Govoni Law is an independent Italian law firm based in Alghero, Sardinia, focused on one central idea: turning law into real protection for people who buy, sell or own property on the island. We assist international clients with real estate transactions, legal due diligence, escrow structures, inheritance and high‑stakes matters where assets, contracts and public authorities are involved.
Who we are and what we do
Our core work is real estate law for foreign buyers and owners in Sardinia. This means that, every day, we handle:
- full legal due diligence on properties (coastal, urban and rural), including title checks, planning and building history, landscape and coastal restrictions and hidden liabilities
- drafting, review and negotiation of offers and preliminary contracts, including tailored clauses on deposits, timing, works, conditions precedent and penalties
- review and adjustment of draft notarial deeds, to ensure that protections negotiated for buyers or sellers are correctly reflected in the final contract
- escrow and payment structures designed to align release of funds with legal and practical milestones, reducing the risk of paying too early or without adequate guarantees
- litigation and dispute management when problems emerge after or during a transaction, including planning issues, contract breaches and enforcement proceedings
Legal protection is experienced through scrupulous investigation and due diligence. We verify the regularity of private agreements – including proposals and preliminary contracts already signed – and the rights claimed by the parties, and we check property documents with all required formalities at the competent public offices such as the Land Registry, Cadastral Office, Registry of Deeds and planning departments. This work allows us to identify irregular building works, missing permits, easements, mortgages and other critical elements that can affect the value and usability of the property long before the notary’s signature.
Beyond purchases and sales, we also assist clients with inheritance and succession involving Sardinian assets. This includes verifying the composition of the estate, checking registrations and encumbrances, handling Italian succession procedures and probate‑related steps, and coordinating the transfer or sale of inherited properties in a way that is legally sound and practically workable for heirs who often live abroad.
Govoni Law operates from Via Gilbert Ferret 86, in the historic centre of Alghero, and assists clients across the whole island, from the north‑west (Alghero, Stintino, Castelsardo, Bosa) to Costa Smeralda and Gallura (Porto Cervo, San Teodoro, Santa Teresa di Gallura), and other coastal and rural areas of Sardinia. Most of our assistance is provided in writing, in clear English, so that international clients can follow every step from abroad and keep a documented file of advice, contracts and decisions.
Over time, Govoni Law has become a trusted point of reference for international individuals, families and companies looking for clear, reliable legal assistance in Sardinia, particularly in complex property transactions and inheritance matters involving real estate assets on the island.
Lawyers
Avv. Davide Govoni
Co‑Founder of Govoni Law, Davide Govoni focuses on real estate transactions, contract drafting and negotiation, and civil matters involving Sardinian assets. He regularly assists foreign buyers and sellers with legal due diligence, title checks, review and adjustment of offers and preliminary contracts, and verification of draft notarial deeds to ensure that key clauses on deposits, timing, conditions, guarantees and remedies are correctly structured. His work also extends to escrow‑type solutions, banking and financial exposure, where he helps clients understand and renegotiate complex positions, aligning legal safeguards with the client’s real risk profile.
Avv. Ph.D. Emmanuele Govoni
Co‑Founder of Govoni Law, Emmanuele Govoni focuses on real estate law, contracts, inheritance and structured problem‑solving in matters where property, banks, authorities and courts are involved. He assists foreign buyers and owners in the legal analysis of Sardinian properties, including coastal and rural assets, title and planning checks, and the drafting and negotiation of offers, preliminary contracts and addenda designed to protect the buyer’s or seller’s position. He also deals with planning issues, contract breaches, and with inheritance procedures where Sardinian properties and 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 that works in close, structured synergy with Govoni Law. The agency focuses exclusively on properties in Sardinia and has built a strong reputation, supported by many positive reviews from buyers and sellers, thanks to its careful selection of properties, detailed knowledge of the territory and transparent way of working.
By integrating the work of lawyers and real estate professionals, we offer international clients a complete, legal‑first advisory service: from identifying and evaluating properties, to full legal due diligence and title checks, to the drafting, review and negotiation of offers, preliminary contracts and notarial deeds, to escrow‑type structures and, when necessary, inheritance procedures.
Lawyer Avv. Davide Govoni
Co-Founder Govoni Law
Lawyer Avv. Emmanuele Govoni
Co-Founder Govoni Law
Real Estate Agent Dr. Sara Govoni
CEO Agenzia Immobiliare Sarda