Summary. I am Alexandro Maria Tirelli, an Italian criminal defence lawyer admitted to Italy’s Supreme Court. For over twenty years I have defended people in cross-border criminal cases: extradition, the European Arrest Warrant, Interpol Red Notices, international drug offences, and financial crime spanning more than one country. I also teach and write on these subjects. If you need hands-on help, the firm I lead — International Lawyers Associates (ILA) — is there to assist you.

In brief

  • Cassazionista — Italian Supreme Court of Cassation Bar.
  • Director of International Lawyers Associates (ILA), international criminal law firm.
  • Former lecturer in international criminal law at the Sergio Arboleda University (Bogotá).
  • President of the Higher Institute for Specialized Defence on National and International Narcotics Trafficking Law (ISNITS) since 2024.
  • Founder (2017) and President of the European and International Criminal Law Chambers.
  • Author of fourteen publications in Italian, French and English.

Practice areas

Extradition law

Defence in extradition proceedings — both passive (Italy as requested State) and active (Italy as requesting State). Bilateral treaties (Italy-USA 1983, Italy-Colombia 2000, Italy-UAE 2015, others), multilateral conventions (Council of Europe 1957, UN Palermo 2000), and international comity (Article 696 Italian Code of Criminal Procedure). Extensive practice on the so-called “non-extradition countries” landscape.

European Arrest Warrant (MAE)

Full defence under L. 22 April 2005, n. 69 (implementing Council Framework Decision 2002/584/JHA). Both incoming and outgoing MAE. Substantial attention to refusal grounds (Articles 18 and 18-bis), specialty principle (Article 26), and post-CJEU rulings on detention conditions (Aranyosi/Caldararu line).

Interpol Red Notices

Challenges before the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF) in Lyon. Grounds: Article 2 (compatibility with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), Article 3 (no political interventions), Rules on the Processing of Data. Construction of evidentiary dossiers for political nature, lack of motivation, ne bis in idem, human rights incompatibility.

Transnational white-collar crime

Tax fraud (D.lgs. 74/2000), money laundering (Articles 648-bis, 648-ter, 648-ter.1 Italian Criminal Code), corruption (Articles 318-322), corporate criminal liability (D.lgs. 231/2001), FCPA-related coordination with US counsel.

Narcotics offences

Article 73 DPR 309/1990 — Italian narcotics statute. International cooperation in narcotics cases — particularly with US DEA-supported investigations and Latin America — has been a steady part of practice for over twenty years.

Methodology

International defence cases require coordination across jurisdictions. The approach:

  1. Early-stage qualification. Distinguish the legal nature of the alert or proceeding (red notice / MAE / provisional arrest / formal extradition request). Each requires different counter-measures.
  2. Parallel jurisdictions. Local counsel in the relevant jurisdictions; consistent narrative across all proceedings.
  3. Document-driven defence. International defence is won on documentary completeness: treaties, conventions, prior precedents, governmental papers, NGO reports.
  4. Multilateral institutions. When applicable — CCF Interpol, European Court of Human Rights, UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, CJEU references.
  5. Strict confidentiality. International cases require absolute confidentiality at every stage.

Professional credentials

  • Italian Bar (Albo Ordinario Avvocati).
  • Italian Supreme Court Bar (Albo Speciale Cassazionisti).
  • Former lecturer in international criminal law, Sergio Arboleda University (Bogotá).
  • President of ISNITS (Italian Institute on Narcotics Law) since 2024.
  • President of European and International Criminal Law Chambers since 2017.

Selected publications

Fourteen works in Italian, French and English — including Extradition Law, Drug Trafficking under Italian Law and The Legal System of Gibraltar.

Areas of writing:

  • Extradition and international judicial cooperation.
  • European Arrest Warrant: procedure and defence.
  • Narcotics trafficking: Article 73 DPR 309/90 and international practice.
  • Transnational criminal proceedings.

How to engage the practice

Call the 24/7 number %%TEL%% (WhatsApp available) or write to info@alexandrotirelli.it. Offices in Naples, Rome, Milan, Ascoli Piceno, Teramo. Remote consultations available.

For doctrinal consultations, expert opinions, pro veritate opinions

Direct communication through dedicated channels. Doctrinal consultations typically require 2-4 weeks of investigation.

For academic and media requests

  • Universities: collaborations, lectures, seminars.
  • Publishers: editorial proposals, prefaces, reviews.
  • Press: interviews, TV interventions, commentary.

FAQ

Can Avv. Tirelli represent non-Italian citizens? Yes. Italian criminal procedure does not condition the right of defence on citizenship. We represent foreign nationals before Italian courts and Italian nationals before foreign courts (in coordination with local counsel).

What languages do you work in? Italian, English, French, Spanish. The international desk operates primarily in English; written submissions and consultations are available in English.

How long does an extradition case take? With a bilateral treaty: 12-36 months on average. Without a treaty (cooperation by international comity): variable, often longer. MAE proceedings: 60-90 days for the first-instance decision.

How does cooperation with local counsel work? The Italian lawyer coordinates and maintains overall direction. The local counsel represents the client before foreign authorities. Constant communication through secure channels.

Can an Interpol Red Notice be removed? Yes. The CCF Interpol in Lyon assesses removal requests. The procedure is administrative and conducted in writing. Typical timeline: 9-15 months.

Author box

Avv. Alexandro Maria Tirelli Italian criminal defence lawyer. Cassazionista. International criminal law academic and author. Full profile — Publications — Contact

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About the author

Avv. Alexandro Maria Tirelli — Italian criminal-defence lawyer (Cassazionista), founding partner of International Lawyers Associates. Specialized in extradition, EAW, international narcotics law. President of ISNITS since 2024.

  • University of Turin; LIUC Carlo Cattaneo
  • TV commentator: TGCom24, La7, RaiNews24, BBC, Fanpage
  • Full profile