When you look for a lawyer in Sardinia from abroad, you are not just searching for a name. You need a team that can actually take charge of your case on the island, explain Italian law in clear English, and coordinate the concrete steps with notaries, courts, agencies, banks or public authorities. The goal is to turn a distant and unfamiliar system into something structured and manageable, whether your matter concerns a property, an inheritance, a contract or a dispute.
Govoni Law is an independent Italian law firm based in northern Sardinia, assisting international clients across the island. Our work ranges from real estate transactions in coastal and rural areas, to inheritance and succession involving Sardinian assets, to complex contractual and banking situations, and to selected disputes and procedures before authorities. We combine legal analysis with on‑the‑ground knowledge of how things work in Sardinia: which offices are involved, how timelines really move, and which strategies are realistic in practice.
Most of our clients contact us from outside Italy, often before they have even set foot in Sardinia. For this reason, much of our assistance is provided in writing, in clear English, so that every step is documented and easy to follow wherever you are. Written advice is complemented, when useful, by calls or online meetings, but the backbone of our work is a structured file where each recommendation, document and decision is recorded and can be revisited when you need it.
Where in Sardinia we work
Although our physical base is in the north‑west, our legal assistance covers all main areas of Sardinia. We frequently work on matters connected to:
- the north‑west, including Alghero, Stintino, Castelsardo and the surrounding countryside
- the north‑east and Costa Smeralda & Gallura, including Porto Cervo, Porto Rotondo, Olbia and nearby coastal towns
- the central and eastern coasts, such as San Teodoro and parts of Ogliastra
- the south and south‑east, including holiday‑home destinations like Villasimius
In each of these areas, the legal questions can be different: coastal and landscape rules near the sea, land classifications and access rights in rural zones, condominium and rental regulations in tourist complexes, and specific local practices in administrative and court procedures. By focusing on Sardinia as a whole, rather than on a single city, we are able to assist clients wherever the issue arises on the island, while keeping a strong local anchor.
Types of matters we handle for foreign clients
For many foreign individuals and families, the first contact with a Sardinia‑based lawyer comes through a property matter. We assist buyers and sellers with full legal due diligence on coastal, rural and urban properties, review and negotiation of offers and preliminary contracts, coordination with notaries, and closing, including when clients cannot travel to Italy and prefer to act through powers of attorney. When Sardinian properties are part of an inheritance, we help heirs living abroad with Italian succession procedures, the release of assets and the structuring of sales or transfers among heirs.
Beyond real estate, we support international clients in contracts and banking exposure, including reviewing loan agreements, guarantees and settlement proposals, and negotiating with counterparties or financial institutions when Sardinian assets or parties are involved. In selected cases, we handle disputes and litigation, such as planning and building issues, enforcement proceedings, civil or commercial conflicts, and procedures before local authorities. In all these situations, our work starts from a careful reconstruction of the facts and documents, followed by an assessment of the legal framework and of the leverage points available, with the aim of building a strategy that is sustainable over time.
How we work with international clients
For foreign clients, the practical question is often: how can I manage this from abroad without losing control? The answer lies in a combination of written advice, clear structure and the ability to act on your behalf in Sardinia when needed. Typically, the process begins with a detailed email where you describe your situation, send available documents and explain your priorities. On that basis, you receive a written outline of how we can assist, including the scope of work, expected steps, indicative timelines and fees.
Once formally engaged, we take charge of the legal aspects in Sardinia: dealing with local offices and professionals, preparing and reviewing documents, representing your interests in negotiations or procedures, and keeping you informed as things move forward. Because we are physically present on the island and work closely with a trusted real estate agency and other local professionals, we can connect what the law says with what actually happens in practice, including how long things really take and which routes are worth pursuing.
When to contact a Sardinia‑based lawyer
If you are planning to buy property in Sardinia, have inherited assets on the island, are facing a dispute or a complex procedure involving Sardinian counterparts, or simply need to understand your position before taking a decision, it is generally better to involve a lawyer in Sardinia early rather than after commitments are already in place. Early legal input often changes the structure of a deal, the wording of a contract or the timing of a decision in ways that prevent problems later.
You do not need to arrive with perfect documents or a fully defined plan. You can start by sending a written description of your case – in English – together with any contracts, emails or official letters you already have. From there, we can tell you what is at stake legally, which options are available, and how we can assist you as your Sardinia‑based lawyers, whether your priority is buying safely, protecting assets, resolving a dispute or navigating an administrative or banking matter connected to the island.