About Cristiana Bianco
Founder & Principal Attorney at Bianco-Legal
“Exposing human rights violations and defending fundamental rights in cross-border criminal proceedings”
Professional Overview
Cristiana Bianco is an Italian lawyer, also registered with the German Bar Association in Munich, practicing since 1998 with a focus on criminal law, European and international criminal law, and human rights issues. She is the founder and principal attorney of Bianco-Legal, a law firm based in Munich, Germany and Naples, Italy.
Career Journey
Education & Early Career
Law Degree - University of Naples "Federico II"
Focus: Criminal Law and Criminology
Master's Degree - International Mechanisms for the Protection of Human Rights
Criminal Defense Lawyer in Naples (1998-2001)
European Court of Human Rights Experience
Senior Lawyer at the Registry (2001-2005)
Council of Europe, Strasbourg, France
Italian Section - Detention Conditions & Fair Trial Proceedings
Responsible for individual complaints procedures relating to:
- Article 6 - Right to a fair trial
- Article 3 - Prohibition of torture or inhuman treatment
- Article 5 - Right to liberty and security
- Article 8 - Right to respect for private and family life
- Article 14 - Prohibition of discrimination
Current Practice - Germany & Italy
Independent Practice (Present)
Operating offices in Munich, Germany and Naples, Italy. Specializing in European and international criminal law and human rights cases.
Key Areas:
- Cross-border criminal cooperation and extradition
- Defense in national and international courts
- Human rights advocacy and ECHR cases
- European Arrest Warrants and international warrants
Areas of Expertise
Comprehensive expertise in criminal defense and human rights protection:
Cross-border Legal Cooperation
• Extradition and cross-border mutual legal assistance
• European arrest warrants and international warrants
• International and EU-wide judicial cooperation in criminal matters
• European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) proceedings
International Cases
• Interpol matters and Red Notice cases
• Rights of detainees and persons deprived of liberty
• Expert in arbitrary detention cases
• International human rights litigation
Human Rights Advocacy
• Individual applications to the European Court of Human Rights
• Torture and inhuman treatment prevention
• Fair trial guarantees
• Anti-discrimination advocacy
Notable Achievements
Interpol & Red Notice Expertise
- • Successfully represented numerous individuals targeted by Red Notices
- • Achieved modifications, removals, and corrections before Interpol
- • Successfully challenged international warrants of arrest and extradition
International Network
- • Partners with lawyers internationally for human rights litigation
- • Multi-jurisdictional defense strategies
- • Cross-border human rights litigation
Professional Memberships & Leadership
Bar Association Memberships
Naples Bar Association (Member since 1998)
Criminal law practice foundation
Munich Bar Association (Member since 2008)
International practice expansion
Professional Organizations & Leadership Roles
Board Member - Antigone Association (Founding Member)
Prison rights advocacy and criminal justice reform
Human Rights Committee - European Criminal Bar Association (ECBA)
European criminal defense coordination
Legal Expert Advisory Panel (LEAP) - Fair Trial Association
Fair trial advocacy and legal expertise
Board Member - Initiative Bayerischer Strafverteidigerinnen und Strafverteidiger e.V. (Since March 2025)
German criminal defense advocacy
Academic & Publishing Work
Author of various articles and publications on human rights
Guest lecturer for:
- Council of Europe
- Non-governmental organizations
- Bar associations
- Italian universities
Expert on international protection of fundamental rights and ECHR jurisprudence