The Insubria academic community remembers Sergio Patriarca, a rigorous jurist, dedicated teacher, and distinguished scholar of Commercial Law

The academic community of the University of Insubria and Rector Maria Cristina Pierro remember with deep emotion Professor Sergio Patriarca, who passed away on 30 May 2026.

A Full Professor of Commercial Law at the University of Insubria since 2001, Professor Patriarca had begun his academic career at the University as an Associate Professor in 1998.

Among the leading figures of the Pavia School of Commercial Law, he was trained under the guidance of Giuseppe Zanarone and later Gastone Cottino in Turin. His scholarship spanned the field of Corporate Law, from the analysis of the financial structure of corporations—through his monograph Le azioni di godimento and numerous other publications—to the study of shareholders’ rights and succession issues, notably in his monograph Successione nella quota sociale, successione nell’impresa e autonomia statutaria and other significant contributions.

He was particularly distinguished for his attention to the study of partnerships, both in his more recent works and in the research he conducted at a time when these topics—now widely explored in legal scholarship—received comparatively little attention from legal doctrine. His volume on the società semplice (simple partnership), published in 2021 as part of the Scialoja-Branca Commentary on the Italian Civil Code, was especially highly regarded.

In his teaching activity, he stood out for his meticulous punctuality and unwavering commitment to students. He was always approachable, generously dedicating his time and attention to those he taught. He also fostered highly productive collaborations between academia and the professional world, with particular focus on the practical implications of his research findings. Alongside his academic career, he maintained a longstanding legal practice with Tremonti Partners, with which he had collaborated since its founding in 1985.

A profound, perceptive, and brilliant scholar, he possessed a subtle sense of humour, always expressed with discretion and elegance. At the same time, he had a remarkable ability to build genuine relationships with those around him and was widely respected and sincerely loved.

A devoted supporter of Inter Milan, he was proud of his Valtellinese roots, a pride he displayed with only slight concealment. He was also an enthusiastic skier, often escaping from Milan for day trips to the mountains.

His colleagues and friends remained especially close to him during the most significant moments of his recent life: in the joy of his marriage to his beloved Laura and, before that, when he faced the diagnosis of a serious illness with remarkable clarity and courage. The illness never diminished either the depth of his intellect or the generosity of his spirit.

Rector Maria Cristina Pierro, together with the colleagues of the Department of Economics that he helped to establish, and the entire University community, remembers him with affection and gratitude.

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, 3 June, at 11:00 a.m. at Basilica di Sant’Eustorgio in Milan. https://www.santeustorgio.it/