City Diplomacy and Local Diplomacy

We advise municipalities, regional authorities and third-sector organisations on City Diplomacy and Local Diplomacy as strategic instruments of contemporary global governance. Since 2014, our work has recognised the expanding role of cities, regions and local communities in international relations beyond a purely state-centric model. In an interdependent environment, territorial communities confront complex cross-border challenges—often described as “wicked” or “super wicked problems”—that require coordinated, adaptive and locally grounded responses.

Avv. Leonardi’s doctoral research examined how negative or distorted place branding can constrain governance capacity, weaken external credibility and limit international positioning. City and Local Diplomacy therefore represent proactive tools through which sub-state actors foster international cooperation, attract investment and promote cultural exchange through structured transnational engagement. Our practice incorporates cultural diplomacy, leveraging arts, heritage and creative industries as channels of dialogue, mutual understanding and strategic influence.

A central component of this framework is the strategic management of soft power and place brand. A territory’s global reputation depends on governance quality, institutional reliability, economic credibility, cultural vitality and openness to external partnerships, in line with structured analytical models such as Simon Anholt’s Place Brand Hexagon.

Through integrated legal advisory, policy design and strategic analysis, we support public institutions and territorial actors in strengthening international outreach, enhancing reputation and building value-oriented, global partnerships. Read More