Legal Financial and Market Expertise in Complex Transactions
Our team brings together professionals with backgrounds in law and finance, combining legal and financial structuring expertise
OUR TEAM
Leadership and Analytical Structure
The EXEP platform is guided by its Founders and supported by a dedicated analytical team operating under defined institutional standards.
Founders
Pierluigi Matera
CO-FOUNDER
Pierluigi Matera is Co-Founder and Board Member of Exep. He is a tenured professor and an attorney admitted to practice before the Italian Supreme Court, with a strong track record advising companies, founders, and institutional investors on complex, high-impact transactions. In 2010, he co-founded Libra Legal Partners, where he serves as Co-Managing Partner.

His practice is focused on M&A, restructurings, and special situations, as well as litigation and arbitration connected to transformative transactions. He regularly advises leading investment funds and serves on corporate boards, working alongside management teams and entrepreneurs on the structuring and execution of sophisticated deals. His experience spans corporate governance, deal strategy, and cross-border transactions.

In parallel with his practice, he is active in academia at an international level. He teaches Corporations and M&A at Boston University School of Law, Corporate Law at LCU in Rome, and Law and Economics – Business and Corporate Law at LUISS Guido Carli.

His research focuses on corporate governance, U.S. corporate law, and the impact of emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence—on companies and financial markets. He has published widely and contributes regularly to leading platforms such as the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, the Columbia Blue Sky Blog, and the Oxford Business Law Blog.

He has also held a range of institutional and governance roles, giving him deep insight into regulatory environments and decision-making processes in complex and highly regulated sectors.
Ferruccio M. Sbarbaro
CO-FOUNDER
Ferruccio Maria Sbarbaro is Co-Founder and Board Member of Exep. He is a tenured professor and an attorney admitted to practice before the Italian Supreme Court, with extensive experience advising companies, financial institutions, and investors on complex transactions and special situations. In 2010, he co-founded Libra Legal Partners, where he serves as Co-Managing Partner.

His practice focuses on M&A, restructurings, distressed assets, and litigation and arbitration arising out of high-stakes transactions. He regularly advises investment funds, banks, and financial institutions, working alongside management teams and entrepreneurs on the structuring and execution of complex deals. He has significant experience in credit, turnaround situations, and special situations, as well as in real estate investments and corporate governance.

In parallel with his professional activity, he maintains an active academic profile. He is Director of CERSIG – the Research Center on Legal Sciences at LCU, where he previously served as Director of the MBA program, and has been a visiting fellow at leading European and U.S. academic institutions.

His academic work focuses on corporate and commercial law, with a strong publication record that includes monographs, book chapters, and articles in leading Italian and U.S. journals.

Over the course of his career, he has also held a number of institutional and governance roles, including appointments as Liquidation Commissioner of ENIT – the National Tourism Agency, by the Ministry of Tourism, and as Liquidation Commissioner for several companies by the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy. He currently serves as Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the Merloni Group under extraordinary administration, where he has developed deep expertise in restructuring processes and regulated environments.
Associates
Lorenzo M. Napoli
ASSOCIATE
Lorenzo M. Napoli serves as Associate within the firm. He is a qualified attorney and PhD candidate in comparative legal systems, and advises private and institutional clients on corporate and commercial law, governance and financing matters, as well as M&A transactions, PE investments, restructuring processes and sports law matters, including transactions and advisory in the sports sector.

He has developed solid experience within leading law firms, assisting clients in complex domestic and cross-border transactions, including investment operations and special situations. He is actively involved in academic activities in various institutions. He combines strong academic background with practical experience in corporate advisory, with a focus on investment transactions, sports-related deals and corporate structuring.
Ilaria Grimaldi
ASSOCIATE
Ilaria Grimaldi serves as Associate within the firm. She is a qualified attorney with a PhD in Private Law. She advises private and institutional clients on corporate and commercial law, civil law and restructuring matters, including M&A transactions, investment operations and corporate crisis situations.

She has developed her experience across both criminal and corporate practice, with a current focus on corporate advisory and transactional work. She is the author of publications in corporate and investment law, including contributions on foreign investment regimes and emerging corporate structures. She combines strong academic background with practical experience in corporate governance, investment transactions and complex legal frameworks.
Angelo M. Naborre
ASSOCIATE
Angelo M. Naborre serves as Associate within the firm. He graduated with honors in Law from Luiss Guido Carli and holds a master’s degree in Administration, Finance and Control. He advises private and institutional clients on corporate and commercial law matters, with a focus on governance, financing and transactional work.

He has gained experience in corporate, financial and insurance law within specialized law firms and has developed a strong academic background in corporate law. He combines solid analytical skills with a growing focus on corporate advisory and investment-related matters.
Federico Fioriti
ASSOCIATE
Federico Fioriti serves as Associate within the firm. He graduated with top honors in Finance & Private Equity from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has gained experience in investment banking at Deutsche Bank in London and Lazard in Milan, working on complex M&A transactions, including the sale of Ramudden Global by Triton for approximately €2.5 billion.

He has developed strong experience in deal execution and financial analysis, with a focus on M&A and PE transactions. He combines rigorous financial training with hands-on exposure to high-profile cross-border deals.
Analysts
Chiara De Monaco
ANALYST
Chiara serves as an Analyst of the firm. She is currently completing her Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business at LUISS Guido Carli and will begin a Master’s degree in Finance at Warwick Business School, further strengthening her technical skills in financial analysis, valuation, and capital markets.

She has participated in international academic and institutional programs, gaining exposure to global business environments and developing a strong interest in investment strategies and market dynamics. Her work involves supporting analytical and research-driven projects, contributing to the evaluation of companies and sectors.

Her profile combines a solid academic foundation with a growing focus on finance and corporate analysis, with a particular interest in investment decision-making and strategic evaluation of businesses.
Tommaso Niscola
ANALYST
Tommaso serves as an Analyst of the firm. He is currently completing his Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business at LUISS Guido Carli and will begin a Master’s degree in Management at Warwick Business School, further strengthening his expertise in business analysis, strategy, and corporate performance.

He has gained practical experience in Customer Value Management at Enel, where he developed strong skills in economic data analysis and performance assessment, contributing to a deeper understanding of value creation and operational efficiency.

He brings together academic training and real-world experience, with a strong interest in understanding business performance, analyzing data, and supporting strategic initiatives.
Francesca Giovannelli
ANALYST
Francesca Giovannelli serves as an Analyst of the firm. She graduated with honors in Economics and Business from LUISS Guido Carli and is currently pursuing a Master in Management at HEC Paris, further strengthening her expertise in corporate strategy, financial analysis, and international business.

She gained early professional experience as an intern at a leading accounting firm in Rome, where she developed practical skills in financial accounting, commercial advisory, and business operations. In parallel, her involvement in a university student association contributed to the development of strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

Her profile combines academic excellence with hands-on exposure to corporate and financial environments, with a strong interest in management, business development, and global market dynamics.
Matteo De Santis
ANALYST
Matteo De Santis serves as an Analyst of the firm. He is currently pursuing an MSc in Finance at Imperial College Business School in London, building advanced expertise in asset valuation, portfolio management, and financial modeling. He graduated with honors in Economics and Business from LUISS Guido Carli.

He has gained practical experience through roles in Finance & Performance at Deloitte, where he developed analytical and advisory skills, and in Portfolio Management at Banca Patrimoni Sella & Co., supporting investment strategies and asset allocation decisions.

His profile combines quantitative training with exposure to institutional investing, with a strong interest in financial innovation, market dynamics, and the evolving landscape of investment management.