“I learned from my parents and my grandparents the meaning and value of freedom for people: the inexhaustible effort of the fight for freedom. I chose to turn that fight into my profession. I studied at the University of Milan and graduated in Criminal Law with Professor Giacomo Delitala. As a student I had already started my legal and court practice and – why not? – my civil practice at the Firm – Freedom Lab – of Cesare degli Occhi, whom as far back as 1946 (I was 15) I had met, admired and loved during the campaign for the institutional referendum. I followed him during the full course of my profession, also after having left his Firm, and after having completed my practice with that extraordinary lawyer that was Valerio Mazzola. From 1962 I chose to face a professional experience on my own two feet, initially at the Firm in via Fontana 23 with attorneys Luciano Pietrantoni and Antonio Garatti, and then on my own in via Fontana 4. Alone, or better, subsequently accompanied by a selection of trainees and young colleagues who were enthusiastic about their work and who – undoubtedly – gave me more than I could give back. I have them all in my heart, one by one, and I would like to thank them. With them – as far as we could – we fought for the defence of people’s freedom. I tried to commit to the honour that had once again been bestowed on me by Cesare Degli Occhi’s letter of November 1964:

11/11/1964

“Dearest Isolabella,

Pride in defence is a duty; pride means a brave, unpopular defence.

Freedom is to be defended against fluctuating insolence. And not bending, demands, or should demand, respect from all. As a citizen and lawyer, your not bending can only strengthen my grateful affection for you.

Cesare Degli Occhi.”

Cesare Degli Occhi passed away in October 1971 shortly after the loss of my mother. At the death of their father, his sons Adamo and Luigi, both Lawyers, proud of their name and profession, gave me his “cap”, which was the physical and instrumental emblem during the Fascist period, when the Fascist Roman salute was required also in the corridors of the Courts, except for Lawyers and Magistrates who wore the “cap” – raising it and baring your head exonerated you from the Roman salute.

That “cap” now belongs to my sons, Francesco and Luigi, whom science and passion make certainly more deft than me – specifically – in serving freedom.”