Withers is pleased to announce an agreement between its Italian practice and Giuseppe Mistretta, former Italian Ambassador, and distinguished diplomat, to strengthen the firm's relationships and expand its activities across the African continent.
Giuseppe Mistretta has built a distinguished diplomatic career in Africa, while servingas Italy's Ambassador to Angola (2009–2014) and to Ethiopia (2014–2017). In recent years, since 2025, he was Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, a position he held for eight years.
Over the course of his professional life, he spent more than twenty years in Africa and held additional postings in the USA, and the United Kingdom.
Africa is home to 16% of the world's population and 2.4% of the globe's high net worth individuals, with this figure growing every year as the continent's economy expands. Withers already works with numerous families, businesses and government bodies from across Africa on cross-border investments, wealth planning, international relocations and dispute resolution involving businesses operating and investing in Africa, including many international arbitrations.
"Africa is an increasingly important region for high-net-worth individuals and for the investment of private capital." says Roberta Crivellaro, Managing Partner of Withers in Italy. "Giuseppe Mistretta's deep regional expertise and strong local relationships will be key to expanding our presence on the continent and better supporting our clients with interests in Africa."
Giuseppe Mistrettasays: "I am delighted to collaborate with Withers offices worldwide in advancing their work in Africa, considering the ever-growing importance of the Continent in the global arena and my long experience as an Italian diplomat in the area."