Lep Law Team

Our qualified advisers have extensive experience in cross border legal matters

Our qualified advisors come from a range of professional backgrounds and have extensive experience in cross border legal matters, and specifically in the Italian and UK legal systems and the interconnection between them. See their profiles below.

• Founder Mrs Laura Protti Italian Avvocato and English Solicitor

  Laura Protti is the founder of LEP Law and she is dual qualified as an Italian Avvocato and English Solicitor. Laura completed her legal studies in Milan where she began her career working on commercial and financial litigation.

  In 1999 she moved to London where she went on to work at a UK Firm of Solicitors practising on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious work. In 2003 she joined The International Law Partnership LLP (Formerly John Howell & Co.) where she was responsible for handling her own case loads of files involving the acquisition of commercial and residential properties in Italy, English and Italian succession and wills, estate planning and taxation, and where in 2006 she became Head of the Italian Department.

  Over the years Laura has gained extensive experience in Italian Property Law, International Private Law, Contract Law, Succession Law, and Taxation.

  She has assisted with the drafting and updating of books and articles on Italian Law and has given seminars on property and tax related topics.

  In her free time Laura enjoys spending time with friends and family and can occasionally be found at great depths underwater indulging in her passion for scuba diving.

  Languages: Italian (Mother tongue) and English

• Mr Ettore Cipollone Italian Avvocato
  Milan Associate Lawyer

  Ettore Cipollone J.D. obtained his Law Degree from the “Università Cattolica” of Milan. After qualifying as an Italian Avvocato, he collaborated with Notary Offices for ten years before opening a law firm in Milan.

  He is specialized in real estate and inheritance law. Ettore became an Italian Associate of LEP LAW in 2009 and since then he has collaborated with the firm in cases concerning inheritance and international real estate matters, both judicial and extra-judicial.

  Ettore has a great interest in the history of law and ancient history. He enjoys swimming and is a black belt in Karate.

  Languages: Italian (Mother tongue)

• Ms Claudia Sorrentino Italian Avvocato

  Claudia graduated with honors in law from Palermo University in 2011 and obtained a diploma from the “Federico II” graduate school for legal professions in Naples in 2013. She qualified as an Avvocato in 2014.

  In 2015 Claudia moved to the United Kingdom where in 2016 she attained the status of Registered European Lawyer. After gaining extensive experience in immigration, administrative and commercial matters in London, Claudia moved to Switzerland in 2018. There she obtained an LLM in International Business Law at the University of Fribourg, with a masters thesis in Block-Chain, Data Protection and Cyber-Security. Over the years, she has also gained expertise in crowdfunding advisory services and international contract law.

  In her spare time Claudia enjoys reading, cooking, listening to music and engaging in outdoor sports, although her greatest passions are traveling and voluntary work.

  Languages: Italian (Mother tongue), English and Spanish.

• Mr Pietro Pennisi Italian Avvocato
  Florence Associate Lawyer

  Pietro obtained his Italian Law Degree from the University of Camerino. After having trained at an Italian Law Firm specialised in debt recovery, he qualified as an Italian Lawyer in 2005 and worked in international law matters with a particular emphasis on real estate and commercial law.

  Pietro joined The International Law Partnership LLP in London in 2008, where he joined Laura Protti and her team in the Italian department. During this time, he had the opportunity to strengthen his knowledge and experience in property, commercial and inheritance matters involving the interconnection between the Italian and English legal systems. On his return to Florence, Pietro became a LEP LAW Associate assisting our clients with contentious and non-contentious civil matters on Italian property law, international private law, debt recovery, succession law and immigration, having assisted many clients to relocate to Italy.

  Pietro was a professional ATP tennis player in the 90s and, after having been a member of the Italian Tennis Federation board for several years, he currently advises the "Internazionali BNL d’Italia" in sessions with the governing bodies of ATP and WTA.

  Languages: Italian (Mother tongue) and English

• Mr Lorenzo Pennisi Italian Avvocato
  Florence Associate Lawyer

  Lorenzo obtained his Law Degree from the University of Florence in 2002. During his studies, he attended a year-long exchange program at the University of Madrid, San Pablo CEU, with a particular focus on European Community Law and comparative Constitutional Law. He qualified as an Italian Lawyer in 2006. After some years working as a freelancer, mainly as a defending Attorney in criminal matters, he joined an international law firm based in Florence, which was working in collaboration with UK international firms, assisting British and American individuals and companies with legal contentious and non-contentious matters in Italy. During this period, he gained extensive experience in property law and post-completion services, succession and inheritance law, debt recovery and immigration matters. He joined LEP Law in 2015.

  Lorenzo used to play tennis at national competition level and is still a member of the Italian national senior team, playing international competitions in Italy and abroad. He won the National Champions competition for over 35s twice.

  He enjoys being outdoors, especially in the Tuscan countryside with his family.

  Languages: Italian, English, Spanish