BRG Continues European Expansion with Senior Appointments in Italy

BRG has announced the appointments of Managing Director Giordano Colarullo in the firm’s Rome office and Director Cosimo Fischietti in Milan.  

Formerly director general at Utilitalia, the national federation of Italian utilities in the environment, water and energy sectors, Colarullo is one of the foremost infrastructure sectors experts in Italy and the broader European markets. His arrival augments BRG’s capabilities on matters pertaining to European competition and economic regulation, particularly in industries such as utilities, gas, electricity and waste management.  

Colarullo’s professional experience encompasses price-control reviews, regulatory design, competition and regulatory policy advice, private enforcement of competition law, due diligence of infrastructure assets, and financial and economic modelling. During his eight-year tenure at Utilitalia, Colarullo represented, directly and indirectly, large public-sector service providers and other businesses operating in the water, energy and environmental sectors across Italy. Previously, Colarullo held numerous roles as an economist and consultant and worked at Ofwat, the water and regulatory body of England and Wales.  

“We are delighted to welcome Giordano to BRG,” said Francesco Lo Passo, a managing director and head of BRG’s Italian offices. “Giordano’s extensive experience in the infrastructure sectors space will be invaluable as we continue to navigate the complexities of the concurrent transitions—energy, climatic, digital—in Italy and, more widely, in Europe and beyond.” 

Commenting on his arrival, Colarullo said: “I am thrilled to join BRG at such an exciting time. I have long admired BRG’s reputation for delivering exceptional insight and service to its clients. I look forward to collaborating with my esteemed colleagues across the firm and contributing my expertise to help build the Italian practice.”  

Further, BRG announced the appointment of Cosimo Fischietti as a director in the firm’s Milan office. Former director of Economic Affairs at Sky Italia, Fischietti brings over 15 years of experience in market regulation, antitrust, litigation and strategy in Italy’s technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) and infrastructure sectors. His experience includes pivotal roles in organisations where he oversaw regulated activities, antitrust and European affairs and advised large Italian firms and funds on issues relating to economic and financial plans, regulatory due diligence and market analysis.  

Commenting on his appointment, Fischietti said: “BRG is at the forefront of issues relating to global competition and economic regulation. I look forward to working with its internationally renowned team and contributing to its success during what promises to be a dynamic period for competition and private enforcement in the European markets.”  

BRG Vice Chairman Dr. David Sunding, who oversees strategic initiatives and practice development in the firm’s global economics, disputes and investigations practice, said: “Welcoming Giordano and Cosimo to BRG marks an exciting milestone as we continue to expand our European team in response to rapidly increasing client demand. Their unrivalled expertise will be instrumental to enhancing our capabilities in key sectors and fuelling our momentum in key Europe geographies.”  

The latest appointments in Italy follow a year of significant growth of BRG’s European business and expansion of the firm’s European competition offering, including the opening of offices in Rome and Milan, as well as appointments in the firm’s European competition practice across offices in Brussels, Paris and London. As of the end of 2024, BRG operates four offices in Continental Europe, with plans to grow its European footprint further.