K&L Gates Advised Lonati Group in Sale of Milan Shopping Center to VIA Outlets

Global law firm K&L Gates recently advised Lonati Group on the sale of the entire share capital of Locate District, the owner and operator of Scalo Milano Outlet & More, to VIA Outlets, a pan-European owner-operator of sustainable outlets, controlled by Dutch institutional investor APG.

Located in Locate di Triulzi, 15 minutes from the center of Milan, Scalo Milano Outlet & More was inaugurated in 2016 and subsequently expanded by 9,000 square meters, reaching a total GLA of about 44 thousand square meters. The center boasts a diverse mix of more than 180 national and international fashion and lifestyle brands, as well as offers a wide range of food & beverage options and a Design District, with more than 4 million visitors in 2025.

The deal team was led by Milan Finance partner Francesco Sanna, with assistance from associates Francesca Leonelli, and trainees Angelo Meglio and Alessia Rocchi. Partner Bruno Vascellari and associate Lorenzo Fidanza advised on various corporate and M&A issues.

Sanna stated: “Retail real estate in Italy continues to demonstrate strong momentum, particularly in the outlet segment, where high quality assets with distinctive brand mixes remain highly attractive to international investors. This transaction underscores that trend, and we are proud to have supported Lonati Group in achieving this important milestone. We congratulate our client on the successful sale of Scalo Milano Outlet & More and are pleased to have assisted them in bringing this significant deal to completion.”

Lawyers in K&L Gates’ large, diversified Real Estate practice advise clients in a variety of real estate investment, land use, planning and zoning, development and construction, financing, leasing, tax, and litigation matters around the world.