After the recently approved Law no. 9/2014 (which transposed into law DL 145/2013), only certain Italian courts have jurisdiction over cases involving foreign companies, even when the foreign company has an Italian branch. If the controversy concerns specific matters in the field of industrial and intellectual property (trademarks, IP, patents, etc.), corporate and contract law, you can file your suit or be suited only in Bari, Cagliari, Catania, Genova, Milan, Napoli, Roma, Torino, Venezia, Trento and Bolzano. Attention: it is not at your discretion: it depends on which court would have had jurisdiction, absent this new rule. See Article 10 DL 145/2013. For more information you are welcome to contact Francesca Giannoni-Crystal.