I am a legal professional with 25 years of work experience as a lawyer, International Organization Officer (ICO/EUSR, OSCE), CSDP Mission Member (EULEX, EUAM, EUBAM and EUPOL COPPS) and free-lance consultant on projects funded by the EU, Council of Europe, ODIHR, USAID, UK Foreign Office, German Federal Government (BMZ) and World Bank. In 1997, I graduated in Law with full marks (110/110) at the University “Aldo Moro” of Bari (Italy) and, in 2006, obtained my PhD in International and EU Law from the same university. Meanwhile, as a recipient of a fellowship, I had attended post-graduate studies at LUISS School of Management in Rome (Italy), specialising in international and EU business law. In addition, I have served as Tutor at the Department of International & EU Law of the University of Bari (Italy), Subject Matter Expert in International Law at the University of Foggia (Italy), and Research Scholar in International & Comparative Law at the University of Michigan (USA).I have an in-depth understanding of issues and challenges in several areas of Democratic governance, including Rule of Law, justice and fundamental rights, lawmaking, legislative drafting, parliamentary strengthening, climate change, and regulatory governance. This latter includes theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in Better Regulation tools such as Legislative Drafting Guidelines, Impact Assessment, Ex-Post Evaluation, and Public Consultation. I have extensive experience in law drafting and legal approximation to the EU acquis, international and ECHR standards and European best practices, particularly in the area of civil, criminal, administrative and commercial law & procedure. I am also experienced in court litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), being admitted to the lawyers' association in Italy and certified as a Mediator in Civil & Commercial Matters by the Italian Ministry of Justice. Furthermore, I have gained strong leadership and management skills as Manager of the foreign branch of an international law firm, TL and Deputy TL of EU funded projects, as well as Head of Division and Committee Chairman in International Organizations.Besides being Senior Editor of the Italian Law Journal (ILJ), I have published extensively on leading Italian and foreign law journals on trade & competition matters, Better Regulation, and law drafting. In addition to Italy, I have extensive work experience in the Western Balkans, including Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia, in Ukraine, Moldova, Libya, Tunisia, as well as Palestine/Israel.