Attilio Fontana was born in Varese on 28 March 1952, father of three children – Maria Cristina, Giovanni and Marzia – criminal lawyer and owner of a law firm in Varese since 1980, he graduated in law in 1975 from the University of Milan. During his professional career he was conciliator of Induno Olona and Honorary Deputy Magistrate in Gavirate. From 2009 to 2017 he was a member of the Board of Directors and Deputy Vice President of Fiera Milano.

His political activity began with the Lega Nord Party, from 1995 to 1999 he was mayor of the municipality of Induno Olona; he then became regional councillor of Lombardy and President of the Regional Council from 2000 to 2005. Re-elected councillor in 2005, he was also confirmed as President of the Regional Council until 2006, when he ran for mayor of Varese. He was elected in the first round in 2006 and confirmed in 2011, in these years he also held the position of President of ANCI Lombardia (from 2009 to 2014).

In 2018 he was elected, for the center-right coalition, President of the Lombardy Region with 49.75% of the votes and confirmed in the regional elections of 12 and 13 February 2023, with 54.65% of the votes.