ELISABETTA RIGHINI advises leading multinationals, including large technology companies, on European law with a focus on regulation and litigation in the rapidly evolving EU landscape.
Elisabetta draws on more than 25 years of experience, including 15 years in high-level positions at the European Commission, and her creative approach helps clients navigate complex regulatory frameworks in Europe.
Being particularly focussed on technology she regularly advises digital platforms and media services on developments in the EU Digital Single Market — including in connection with the Digital Markets Act, Digital Services Act, and AI Act — and represents technology clients before EU institutions and courts in relation to compliance or investigations.
Elisabetta also guides companies, industry associations, and public authorities on State aid and FSR compliance, including in filings, complaints and investigations at the European Commission, and litigation before the European courts.
While at the European Commission, Elisabetta worked as a member of its Legal Service and then as a legal advisor to former Competition Commissioner and Vice President Joaquín Almunia. She leverages her longstanding legal practice and in-depth understanding of the European Commission’s policy and enforcement when helping clients craft their legal strategy in Europe. Over the years, she has become a trusted and strategic advisor to many of her clients on their most critical issues, including European regulatory compliance.
Elisabetta also has extensive experience as a litigator, having appeared before the European Court of Justice in over 100 cases relating to a variety of EU issues, such as State aid, external relations, anti-dumping, network industries, and fiscal matters. She has also appeared before the World Trade Organization in over 20 cases relating to sanitary and phytosanitary measures, genetically modified organisms, subsidies, tariffs and non-tariffs, barriers, and telecoms.
She is a member of the advisory board of the Centre of European Law of Kings College’s Dickson Poon School of Law in London.
Elisabetta has received acknowledgement from numerous industry ranking guides, including:
- Chambers Global 2024 – Ranked for Competition/European Law: State Aid (Belgium). Sources state, “I have found her ability to be two steps ahead and understand the approach needed to succeed to be very compelling and impressive,” and say that she is “very creative in developing a legal strategy.”
- Chambers Europe 2023 – Ranked for Competition/European Law: State Aid (Belgium), where clients comment “she is really good for state aid law.”
- Chambers Global 2022 – Ranked for Competition/European Law: State Aid (Belgium). Sources state she has “the knowledge, experience and application required [to handle difficult State aid matters].”
- Who’s Who Legal 2024 – Ranked as Thought Leader for Competition: State Aid.