About Govoni Law
Italian property lawyers who act only for the buyer.
For more than 16 years, our lawyers have assisted foreign buyers purchasing property in Italy. We check the property, the documents and the contract before our clients sign or pay, and we tell them in writing whether to proceed, renegotiate or walk away.
We work throughout Italy, from lake villas and city apartments to farmhouses, historic homes and coastal properties. The location changes the risks. Our method stays the same.
Why buyers need someone on their side
In an Italian property purchase, almost everyone has a role, but few have your interest as their only concern:
- The estate agent is often paid by both sides and is paid only if the deal completes.
- The notary is a public official, neutral by law. The notary does not advise you on whether a risk is acceptable.
- The seller and the seller’s advisers protect the seller.
- The bank, if there is one, protects its loan.
The buyer is often the only party without independent advice, at exactly the stage when it matters most: before the offer, before the deposit, before the preliminary contract.
That is our role. We act for the buyer, and only the buyer.
We don’t complete transactions for you. We protect the decision behind them.
What we do
We provide buyer-side legal work for property purchases in Italy:
- Legal due diligence on title, ownership and seller authority.
- Checks on mortgages, liens, easements, usufruct and other registered rights.
- Review of planning and building history against the property as it exists.
- Cadastral checks and coordination with technical professionals.
- Analysis of landscape, heritage, coastal, agricultural and local restrictions.
- Review, drafting and negotiation of offers, deposits and preliminary contracts.
- Review of the draft deed and coordination with the notary.
- Support for buyers purchasing from abroad, including powers of attorney.
What we do not do
Being clear about our limits is part of our independence. We do not sell property, act as buyer’s agents or property finders, arrange mortgages or currency exchange, provide tax advice, obtain visas or residence permits, or guarantee planning outcomes. When a matter needs another professional, we tell you which one and what they should check.
Three levels of protection
Not every purchase needs the same depth of review. We offer three levels, and we tell you which one your purchase needs before any work starts.
| Level | When it fits | What you receive |
|---|---|---|
| Before You Sign Brief | You have a listing, a draft offer, a deposit request or partial documents | A written first assessment of visible risks, missing documents and next steps |
| Light Due Diligence | One defined issue needs a substantive answer, such as the contract or the title | A focused written review of that issue and the protections required |
| Full Legal Due Diligence | You are seriously considering a significant or complex property | A structured investigation of title, burdens, planning, cadastral position, restrictions and contract terms |
A small legal cost at the start can prevent a much larger loss later. The only wrong move is going straight to the deed.
Written first
We work in writing. Every risk we identify, every clause we challenge and every recommendation we make is set out in a dated written report in English.
This is deliberate. Our clients live abroad, decide with their families and speak to their banks and tax advisers at home. Written advice can be shared, checked and relied on months later, when the notary’s appointment arrives and every detail matters. It also avoids the delays of scheduling calls across time zones.
When a call is genuinely useful, we arrange one. But the advice that protects you is the advice on record.
Throughout Italy
We assist buyers across the country. Among the areas where our clients buy most often:
- Lake Como: hillside villas, historic homes and waterfront properties.
- Rome: historic apartments and penthouses.
- Milan: apartments and new developments.
- Sardinia: coastal villas, second homes and rural land.
Tuscany, Umbria, Liguria, Puglia, Sicily and the Italian lakes follow the same method: we read what agents skip, check what the deed alone does not answer, and give you one clear recommendation before you commit.
For an overview of our work nationwide, see Italian Real Estate Lawyers for Foreign Buyers. For guidance by nationality, see Buying Property in Italy by Nationality.
You don’t need just a Lawyer. You need someone on your side.
That’s the whole difference. That’s the whole point. Your property. Your money. Your decision. Properly protected.
GOVONI LAWYERS
Avv. Davide Govoni
Co-founder of Govoni Law. Davide Govoni focuses on real estate transactions and contract drafting and negotiation. He assists foreign buyers with legal due diligence and title checks, the review and negotiation of offers and preliminary contracts, and the verification of draft notarial deeds. His aim is to structure the key clauses on deposits, timing, conditions, guarantees and remedies correctly. His work also covers escrow-type payment solutions and banking and financial exposure connected with property purchases.
Avv. Ph.D. Emmanuele Govoni
Co-founder of Govoni Law. Emmanuele Govoni focuses on real estate law, contracts and inheritance, particularly in matters where property, banks, public authorities and courts intersect. He assists foreign buyers with the legal analysis of Italian properties, including coastal, rural and historic assets, and with title and planning checks. He drafts and negotiates offers, preliminary contracts and addenda. He also handles planning issues, contractual breaches and inheritance matters where property rights must be identified, regularised and transferred.
REAL ESTATE PARTNER
Real Estate Agent Dr. Sara Govoni
Dr. Sara Govoni is CEO of Agenzia Immobiliare Sarda, a real estate agency operating in Sardinia. The agency is a separate business from Govoni Law. When a property is offered through that agency, we tell the buyer in writing before accepting any instruction. We act for the buyer only where doing so involves no conflict of interest.
Lawyer Avv. Davide Govoni
Co-Founder Govoni Law
Lawyer Avv. Ph.D. Emmanuele Govoni
Co-Founder Govoni Law
Real Estate Agent Dr. Sara Govoni
CEO Agenzia Immobiliare Sarda
Before you sign, write to us
If you are considering a property in Italy, contact Govoni Law before signing an offer or paying a deposit. Send the listing, the documents received and the draft offer. We will tell you in writing which level of review your purchase needs.