Duccio Mortillaro

Partner

Los Angeles, CA Tel: 213.213.1210 Fax: 310.556.9828

Miami, FL Tel: 786.501.7365 Fax: 305.442.6541

Biography

A highly experienced transactional attorney, Duccio focuses his multijurisdictional practice on cross-border matters.

Chair of the firm's Italy Practice, he represents multinational corporations and foreign business entities — primarily from Italy and other European countries — in their United States investments, as well as U.S. companies doing business in Europe and Latin America. Duccio also acts as outside general counsel for foreign companies doing business in the U.S., assisting in all areas of the law. He is well-versed in conceiving practical, business-oriented solutions for legal issues in a variety of matters, including:

Green field investing in the United States
Mergers and acquisitions
Joint ventures
Licensing
Manufacturing, agency distribution and sales agreements (including motion picture and merchandising)
Complex executive and consulting agreements
Representation of startups in various stages of capital financing and equity investment

Duccio is also experienced in project finance and has represented developers in all phases of domestic and international energy and telecommunication projects.

His clients, many of which operate in the manufacturing, high-tech and consumer goods sectors, range in size and scope from small, privately owned businesses to large multinational corporations. He also advises nonprofits.

Duccio has represented clients in a variety of industries, including automotive, medical devices, fashion, electronics, packaging and other industrial machinery, pharma, construction and design.

A highly experienced transactional attorney, Duccio focuses his multijurisdictional practice on cross-border matters.

Chair of the firm's Italy Practice, he represents multinational corporations and foreign business entities — primarily from Italy and other European countries — in their United States investments, as well as U.S. companies doing business in Europe and Latin America. Duccio also acts as outside general counsel for foreign companies doing business in the U.S., assisting in all areas of the law. He is well-versed in conceiving practical, business-oriented solutions for legal issues in a variety of matters, including:

Green field investing in the United States
Mergers and acquisitions
Joint ventures
Licensing
Manufacturing, agency distribution and sales agreements (including motion picture and merchandising)
Complex executive and consulting agreements
Representation of startups in various stages of capital financing and equity investment

Duccio is also experienced in project finance and has represented developers in all phases of domestic and international energy and telecommunication projects.

His clients, many of which operate in the manufacturing, high-tech and consumer goods sectors, range in size and scope from small, privately owned businesses to large multinational corporations. He also advises nonprofits.

Duccio has represented clients in a variety of industries, including automotive, medical devices, fashion, electronics, packaging and other industrial machinery, pharma, construction and design.

Before Fox Rothschild

Duccio joined us from a national law firm. He has extensive experience at national and global law firms.

Beyond Fox Rothschild

Duccio speaks frequently on his legal knowledge and has written extensively on subject matters related to cross-border transactions and investments, corporate and commercial law, joint ventures and international law. In addition to being fluent in Italian and Spanish, Duccio reads French and Portuguese.

Representative Matters

Represented a world leader in the home security industry in the acquisition of a majority interest in a mature startup manufacturing patented home security devices and systems located in Silicon Valley.
Represented an avionics manufacturer in the investment of a minority interest in a mature avionics startup, together with a joint venture for the assembly and sale of avionics components in the European market and U.S. markets.
Represented an Italian defense contractor in the acquisition of a U.S. manufacturer of military and civilian aircraft parts following the minority acquisition of client by a Luxembourg private equity fund.
Represented a global motorcycle manufacturer in the entry into the U.S. market after a 20-year absence, including negotiating dealer agreements nationwide; marketing and product launch; relationships with local suppliers and labor matters.
Represented an Italian premium motorcycle manufacturer to manage a successful settlement of an alleged class action connected to claims of defective vehicle components, following NHTSA complaints.
Represented an Italian motor vehicles manufacturer to manage a successful dismissal of a false advertising class action claim connected to marketing representations of client’s products on social media platforms.
Represented a global fashion house in the scouting for targets, acquisition, development and management of three iconic properties located in New York and London, together with the branding of one of the London properties.
Represented a U.S. investor in the acquisition of development rights and the development of multiple refuse-derived fueled power plants in Italy.
Represented a global chemical plant engineering contractor in the investment in a mature startup with propylene manufacturing technology and in the successive test plant development and construction under a joint venture agreement.
Represented a research university located in Italy in the management of a multijurisdictional patent infringement action brought by a big-three automobile manufacturer against that university and one of the top European military contractors. The action was settled on the eve of trial in favor of the client and all legal fees were paid by the other parties to the settlement.
Represented a researcher and inventor from a major European research university hospital in the management of a breach of contract and fraud action against a California startup that had converted the client’s inventions and trade secrets in the medical devices field. After three years of litigation, the client eventually forced the Chapter 11 of the defendant and was able to negotiate a new licensing agreement with a considerable premium for the client connected to the sales of his devices worldwide and an equity interest in the reorganized entity.

Represented a world leader in the home security industry in the acquisition of a majority interest in a mature startup manufacturing patented home security devices and systems located in Silicon Valley.
Represented an avionics manufacturer in the investment of a minority interest in a mature avionics startup, together with a joint venture for the assembly and sale of avionics components in the European market and U.S. markets.
Represented an Italian defense contractor in the acquisition of a U.S. manufacturer of military and civilian aircraft parts following the minority acquisition of client by a Luxembourg private equity fund.
Represented a global motorcycle manufacturer in the entry into the U.S. market after a 20-year absence, including negotiating dealer agreements nationwide; marketing and product launch; relationships with local suppliers and labor matters.
Represented an Italian premium motorcycle manufacturer to manage a successful settlement of an alleged class action connected to claims of defective vehicle components, following NHTSA complaints.
Represented an Italian motor vehicles manufacturer to manage a successful dismissal of a false advertising class action claim connected to marketing representations of client’s products on social media platforms.
Represented a global fashion house in the scouting for targets, acquisition, development and management of three iconic properties located in New York and London, together with the branding of one of the London properties.
Represented a U.S. investor in the acquisition of development rights and the development of multiple refuse-derived fueled power plants in Italy.
Represented a global chemical plant engineering contractor in the investment in a mature startup with propylene manufacturing technology and in the successive test plant development and construction under a joint venture agreement.
Represented a research university located in Italy in the management of a multijurisdictional patent infringement action brought by a big-three automobile manufacturer against that university and one of the top European military contractors. The action was settled on the eve of trial in favor of the client and all legal fees were paid by the other parties to the settlement.
Represented a researcher and inventor from a major European research university hospital in the management of a breach of contract and fraud action against a California startup that had converted the client’s inventions and trade secrets in the medical devices field. After three years of litigation, the client eventually forced the Chapter 11 of the defendant and was able to negotiate a new licensing agreement with a considerable premium for the client connected to the sales of his devices worldwide and an equity interest in the reorganized entity.