment & Labour Law boutique dedicated to supporting multinationals and foreign Clients in navigating the complexities of Italian employment law.
By providing strategic guidance, the firm helps clients mitigate employment and reputational risks, ensuring the smooth and successful operation of their business activities in Italy.
Our philosophy
In line with our philosophy, a modern labor law firm like Failla&Partners must work in close partnership with companies, offering tailored solutions at every step.
This approach not only reduces personnel management risks but also ensures that labor law regulations are leveraged to support and strengthen business operations.
At every step, Failla&Partners provides businesses with practical solutions capable of resolving problems in the most effective way.
The firm focuses on reducing all risks associated with workforce management in Italy, including reputational risks.
Our clients
The team provides assistance to multinationals and foreign Clients (Companies and International Funds) in all areas of Italian Employment and Labour Law — both throughout the country and internationally. Failla&Partners supports Clients in all day-to-day activities, including:
- Sensitive M&As, reorganizations, and restructuring processes
- Litigations and layoffs
- Consultancy and managing disciplinary procedures
- Handling dismissals, internal investigations, and whistleblowing
- Know-how and unfair competition protection
- Data privacy
- Drafting employment contracts, company policies, and ethic codes
- Immigration matters
- And much more
Luca Failla - Founding & Managing Partner
Luca Failla, the Founder and Managing Partner of Failla&Partners, has over 30 years of experience exclusively dedicated to providing counsel on Italian Employment & Labour Law. He is recognized both nationally and internationally for his work, particularly for his successful management of sensitive reorganizations and restructuring projects, as well as for expertly setting Italian case-law precedents.
His many accolades include: Italian Employment Lawyer of the Year 2025 (TopLegal), Italian Litigation Lawyer of the Year 2024, 2023, 2022 (LegalCommunity), Italian Labour Litigation Lawyer of the Year 2023, 2023 (TopLegal), and 2020 (AIDP). This is in addition to the recognition that Failla regularly receives each year in the leading independent international legal guides, such as Chambers Europe, Legal 500, IEL – International Employment Lawyer, Lexology Index, Who’s Who Legal, and Best Lawyers among many others.
Failla regularly shares his knowledge not only as a Professor of Italian Employment Law at the LUM Giuseppe De Gennaro Bari University, one of the leading private law schools in the country, but also through seminars, conferences, published articles, and the many books he has authored (SEE CURRICULUM).
Internationally, Luca Failla is renowned for his experience as Co-Founder and former Managing Partner for more than 15 years at LABLAW, one of Italy's most prominent and internationally acclaimed employment law firms, also honored as the European Niche Law Firm of the Year by The Lawyer Magazine.
In recent years, Luca Failla has successfully managed some of the most sensitive litigation cases, layoffs, and restructuring plans, building extensive experience in the field and providing his Clients with unparalleled support in these matters.
Team
Our lawyers
Press review
16 February 2026
IEL - International Employment Lawyer
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Accolades
2026 - Italian Employment Law | Recommended Lawyers
Marcello Buzzini, Elisabetta Cassaneti, Claudia Marasciuolo and Paola Salazar have been recommended by Legal 500 EMEA 2026 for their work in the field of Italian Employment Law.
In their words:
- What truly sets them apart from competitors is their ability to combine technical legal knowledge with a nuanced understanding of clients’ industries and commercial realities. This results in advice that is not only accurate but also actionable and tailored to the client’s specific context.
- ‘Very competent, great availability.'
- Marcello Buzzini brings senior experience advising national and international clients
- Elisabetta Cassaneti handles employment disputes ‘with discretion and skill.
- Elisabetta Cassaneti stands out for their strategic insight and ability to navigate highly sensitive employment disputes with discretion and skill.
- Their leadership inspires confidence, and they are particularly adept at managing complex negotiations and high-stakes litigation.
2026 - Italian Employment Law | Leading Firm
Legal 500 EMEA 2026 has recognised Failla&Partners for their Italian Employment Law counsel.
In their words:
Failla&Partners advises on all areas of employment law, from acquisitions and agency agreements to restructurings and reorganisations, with particular expertise in whistleblowing procedures and sensitive employment litigation. Luca Failla, founding and managing partner, oversees complex reorganisation and restructuring projects. Marcello Buzzini brings senior experience advising national and international clients, while Elisabetta Cassaneti handles employment disputes ‘with discretion and skill.
Clients said:
- Failla&Partners’ employment practice stands out for its technical excellence, client-centric ethos, and commitment to innovation. Clients can expect a highly skilled, responsive, and forward-thinking team that consistently delivers practical solutions to complex employment challenges
- What sets Failla&Partners apart is its proactive and responsive service. The team is known for its accessibility and commitment to building long-term relationships with clients, ensuring that advice is not only legally sound but also aligned with clients’ broader business objectives.
- Compared to other firms, FAILLA & Partners offers a more personalised and agile service, often acting as a true partner to clients rather than just an external advisor.
- The individuals at Failla&Partners’ employment practice are distinguished by their deep subject-matter expertise, pragmatic approach, and genuine commitment to client service.
2026 - Hall of Fame | Luca Failla
Luca Failla, Founding & Managing Partner of Failla&Partners, has been recognized by the independent legal research guide Legal 500 EMEA 2026 as being in the Hall of Fame category - which is the top honor Legal 500 can give to legal professionals.
In their words:
- Luca Failla stands out for his strategic insight and ability to navigate highly sensitive employment disputes with discretion and skill.
- His leadership inspires confidence, and is particularly adept at managing complex negotiations and high-stakes litigation.
- He is recognised for their meticulous attention to detail and responsiveness.
- Luca Failla has an outstanding level of competency with a great positive attitude to deal with clients, particularly and with people in general.
- With his team, he ensures great availability and is highly effective.
2026 - Italian Employment Law | Team
Failla&Partners has been reocgnised for their Italian Employment Law counsel by Chambers Europe 2026 - one of the most important independent guides to leading lawyers and law firms from around the word.
In their words:
Failla & Partners is a Milan-based employment and labour boutique whose partners are widely recognised in the market. The firm advises a wide range of Italian and international companies on both contentious and non-contentious matters, including corporate restructuring, collective redundancies, trade union negotiations, employer liability and data protection-related matters.
Clients said:
- Their defining strengths are expertise, knowledge of the sector and concreteness in managing the cases submitted to them.
- The law firm has a very high understanding of the company's business and is able to adapt perfectly to different situations.
- Its lawyers are very well prepared and provide precise follow-up.
- Failla & Partners demonstrates great reliability.
Case history
Recent Projects
The Failla&Partners team has decades of experience working together to provide strategic counsel to clients on numerous corporate reorganizations and complex litigations at the national and international levels. Click on the link below to discover examples of some of our recent work helping clients navigate a wide range of simple and complex workplace matters.
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