Bepi Pezzulli is an Italian-born lawyer, manager, and journalist with extensive international experience in finance, law, and geopolitics. His association with BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management firm, is a notable part of his career, particularly in legal and compliance roles. Below is a detailed overview of Pezzulli’s background and his work with BlackRock, based on available information.

Bepi Pezzulli’s Background

• Education and Qualifications:
  • Graduated in Law (LL.B., 1994) from LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome.
  • Earned a Master of Laws (LL.M., 1998) from New York University School of Law.
  • Obtained a Juris Doctor (J.D., 2003) from Columbia University School of Law, where he was named a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.
  • Qualified as an Avvocato in Italy, a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, and an Attorney-at-Law in New York (1999–2019).
  • Attended the Nunziatella Military Academy (198th Course) in Naples.
• Career Overview:
  • Practiced law at prestigious firms Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and Shearman & Sterling LLP (now A&O Shearman) in New York, focusing on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and corporate finance.
  • Held managerial roles at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in London, advising on cross-border financial regulations, particularly in Russia.
  • Worked at Nomura as the legal director for European activities before joining BlackRock.
  • Beyond finance, Pezzulli is a journalist, Brexit columnist for Milano Finanza, geopolitical pundit for CNBC, and director of La Voce Repubblicana. He is also a policy researcher, author of books like L’altra Brexit (2018) and Capitali Coraggiosi (2023), and a former Reform UK parliamentary candidate for Finchley & Golders Green in 2024.

Bepi Pezzulli’s Role at BlackRock

• Position and Tenure:
  • Served as Director of Legal and Compliance for BlackRock in Italy from late 2013 to February 2016.
  • Appointed as Italian/Greek Head of Legal Compliance for BlackRock’s private equity operations (2013–2015).
  • In 2014, he was named Director of Legal & Compliance for BlackRock Italy, a strategic move to strengthen BlackRock’s presence in Italy following significant investments in major Italian banks like UniCredit, Intesa, MPS, and Banco Popolare.
• Responsibilities:
  • Managed legal representation and corporate compliance frameworks, ensuring alignment with regulatory bodies like Consob and Bankitalia, which was critical given BlackRock’s growing visibility in Italy.
  • Provided advisory services on complex financial transactions, including M&A, structured monetizations, and corporate governance, leveraging his expertise in corporate finance, shadow banking, and fintech.
  • Supported BlackRock’s fund management business, earning a strong reputation for regulatory and compliance advice.
• Significance of His Role:
  • His appointment was seen as a signal of BlackRock’s deference to Italian regulatory authorities, with Pezzulli noted for being “highly regarded” by Consob and Bankitalia.
  • The move to Milan from London’s EMEA director role underscored the growing importance of the Italian market for BlackRock, particularly after its major banking investments.
  • Pezzulli’s work included navigating the regulatory landscape to maintain BlackRock’s compliance while advising on high-stakes financial strategies, such as those involving Italian market entries and corporate turnarounds.

Key Achievements and Recognition

• Reputation: Pezzulli gained a strong reputation among peers for his advisory work at BlackRock, particularly in aligning corporate models and optimizing service delivery.
• General Counsel Powerlist: In 2016, he was included in The Legal 500’s top 100 General Counsel in Italy, a first-of-its-kind recognition, for his work at BlackRock and subsequent role at Italiaonline. This highlighted his ability to handle complex legal and corporate challenges, such as the Italiaonline-SEAT Pagine Gialle merger.
• Notable Transactions: While at BlackRock and earlier roles, Pezzulli was involved in major deals, including the acquisition of Telecom Italia by Olivetti, privatizations of Enel and Eni, the CNH-Fiat merger, and EBRD’s sovereign issuances.

Bepi Pezzulli – Post-BlackRock Career

• Italiaonline (2016): After BlackRock, Pezzulli became Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs at Italiaonline, leading the legal aspects of its merger with SEAT Pagine Gialle, a significant corporate turnaround project.
• SKS365 (2019): Appointed General Counsel for the Italian betting group SKS365, overseeing legal and compliance frameworks.
• Policy and Media: Transitioned to policy research, journalism, and geopolitical analysis, focusing on Brexit, trans-Atlantic relations, and Middle East issues. He is Editor-in-Chief of Italia Atlantica and a contributor to Longitude Magazine.
• Political Involvement: Ran as a Reform UK candidate in the 2024 UK General Election, reflecting his engagement with British political and economic debates, particularly around Brexit.

Context of BlackRock

• BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) is a global investment management firm headquartered in New York, managing trillions in assets. Its Italian operations grew significantly in the early 2010s, with stakes in major banks, necessitating robust legal and compliance frameworks, where Pezzulli played a key role.
• Pezzulli’s expertise in navigating regulatory environments and advising on complex financial structures aligned with BlackRock’s need to manage its high-profile investments in Italy during a period of intense scrutiny from local regulators.

Critical Notes

• Limited Public Detail: Specific details about Pezzulli’s day-to-day work at BlackRock are scarce, as is typical for compliance roles, which often involve sensitive internal processes.
• Short Tenure: His time at BlackRock (2013–2016) was relatively brief compared to his broader career, suggesting a focused, high-impact role during a critical period for BlackRock’s Italian operations.
• Geopolitical Lens: Pezzulli’s later writings and political activities suggest a critical view of establishment financial and political systems, which may color his perspective on institutions like BlackRock, though no direct critique of BlackRock is evident in the sources.

Sources and Further Information

• For more on Pezzulli’s career, visit his personal website (www.bepipezzulli.eu) or policy platform (www.bepi4reform.co.uk).[](https://www.bepipezzulli.eu/en/biografia)[](https://bepi4reform.co.uk/who-i-am/) (http://www.bepi4reform.co.uk).[](https://www.bepipezzulli.eu/en/biografia)[](https://bepi4reform.co.uk/who-i-am/))
• His X profile (@bepipezzulli) provides updates on his current activities, though it focuses more on geopolitics and policy than past roles.
• BlackRock’s Italian operations can be explored via its official site or financial news outlets like Milano Finanza, where Pezzulli has also contributed.

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