The Legal 500

BBA // Legal ‘truly works as a team and is not afraid to take a stance’, and provides a ‘responsive, pragmatic and value-for-money’ service. The ‘experienced, sensible and commercial’ Baldvin Haraldsson and the ‘very effective’ Katrin Hallgrimsdottir have been advising HM Treasury and the UK Deposit Guarantee Fund in litigating claims against Landsbanki Islands regarding £4.5bn of Icesave deposit accounts.

Jonsson & Hall enjoys a top-notch reputation for dispute resolution across a range of areas, including insolvency and employment. Founding partner Gestur Jonsson and Ragnar Hall are extremely experienced litigators.

Juris Law Office recently defended former Prime Minister Geir Haarde and has also been representing Islandsbanki in a dispute relating to currency-linked loans and the IPO of its predecessor Glitnir Bank. Andri Arnason is ‘a very good Supreme Court attorney’, and Stefan Svensson is also highly recommended.

Landslog Law Offices’ superb dispute resolution practice represented HS Orka in arbitration with a US-owned aluminium producer regarding the validity of a power purchase contract. Highly regarded partner Johannes Karl Sveinsson has also been instructed by the Icelandic government to represent it in several disputes connected to the banking crisis.

Lex Law Offices’ clients are quick to praise the banking litigation side of the dispute practice. The firm has attracted much work stemming from its advice to Central Bank of Iceland and the restructuring of its €3bn loan portfolio, including ongoing litigation regarding repo transactions totalling over €1bn and the enforcement of claims against collapsed Icelandic banks. Arnar Thor Stefansson, Karl Axelsson and Kristin Edwald are highly experienced litigators.

LOGOS legal services is ‘clearly a very strong commercial firm’ and is regularly involved in major litigations, including insolvency-related cases, white-collar crime and tort claims. The firm has been advising numerous creditors against collapsed Icelandic banks, such as local UK authorities that had money in Icelandic deposit accounts. Group head Olafur Eiriksson is extremely experienced.

ADVEL Attorneys at Law’s busy litigation group represented Gift Investment in a dispute with Landsbanki over a derivatives contract. The City of Reykjavik is also a major client. Anton Bjorn Markusson heads the practice, which also includes Jon Ogmundsson, who shows flexibility, ‘experience and calmness’.

JP Attorneys has acted in several major insolvency-related disputes for creditors and debtors. Oskar Sigurdsson and Reynir Karlsson are recommended.

Nine of Reykjavik Law Firm’s 11 disputes partners are Supreme Court attorneys. The firm is particularly strong on the insolvency side.

Stefan Geir Thorisson is a key figure in Forum Lawyers’ practice, which represents individuals and companies, including Landsbanki, in a wide range of disputes.

Attorneys at Hofdabakki is particularly experienced in energy and environmental disputes. Hrein Loftsson and Thordur Bogason are Supreme Court attorneys.

Jonatansson & Co Legal Services is recommended for its expertise in arbitrations as well as commercial, white-collar crime and IP litigation. Hrobartur Jonatansson and Sveinn Jonatansson are the main contacts.

Mandat Law Firm fields five Supreme Court attorneys. Bjorn Bergsson is recommended.