“Clients are particularly enamoured with his pragmatism and client care skills: ‘He gives us exactly the level of detail we require and is always ready to answer questions at any time, giving us very flexible support which we could not do without’. Sources also say that ‘he’s very commercial and very knowledgeable. He’s a pleasure to deal with’.” (Chambers Europe 2015 – TMT Media)

“Ernesto Apa is widely considered an authority in media regulatory law, and is appreciated for his good connections with the authorities. ‘He is a genius […]’, notes one enthusiastic client.” (Chambers Europe 2014 – TMT Media)

Ernesto is ranked by Legal500 as leading individual in TMT and by Chambers Europe in Band 1 (Ernesto was first ranked by Chambers for his media expertise in 2008, at age 30, and has been continuously ranked since). He is also recommended by Who’s Who Legal, Top Legal and Guide to the World’s Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Lawyers.

Ernesto joined Portolano Cavallo in 2003 and became a partner in 2010. He advises domestic and international clients on regulatory and contractual aspects within the digital/media/advertising sector, such as advertising and unfair commercial practices, copyright, exploitation of digital content, TV, internet, user generated content, ISP liability, electronic communications, etc.  Lastly, he has extensive experience on the regulatory aspects of M&A transactions in the media/technology sector, having worked as regulatory counsel on many such deals over the years.

Ernesto is the author of a treatise on advertising, of the entry “Television” for legal encyclopedia “Diritto OnLine” edited by Treccani (the Italian equivalent of the Encyclopædia Britannica), as well as many articles on media and constitutional law on the most prestigious Italian law reviews (Giurisprudenza Costituzionale, Quaderni Costituzionali, Foro Italiano, etc.).  With Oreste Pollicino, he edited the first “Codice della comunicazione digitale” (Code of digital communications – Internet, TV, Advertising, Privacy, now in its second edition; Egea, 2015), and authored (in English) “Modeling the liability of internet service providers. Google vs. Vivi down. A constitutional perspective” (Egea, 2013). He is also the co-author of “La regolamentazione dei contenuti digitali” (The regulation of digital content, Aracne, 1998-2013), a volume celebrating the first fifteen years of the Italian Communications Authority (AGCOM), which includes chapters authored by the incumbent President and all past Presidents of the Authority as well as several top-level officers of the same.

Ernesto is Adjunct Professor of Digital Media and Regulation in the LL.M. in Law of Internet Technology at the Bocconi University and has been Adjunct Professor of International Law at the University of Calabria. He also teaches in the Master in Information Technology Law of the La Sapienza University in Rome.

He is a member of the International Bar Association (IBA) and of the think tank ASTRID (Fondazione per l’Analisi, gli Studi e le Ricerche sulla Riforma delle Istituzioni Democratiche) and I-Com. Furthermore, he is a member of the Film Review Commission of the Ministry of Culture.

In 2009 Ernesto obtained a Ph.D. in Public Business Law from the La Sapienza University in Rome; he graduated summa cum laude from the law school of the same university in 2002.

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From the Blog

Copyright: Italy Amends the Legislative Framework for Collective Rights Management

February 07, 2024 | Ernesto Apa

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February 01, 2023 | Ernesto Apa

The Administrative Court of Lazio Annuls the Sanctions Inflicted Against Amazon and Apple by the Italian Competition Authority

December 06, 2022 | Ernesto Apa

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News

From Italy: Italian State Department apparently considers a new approach for prize contests with user generated content, by: Felix Hofer, Hofer Losch Torricelli

January 22, 2015

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From Italy: Italian Regulator and SRO agree to dedicate special attention to commercial communication targeting minors, by: Felix Hofer, Hofer Losch Torricelli

January 21, 2015

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From Italy: Felix Hofer to speak at AIPPI Seminar on Ambush Marketing on January 12, 2015 in Milan

January 19, 2015

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