Barbara La Tella: Shaping The Future Of Italian Ip Law With Competence & Passion

In a world where ideas, creativity, and dynamic forces significantly transform the global legal landscape, women lawyers are at the forefront of intellectual property, copyright, and commercial law. By understanding that IP law isn’t just about legal frameworks and rules, but also about how ideas, inventions, and brands are perceived and valued in different cultural and regional contexts, women IP experts are acting as protectors of innovations, inventions, brands, and art. One such name is Barbara La Tella, Partner, Jacobacci Avvocati. The Italian IP expert believes that lawyers must always tailor their approach to each client to build trust and add value through cultural adaptability, tailored communication and thinking outside the box.

Fluent in both legal nuance and business acumen, Barbara acts as a cultural translator, bridging jurisdic­tions, industries, and client mindsets. She safeguards imagination, empowers creators, and drives com­merce with competence, passion and purpose. Armed with over 27 years of experience (25 with Jacobacci Avvocati), she has gained deep insights not only into IP law but also in leadership and teamwork. After her six-month secondment at the London office of Addle­shaw Goddard, enhanced her understanding of inter­national legal practices, foreign cultures, and client re­ lations, building genuine relations with them. Success for Barbara means more than technical skill, it's about empathy, insight, and adaptability.

Take us through your professional journey in the Italian legal space. How has this space evolved over the years?

Over the past 25 years, I have seen the IP world evolve significantly. Prior to 2005, the absence of specialized IP chambers in Italy characterized a more flexible approach to litigation, and our attention to clearness and synthesis was at the maximum. Now, after years from the introduction of specialized sections and increasingly expert judges, our arguments have become more technical and structured, while remaining clear and accessible.

Thanks to our dedicated team, we have achieved some impactful decisions, especially in fashion and pharma, that have influenced Italian jurisprudence. It all comes down to experience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to every single case.

What core expertise have you developed as an IP and copyright attorney?

My expertise is in patent law, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. I also act for leading clients in the luxury goods industry, where the need for legal protection extends beyond patents and trademarks to include copyright and design. My copyright work focuses on distinctive creations such as jewelry and furniture, often for internationally renowned designers. This experience led my firm and me to play an active role in the reform of Article 239 of the Italian Intellectual Property Code, supporting its extension from design to copyright and contributing to both litigation and the legislative process to align national law with European standards.

If you want to stay competitive & keep your clients SATISFIED, you have to focus always on competence and tailored STRATEGIES, WHATEVER the industry or the size of the client is

Introduce us to Jacobacci Avvocati. What key roles & responsibilities do you shoulder as a Partner at the firm?

Jacobacci Avvocati is an internationally recognized boutique law firm specializing in intellectual property. Nearly 30 years ago, the firm, led by Fabrizio Jacobacci, was one of the first in Italy to recognize the growing importance of innovation and technology and the central role of IP law, offering integrated, highly specialized legal and technical support.

I started as an IP lawyer under the mentorship of Fabrizio Jacobacci and am now a Partner leading a large team. I actively contribute to the firm’s strategic direction, focusing on future challenges, like the UPC and AI, that require not just immediate solutions, but a long-term vision and structured resource planning.

How do you ensure success while working with international clients?

Working with international clients presents unique challenges, from navigating time zone differences to understanding different cultural expectations. I believe promptness is the key, especially with international clients. They value timely communication because they typically work to tight deadlines, which makes being responsive especially important. I have also learned that being consistently responsive builds trust. This also applies to coordinating law firms as they act as intermediaries, and it helps to deliver updates to the client smoothly.

What key business challenges do you encounter as a contemporary IP attorney? How do you successfully navigate through these roadblocks?

I have faced major challenges in two categories. Firstly, although there are many competent judges in Italy, the experience and specialization of the various courts can vary. Therefore, each dispute is approached with careful strategic planning to ensure it is brought before the court best suited to handle the complexity and peculiarity of the case. The latter often requests the use of procedural technicisms, in order to locate the case before courts renowned for their expertise in that specific field (pharma or copyright, for example).

Secondly, the expansion of the IP field over the years into new topics (most recently AI) has increased competition but hasn't always been matched by increased expertise. This has led to a greater reliance on litigation and increased aggressiveness, making it more difficult to resolve disputes amicably.

How do you foresee the IPR landscape evolving in the near future?

Pharmaceuticals and Luxury Goods are two key areas to focus on for any IP firm, as both tend to be evergreen sectors. Pharma is a major economic driver with constant innovation, but challenges such as inventive step, particularly under the UPC, makes patents risky and keep most litigation at a national level. It remains one of the most strategic and high-stakes areas of IP. Luxury and fashion, on the other hand, are resilient markets requiring specialized IP protection, specially design and copyright, and remain consistently profitable.

Barbara La Tella, Partner, Jacobacci Avvocati

Barbara La Tella, Partner at Jacobacci Avvocati, is an IP expert specializing in the pharmaceutical sector, patent protection and luxury brand protection. She holds a magna cum laude degree in law from the University of Turin and a master's degree from the Turin School of Business Administration. She has been a member of the European Communities Trademark Association since 2015 and is currently Secretary of its Patent Committee.