Francesca Rolla is a dispute resolution partner at Hogan Lovells and leads the Italian Product Liability Practice Group.
She has over 20 years of experience as a litigator, focussing on product liability litigation and torts (including bribery and white collar cases), general commercial litigation (including unfair competition) and contentious insolvency. She is the Italian representative of Hogan Lovells Class Action Unit, a focused group of dispute resolution lawyers from Hogan Lovells international network of offices with particular experience advising on class action cases.
Besides handling proceedings in courts and tribunals at all levels, she advises clients on strategies to reduce their potential exposure to litigation and in assessing pre-litigation remedies, as well as on non-contentious issues such as product safety and product recalls. In her product liability practice, Francesca has extensive and diverse experience in the defence of claims against companies in the life sciences, automotive, aerospace, chemical, electric and electronic, consumers goods and tobacco fields.
She also has extensive experience in general commercial litigation and has advised and advises clients in disputes relevant to commercial contracts, unfair trade practices and unfair competition. Francesca also represents clients in connection with insolvency proceedings and related procedures. She has rights of audience before the Higher Courts and has pleaded before the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court. Francesca is a member of the International Association of Defence Counsel ("IADC") and of the International Bar Association (IBA) and she is author of several publications and frequently speaks at seminars. She is listed as recommended lawyer in all major legal directories.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
• Product liability litigation and advice for various major and European manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, including providing advice in connection with criminal investigations and criminal proceedings
• Defending a leading pharmaceutical multinational company in a complex dispute relevant to a pending clinical trial and to interlocutory remedies sought by the claimant to obtain late enrolment in the trial.
• Continuous assistance to a leading tobacco manufacturer in the defense before Ordinary Courts, Appeals Courts and the Supreme Court against a large number of claims filed against the company in Italy for damages allegedly caused by active smoking, as well as in coordinating the defense in over 2,000 cases brought against the company for damages allegedly deriving from the use of Light descriptors
• Assistance to a leading tobacco manufacturer in the first class action brought against it in Italy (under the class action law enacted in 2010) for alleged manipulation of tobacco to increase nicotine addiction, failure to warn and damage to health
• Assisting a leading global designer and manufacturer of safety components and systems in defending against claims for damages allegedly due to defects in air-bag systems and safety belts
• Assisting a leading manufacturer of mobile phones in several disputes with distributors and former distributors over alleged breach of contract, abuse of dominant position and unfair practices
• Assisting various clients in diversified sectors (fashion; automotive; chemical; medical devices; electric and electronic appliances) in contractual disputes relevant to distribution, supply and agency agreements
• Advising a world leader company in transport and energy infrastructure in respect of bribery and corruption carried out by employees of the company seconded abroad
HOGAN LOVELLS PUBLICATIONS
DECEMBER 2012"International Product Liability Review – Issue 49." Product Liability Alert, Hogan Lovells
FEBRUARY 2013"Newsflash: Long live the Evolution! European Commission unveils proposals to reform product safety regime.", Hogan Lovells
17 JANUARY 2013"Italy's new anti-corruption law." Investigations, White Collar and Fraud Alert, Hogan Lovells
JUNE 2012"International Product Liability Review – Issue 47." Product Liability Alert, Hogan Lovells
MARCH 2012"International Product Liability Review – Issue 46." Product Liability Alert, Hogan Lovells
FEBRUARY 2012"The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Litigation & Dispute Resolution 2012.", Global Legal Group Ltd.
DECEMBER 2011"International Product Liability Review- Issue 45." Product Liability Alert, Hogan Lovells
SEPTEMBER 2011"International Product Liability Review – Issue 44." Product Liability Alert, Hogan Lovells
OCTOBER 2011"Class Actions Bulletin – October 2011." Class Actions Bulletin, Hogan Lovells
JUNE 2011"International Product Liability Review – Issue 43." Product Liability Alert, Hogan Lovells
17 MARCH 2011"International Product Liability Review – Issue 42." Product Liability Alert, Hogan Lovells
FEBRUARY 2011"Class Actions Bulletin – February 2011." Class Actions Bulletin, Hogan Lovells
SEPTEMBER 2010"European Product Liability Review – Issue 40." Product Liability Alert, Hogan Lovells
JULY 2010"Class Actions Bulletin – July 2010." Class Actions Bulletin, Hogan Lovells
JUNE 2009"European Product Liability Review – Issue 35." Product Liability Alert, Lovells
PUBLISHED WORKS
JANUARY 2010"Product Liability and the Emergence of Collective Redress in Europe.", Journal des Sociétés, Jan, 2010, Dossier: La Résponsabilité du fait des produits
APRIL 2009"Italian Case Law on Smoking and Health Damage.", Il Merito
2008"Italy Overview: The Impact of the European Product Liability Directive on Claims for Defective Products in Italy.", Product Liability Expert Guide, 2008
