Christian Moretti

Vice Chair, International Practice

Christian has extensive experience advising domestic, multinational companies and private equity firms in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and cross-border corporate and commercial transactions.

Prior to joining the firm, Christian practiced for many years at AmLaw 50 law firms and also served as general counsel to a multinational company. Throughout his career, Christian has helped structure, negotiate, and complete more than $25 billion worth of M&A and other transactions, both domestic and cross-border. In 2018 and 2019, he was recognized by The Legal 500 as one of the leading practitioners in New York for cross-border M&A in the middle market.

Since 2001, Christian has served as a primary outside legal counsel in the United States for several Italian and other foreign businesses and government agencies. Christian directly handles day-to-day transactional and commercial matters, such as leases, licenses, technology, joint venture, joint development, collaboration, distribution and supply agreements, and general corporate advisory matters. Christian also developed a unique niche in middle market practice depth to successfully and cost-efficiently manage for his clients a variety of regulatory and litigation matters. Most recently, Christian successfully managed several complex commercial litigations including: an international arbitration; multiple employment-related lawsuits and disputes; bankruptcy-related advice and proceedings; OFAC, FATCA, FCPA, Proposition 65, and other compliance matters; and privacy, social media, e-commerce, leasing and retail, and intellectual property matters.

Christian often speaks at and participates in industry conferences and seminars and represents clients in a wide range of industries, including banking and finance, real estate and hospitality, food and beverage, fashion, life sciences, medical devices and health care, new media and technology, manufacturing, automotive, energy, and education.

Christian earned his law degree from University of Padua School of Law and his LL.M. from Columbia University School of Law. Christian is a permanent member of the board of advisors of the Columbia Law School Alumni Association, having served as its president, first-vice president, and director for several years. Christian also serves as chair of the Government Procurement Subcommittee of the International Commerce and Distribution Committee of the International Bar Association. He is fluent in Italian.

Experience

News

Cozen O'Connor Awarded TopLegal's Italian Desk of the Year 2022

November 29, 2022

TopLegal Awards, which recognizes Italian legal excellence, has awarded Cozen O'Connor its Italian Desk of the Year award for 2022.

Cozen O’Connor Represents Leger in Purchase of 360 Market Reach, Its First U.S. Acquisition

November 22, 2022

Cozen O’Connor represented Leger, the largest Canadian-owned market research and analytics company, in its acquisition of 360 Market Reach, an American market research company based in New York City.

Investindustrial’s Agreement to Purchase Majority Stake of Eataly S.p.A

October 17, 2022

Cozen O’Connor served as U.S. and Canadian counsel in Investindustrial’s acquisition of a majority stake in Eataly S.p.A., the global chain of upscale Italian marketplaces. A team led by M&A attorney and Italy Practice chair Christian Moretti conducted significant due diligence of more than 20 Eataly businesses in the United States and Canada, in collaboration with Deloitte Legal Italy and Studio Legale Chiomenti. For nearly two decades, Eataly has been operating high-quality Italian food markets and restaurant concepts in prestigious locations across the globe, including flagship stores in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Dallas, and Silicon Valley.

Private Equity Threads Merger Enforcement Needle

July 14, 2022

Christian Moretti is quoted in an article in The Deal that discusses the complicated relationship between the private equity (PE) field and the U.S. government as the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice investigate PE deals. The article also analyzes the politics behind PE and how the criticism of PE firms continues to heighten.

Cozen O’Connor Serves as U.S. Counsel to the Owners of HEYDUDE® in Definitive Agreement on Its Sale to Crocs, Inc.

December 24, 2021

Cozen O’Connor acted as lead U.S. counsel to the owners of HEYDUDE®, a privately-owned casual footwear brand, in their definitive agreement to sell the companies comprising the HEYDUDE business to Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) for $2.5 billion. The consideration for the $2.5 billion acquisition will be $2.05 billion in cash and $450 million in Crocs shares.

Italy Practice Featured by Italian Press for Critical Role in Assisting Leading Companies Achieve Expansion during COVID-19 Challenges

April 26, 2021

Christian Moretti and Cozen O’Connor’s Italy Practice were featured in Top Legal magazine in an article discussing legal developments and market trends as well as opportunities for Italian companies in the United States and China.

Cozen O’Connor Continues to Ramp up its Corporate Practice, Adding Leading Cross-Border Corporate Attorney Christian Moretti to its New York Office

June 02, 2020

Moretti is the 12th Attorney to Join the Corporate Practice Group in the Last Two Months

Education

  • University of Padua School of Law, J.D., 1997
  • Columbia University School of Law, LL.M., 2001

Awards & Honors

Legal 500, Recommended for Mergers & Acquisitions (Middle Market), 2018-2019

Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2013

  • New York
  • Italy

Columbia Law School Association, Inc. — Permanent Advisor (current); President (2010-2012), Vice President (2006-2010); Director (2004-2006)

American Bar Association, M&A Section

Association of the Bar of the City of New York (2004-2007, Member, Committee on International Trade)

International Bar Association, Chair of the Government Procurement Subcommittee of the International Commerce and Distribution Committee

La Fondazione NY, Friends of the Italian Cultural Institute of New York Inc., Founding Member, Director, and Secretary

Venetian Community of New York Inc., Director and Secretary 

Friends of Telethon Foundation, Inc., Director and Secretary