Tutor: Prof.ssa Anna Maria Mancaleoni Co-tutor: Prof.ssa Silvia Corso

Short bio:

She obtained a master’s degree in law from the University of Cagliari, with a thesis in comparative private law on energy communities and prosumers, graduating with honours (110/110 cum Laude). She subsequently began a PhD in Legal Sciences. Her current research focuses on due diligence and corporate sustainability, specifically analysing the liability of companies and directors in light of the new European directives on corporate due diligence. She investigates their transposition into the national legal frameworks and compares their application across different legal systems. Among her extracurricular activities, she holds the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English; has acquired basic proficiency in French; she took part in the first edition of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition representing the University of Cagliari and was part of the winning team in the Local Legal Debate organized by Elsa Association. She obtained a Certificate in International Commercial and Investment Arbitration from Roma Tre University and participated in an Extra-UE Erasmus thesis research programme in the United Kingdom. Additionally, she was selected to join the first edition of the KPMG Tax Academy organized by KPMG and SDA Bocconi.

Thesis abstract:

Sustainability and corporate liability in the due diligence directive. This research critically examines Directive (EU) 2024/1760 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024, known as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which constitutes a pivotal legal development in the promotion of corporate sustainability and responsibility. The thesis is structured in three parts. The first section focuses on the preparatory works and provides a comparative analysis between the initial proposal and the final text of the directive, in light of the ongoing scholarly debate. It also situates the directive within the broader context of existing soft law instruments. Although the legislative initiative was strongly advocated by various stakeholders, it was subject to intense negotiations between Member States and EU institutions, resulting in significant amendments shortly before its final adoption. The second section explores the transposition of the directive into the Italian legal framework, in comparative perspective with the French Loi de Vigilance—a pioneering legal instrument in the field of due diligence—and the english legislation. Particular attention is given to the England’s regulatory approach following Brexit. This section analyses developments in both corporate and criminal law arising from the directive and how these are being implemented across the different legal systems considered.