The Legal 500

BBA // Legal’s top-notch team meets international standards and makes clients ‘feel like we have their undivided attention’. The firm recently advised Bluestar Silicones Investment on the Icelandic aspects of its $2bn takeover of the Norwegian company Elkem. Experienced transactional lawyer Einar Baldvin Arnason and the ‘very helpful’ Atli Bjorn Thorbjornsson are recommended.

Lex Law Offices’ premier practice advised Landsbanki Islands on its $155m investment in a 30% shareholding in Framtakssjóður Íslands; and a group of pension funds and private companies, led by the Icelandic fund management company Stefnir, on their acquisition of a 51% stake in insurance company Sjova-Almennar tryggingar. Gardar Gislason, Helgi Johannesson and Thorunn Gudmundsdottir are the key names.

LOGOS legal services’ ‘very good’ practice is praised for its ‘excellent response times’ and ‘robust advice’. It has been involved in several major restructurings involving large M&A components, and advised Icelandic Group on the sale of its German and French seafood operations to Pacific Andes. The corporate finance practice was also significantly boosted by the recruitment of Ottar Palsson, a former CEO of the investment bank Straumur Burdaras. Additionally, the firm’s dual-qualified London office head Gudmundur Oddsson is ‘clearly a rising star in the field’.

ADVEL Attorneys at Law provides ‘excellent service to its clients’, and is recommended for its ‘in-depth knowledge and fast responses’. Recent highlights include advising the IT and telecoms conglomerate Teymi on its demerger into Vodafone and Skyrr. Stefan Thor Ingimarsson heads the team, which also includes Sigurdur Gudjonsson, who is ‘very strong in corporate finance’, and Kristinn Hallgrimsson, who is ‘excellent when it comes to legal strategy and negotiations’.

Jonsson & Hall has been involved in several major mergers in the past two years. Gunnar Jonsson has an excellent reputation for corporate finance.

Juris Law Office represented the buyers of Pizza Pizza, owner of the Domino’s Pizza franchise in Iceland. Other clients include Iceland Post, Iceland Telecom and the Iceland National Broadcasting Service. The team was significantly enhanced by the arrival of Halldor Jonsson and Vifill Hardarson following the merger with Jonsson & Hardarson, as well as Pall Asgrimsson, former Iceland Telecom general counsel. Andri Arnason is also recommended.

Landslog Law Offices provides corporate advice to some of the country’s largest pension funds, including the Government Employee Pension Fund, Gildi Pension Fund and the Pension Fund of Commerce. Other clients include IPC, one of Iceland’s largest construction companies, and the Norvik Group.

Attorneys at Hofdabakki’s corporate clients include insurer TM, Baugur Group, Allianz and publisher Birtingur.

JP Attorneys represents some of Iceland’s largest companies on day-to-day as well as transactional matters. Clients include Grand Hotel Reykjavik and fishing company Visir.

Reykjavik Law Firm represents domestic and international clients, and recently advised Magma Energy on its investment into geothermal power company HS Orka.