Cesare Previti (born 21 October 1934 in Reggio Calabria) is a former Italian politician, disbarred lawyer,[1] and convicted criminal.

In this capacity, he engineered the sale of her villa in Arcore to Berlusconi, for 500 million lire, paid in the form of shares in then-unquoted companies.

In the end, she found herself forced to sell back the shares to Berlusconi and Previti for 250 million lire, half their previous value.

After that, Previti worked for Berlusconi's own Fininvest company, and acquired a reputation as a ruthless but extremely capable lawyer.

Berlusconi, upon forming his first Cabinet, had wanted him as Minister of Justice, but President of the Republic Oscar Luigi Scalfaro was opposed on account of Previti's allegedly shady dealings, so ultimately it was decided he should exchange portfolios with Alfredo Biondi, who had been earmarked for Defence.

On 30 November 2006 the verdict was invalidated by the Corte di Cassazione, on the ground that the Milan court did not have jurisdiction to try the case.