Norton Rose Fulbright strengthens Italian finance offering with Marina Balzano and team

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has strengthened its Italian banking and finance offering with the appointment of leveraged finance partner Marina Balzano in Milan, who joins on 16 October alongside four members of her team.

Marina has nearly two decades of experience advising banks, private debt funds and other financial institutions on leveraged finance, acquisition finance, corporate lending and private credit transactions. She joins from Orrick, where she led the Italian leveraged finance practice, and has built a strong reputation for advising on complex domestic and cross-border financings.

The team moving with Marina includes Giulio Asquini, Filippo Nola, Claudia Loriggio and Elisa Zaccaria.

Marina's arrival reflects Norton Rose Fulbright's continued investment in its global banking and finance platform and its commitment to the evolving private capital and private credit markets.

Her practice is focused primarily on lender-side mandates, advising leading Italian banking institutions as well as domestic and international private debt funds. She has developed a strong private capital-focused practice and has extensive experience supporting clients on sophisticated financing structures involving international lenders, sponsors and Italian assets.

Working as part of an integrated team across Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, Marina and her colleagues will support clients on domestic and cross-border financings, drawing on the firm's deep experience across leveraged finance, acquisition finance, infrastructure finance, fund finance and private credit.

Attilio Pavone, Head of Italy at Norton Rose Fulbright, said:

"Marina is one of the leading leveraged finance lawyers in the Italian market and her arrival represents an important step in the continued growth of our banking and finance practice in Italy and across Europe.

"As capital markets continue to diversify and alternative lenders play an increasingly significant role in financing transactions, we are focused on building a seamless regional offering that connects clients, capital and opportunities across the EMEAPAC region. The addition of Marina and her team is an important step in that strategy and further bolsters our capability to support clients wherever they operate."

Arturo Sferruzza, Head of the Italian Banking practice at Norton Rose Fulbright, commented:

"Private credit continues to reshape the global financing landscape and Italy remains a market with significant growth potential. Marina brings a wealth of experience, commercial perspective and market insight that will further enhance our offering and deliver real value for clients."

Marina Balzano said:

"I am excited to be joining Norton Rose Fulbright at a time when private capital is playing an increasingly important role in financing transactions across Europe. The firm's global reputation in banking, finance and private capital, combined with its strength in key financial centres, provides an outstanding platform for the next stage of my practice.

"I look forward to working closely with colleagues across the international network to help clients navigate complex financing transactions and to further develop a market-leading leveraged finance and private credit offering in Italy."

Marina's appointment continues Norton Rose Fulbright's investment in its European banking and finance platform, following the appointments during 2026 of partners Samir Bensaker (Paris and London), Kathrin Marchant (Frankfurt), Fredrik Lindblom (London), Diane Le Chevallier (Paris), Victoria Morton (London) and Mike Niekoop (Amsterdam).

Norton Rose Fulbright's global acquisition finance and corporate lending team advises banks, debt providers, financial advisers, private equity sponsors and corporate borrowers on all aspects of acquisition finance, including sponsor-led leveraged buyouts, corporate acquisitions, bid financings, investment grade financings, restructurings and other complex financing transactions. The team combines strong market knowledge, commercial insight and extensive experience across the full lifecycle of large-cap and mid-market deals.