Elisabetta Righini

ELISABETTA “BETTA” RIGHINI advises leading multinationals, including large technology companies, on European law with a focus on regulation and litigation in the rapidly evolving EU landscape.

Elisabetta draws on more than 25 years of experience, including 15 years in high-level positions at the European Commission, and her creative approach helps clients navigate complex regulatory frameworks in Europe.

Being particularly focused on technology she regularly advises digital platforms and media services on developments in the EU Digital Single Market — including in connection with the Digital Markets Act, Digital Services Act, and AI Act — and represents technology clients before EU institutions and courts in relation to compliance or investigations.

Elisabetta also guides companies, industry associations, and public authorities on State aid and FSR compliance, including in filings, complaints and investigations at the European Commission, and litigation before the European courts.

While at the European Commission, Elisabetta worked as a member of its Legal Service and then as a legal advisor to former Competition Commissioner and Vice President Joaquín Almunia. She leverages her longstanding legal practice and in-depth understanding of the European Commission’s policy and enforcement when helping clients craft their legal strategy in Europe. Over the years, she has become a trusted and strategic advisor to many of her clients on their most critical issues, including European regulatory compliance.

Elisabetta also has extensive experience as a litigator, having appeared before the European Court of Justice in over 100 cases relating to a variety of EU issues, such as State aid, external relations, anti-dumping, network industries, and fiscal matters. She has also appeared before the World Trade Organization in over 20 cases relating to sanitary and phytosanitary measures, genetically modified organisms, subsidies, tariffs and non-tariffs, barriers, and telecoms.

She is a member of the advisory board of the Centre of European Law of Kings College’s Dickson Poon School of Law in London.

Elisabetta has received acknowledgement from numerous industry ranking guides, including:

• Lexology Index 2025-2026 – Ranked as Global Elite Thought Leader for Competition: State Aid.
• Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2025 – Ranked for Competition/European Law: State Aid where clients note that she “is a very knowledgeable state aid practitioner.”
• Chambers Global 2024 – Ranked for Competition/European Law: State Aid (Belgium). Sources state, “I have found her ability to be two steps ahead and understand the approach needed to succeed to be very compelling and impressive,” and say that she is “very creative in developing a legal strategy.”
• Chambers Europe 2023 – Ranked for Competition/European Law: State Aid (Belgium), where clients comment “she is really good for state aid law.”
• Chambers Global 2022 – Ranked for Competition/European Law: State Aid (Belgium). Sources state she has “the knowledge, experience and application required [to handle difficult State aid matters].”

Recent examples of Elisabetta’s work include advising:

EU Tech and AI Regulation

• A gatekeeper company on the Digital Markets Act, from legislation phase to designation and compliance, including with regard to pre-investigation RFIs, representation in front of the European Commission, and engagement and litigation strategy.
• A gatekeeper company on the Digital Markets Act, from legislation phase to designation, including the impact of compliance on its business model, representation in front of the European Commission, and litigation strategy.
• A digital marketplace on its investigation under the Digital Services Act and changes to its business model necessary to ensure compliance.
• A technology company on compliance with the Digital Services Act for a number of its services, including cloud, gaming, and messaging.
• A pharmaceutical company on its internal policies for using AI.
• A digital market place on the AI Act.
• A technology company on antitrust and regulatory policy developments at the EU and Member State level, as well as advocacy and compliance strategy.
• An OTT provider on rights and obligations deriving from existing EU and Member State regulation, as well as on the changes foreseen by the Digital Single Market proposals.
• A multimedia messaging application on EU regulatory developments in connection with the EU Directive for Copyright in the Digital Single Market.
• An online retail platform on implementing the EU regulation on platform-to-business relations.
• A mobility platform on its business model’s compliance with EU law, developing a compliance strategy, and advocacy with EU institutions.
• A number of online audiovisual services providers on conformity with EU regulatory and competition law on measures adopted by the Member States to implement the AVMS Directive.

Litigation

• A confidential client on its appeal of a European Commission decision in the State aid investigation regarding Belgian corporate tax sweeteners and in its intervention in related pilot cases at the European Court of Justice.
• Three Lithuanian energy-intensive users in their successful appeal before the General Court, and in preliminary rulings before the European Court of Justice in connection with Lithuanian electricity regulations’ conformity with EU State aid and energy directives.
• An energy company on the interplay of EU law and international arbitration in relation to cases at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
• Harley Davidson in an appeal before the CJEU against a General Court judgement upholding a Commission decision against Belgium on determination rules of origin following the imposition by the EU of retaliatory tariffs.
• A provider of satellite services in multiple EU jurisdictions in disputes regarding the tender process for in-flight broadband connectivity, including in an appeal before the EU General Court and in negotiations with governments.

State Aid, FSR Compliance, regulatory and trade

• Three Lithuanian energy-intensive users in their State aid complaint to the European Commission against Lithuanian electricity regulations.
• An energy company on the interaction between State aid rules and international arbitral awards of compensation for environmental damages, in front of arbitral tribunal and the European Commission.
• A medical technology manufacturer on compliance with the EU FSR substantive provisions and successful filing of two public procurement notifications.
• A global technology company on compliance with the EU FSR and filing of several public procurement notifications.
• An advertising company on a Commission’s State aid investigation into the public service compensation it receives to manage the city’s public bike system.
• A digital broadcaster on State aid and regulatory measures adopted at national level and their conformity with EU law.
• An international airline on Brexit’s consequences for its business model and on interactions with the European Commission during EU-UK withdrawal negotiations.
• A petrochemical company on EU legal and policy initiatives in the context of the European Strategy for Plastics.

The above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.