In brief. A conversation with Avv. Alexandro Maria Tirelli about what it really means to defend someone in an international criminal case today. He explains, in plain terms, how extradition works in 2026, what the new Schengen and crypto rules have changed, why Interpol Red Notices matter more and more, and where cross-border defence hits its limits as sanctions and bank checks keep growing.
Editorial note. This is the 2026 update of the original 2018 interview. Some questions and answers have been updated to reflect the current legal landscape. Original interview format preserved.
On the structural changes of the last decade
Q: How has international criminal defence changed since you started practising?
The most significant transformation has been the digitalization of cooperation. Twenty years ago, an extradition request crossed continents by diplomatic mail; today, the Schengen Information System “recast” makes a hit in real time across 30+ States. The pre-2016 Interpol Red Notice was a paper document; today it is a real-time digital alert linked to compliance databases that propagate it to banks worldwide. The defence has to operate at the same speed.
Q: What are the practical implications for clients?
The “fugitive paradise” model of the 2000s no longer exists. A client in Dubai today is reachable by Interpol Red Notice in minutes, by financial sanctions screening in hours, by bank account suspension in days. The defence must move faster — and must work in parallel jurisdictions, not in series.
On the European Arrest Warrant
Q: How has the MAE evolved?
The MAE legal architecture is the same, but its application has been refined by Court of Justice case law. The Aranyosi-Caldararu line (2016 onwards) introduced detention conditions as a ground for refusal — a substantial innovation. The L. e P. judgment (2020) addressed judicial independence in Member States with rule of law concerns. The defence today has more substantive grounds than in 2005, but procedural windows are tighter.
Q: Italy’s specific position?
Italy applies the MAE with particular attention to detention conditions and to the residence-citizenship clause for executive MAEs (Article 18-bis, letter r, L. 69/2005). For Italian nationals or long-term residents subject to an executive MAE, conversion to internal enforcement of the sentence is often the preferable route.
On Interpol and the Red Notice
Q: How has the Interpol system changed?
The 2016 pre-publication review by the General Secretariat was the major reform. Before, Red Notices were published with limited screening. Today, requests are reviewed for compliance with Articles 2 (compatibility with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) and 3 (no political, military, religious, or racial interventions) of the Statute. The CCF in Lyon — the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files — has become the primary appeal forum, with measurable success rates for well-documented cases.
Q: How do you approach a CCF challenge?
The challenge requires a documentary file: historic-political documentation of the requesting State, prior decisions denying extradition, UNHCR rulings on refugee status, ECHR jurisprudence, NGO reports. A well-constructed file typically obtains decision in 9-15 months.
On compliance and AML
Q: What about World-Check and similar databases?
The expansion of AML compliance databases has created a new “parallel justice”: individuals are economically marginalized through “de-risking” by banks long before any criminal proceeding concludes. The challenge passes through GDPR Articles 16, 17, 21, and through national Data Protection Authorities. The defence dimension that did not exist in 2010 is now a central component of international criminal practice.
On the structural problems of the practice
Q: What is the hardest part of international defence?
The simultaneity. A client today may be facing: an active criminal proceeding in country A, an extradition request in country B, an Interpol Red Notice with global reach, a frozen bank account in country C, a sanctions designation in country D, an in-absentia conviction looming in country E. Each requires different tools, different timelines, different counsels. The hardest part is the orchestration.
On the future of the discipline
Q: Where do you see the field going in the next decade?
Three trends. First, more digital cooperation — SIS recast, MiCAR/DAC8, E-evidence frameworks. Second, more substantive standards — the Court of Justice of the EU is increasingly serious about fundamental rights as actionable grounds for refusal. Third, more sanctions and compliance pressure — the line between criminal proceeding and administrative-economic measure is blurring. The international defence lawyer of 2035 will need to master criminal law, data protection law, sanctions law, and compliance simultaneously.
On the personal dimension
Q: How do you maintain the academic dimension alongside the practice?
For me they are inseparable. I teach what I learn from the practice and I practise informed by what I research. The international criminal field is too fast-moving to be approached without continuous study. The newsletter, the writing, the lecturing — these are not extras: they are part of the professional method.
Related resources
- Profile — Avv. Tirelli’s full credentials.
- Publications and bibliography.
- Video and interventions.
- Interpol notices: types and procedure.
- Countries without extradition treaties with Italy.
Author box
Avv. Alexandro Maria Tirelli Italian criminal defence lawyer. Cassazionista. International criminal law academic. Author. Full profile — Publications — Contact
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Article,Person,InterviewObject,BreadcrumbListinLanguage: en-GBdateModified: 2026-06-15- Interview subject: Alexandro Maria Tirelli
- Interview format: questions and answers (Q&A)
Frequently asked questions
What is An Interview with Avv. Alexandro Maria Tirelli? This page covers the legal framework and practical aspects of An Interview with Avv. Alexandro Maria Tirelli. See the main sections above for the full analysis.
Which laws govern An Interview with Avv. Alexandro Maria Tirelli in Italy? The discipline rests on the Italian Code of Criminal Procedure and, where applicable, EU instruments. See the ‘In brief’ section for the key references.
Who should I contact for assistance on An Interview with Avv. Alexandro Maria Tirelli? Specialized criminal-defence counsel — refer to the contact section at the end of this page.
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