We propose the first compositional event structure semantics for a very expressive π-calculus, generalising Winskel’s event structures for CCS. The π-calculus we model is the πI-calculus with recursive definitions and summations. First we model the synchronous calculus, introducing a notion of dynamic renaming to the standard operators on event structures. Then we model the asynchronous calculus, for which a new additional operator, called rooting, is necessary for representing causality due to new name binding. The semantics are shown to be operationally adequate and sound with respect to bisimulation.