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Overview

The two largest firms in Sweden – Mannheimer Swartling and Advokatfirman Vinge – dominate the market. Following its merger with RydinCarlsten in 2009, Lindahl has strengthened its position as Sweden’s third largest firm.

Notwithstanding fallout from the financial crisis, which is affecting the Swedish banking sector, the Nordic transactional market picked up in 2010. Big ticket deals included the historic sales of Volvo and Saab and the continued deregulation of Apotek, the Swedish pharmacy monopoly. In common with their counterparts in other jurisdictions, Swedish firms experienced an increase in litigation. Furthermore, Stockholm is an international arbitration centre.

Changes in the Swedish legal market continued apace. Hamilton Advokatbyrå merged with litigation boutique Advokatfirman Nilsson & Co; its Malmö office joined MAQS Law Firm. Having lost its Gothenburg office to Foyen Advokatfirma KB in 2009, it is now based entirely in Stockholm. Successful litigation boutique A1 Advokater attracted top clients and lateral hires.

Smaller firms are thriving due to their ability to provide specialist expertise at a competitive price. Notable examples include commercial boutiques Advokatfirman Norelidholm and von lode advokat ab; M&A specialists Advokatfirman Törngren Magnell KB, Moll Wendén Advokatbyrå AB and Nord & Co Advokatbyrå; intellectual property specialists Heidenstam Legal Advokat AB and Advokatbyrån Gulliksson; and litigation boutique Frank Advokatbyrå AB. Linklaters LLP’s EU and competition partners launched Kastell Advokatbyrå AB in November 2010.

While global firms Baker & McKenzie Advokatbyra and DLA Nordic handled a combination of local and international mandates, Linklaters LLP has downsized dramatically and now concentrates on high-value, cross-border instructions. With significantly fewer lawyers, it is losing ground on the domestic market.

Finnish firms Roschier and Hannes Snellman Advokatbyrå AB retain a strong foothold in the Swedish market and are well respected for their transactional strength.

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Legal Developments in Sweden

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

  • e-Commerce

    How can the government’s attitude and approach to internet issues best be described? Sweden has been at the forefront in deregulating the telecoms market and has encouraged the growth of competition in the broadband supplier market.
    - Foyen Advokatfirma AB

  • The Swedish Market Court prohibits airport operator Swedavia and its contractor EuroPark from...

    abusing their dominant positions by imposing unfair fees for taxis
    - Delphi

  • Unclear rules impact adversely on Swedish real estate market

    Unclear tax rules deter real estate investors and in the worst case may impact on new construction in Sweden. Today there is a risk that the Swedish real estate market will be drained of billions of kronor. The reason lies in the unpredictable application of a complex regulatory framework for taxation of real estate. In recent years, the law and its application has become more and more unpredictable and difficult to interpret.
    - Delphi

  • Enhanced deduction for corporate expenses on research and development

    Sweden is - in relative terms - one of the leading countries in the world within research and development. Most part of research and development in Sweden is financed by the industry, with a total contribution of 83 billion SEK in 2007.
    - Delphi

  • Simplified expert tax

    The purpose of the rules when they were introduced was to strengthen Sweden’s international competitiveness and to create incentives for companies to choose Sweden for start-ups and encourage companies to locate or retain leading management functions in Sweden.
    - Delphi

  • NORDIC SURVEY 2011

    The following results are based on an on-site survey of conference attendees, conducted by the law firm Delphi at the unquote” Nordic Private Equity Congress held in Stockholm on 31 May 2011. The survey captures the views of approximately 100 attendees representing all areas of the private equity industry.
    - Delphi

  • EU Directive Introduces a 5 per cent Risk Retention Requirement

    The Swedish Capital Adequacy and Large Exposures Act (Sw. Lag (2006:1371) om kapitaltäckning och stora exponeringar) has been amended as part of the implementation of the Capital Requirement Directive (2009/111/EC) (CRD II). The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Sw. Finansinspektionen) (SFSA) has also issued detailed regulations (FFFS 2007:1) (as amended) implementing CRD II.
    - Delphi

  • New Remuneration Regulations

    The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Sw. Finansinspektionen) issued new regulations on 1 March 2011, introducing new requirements for finan cial institutions to implement remuneration policies that are consistent with their long-term financial results.
    - Delphi

  • ESMA – A new European Supervisory Authority

    As of 1 January 2011, a new system for the supervision of the European financial market is in place.
    - Delphi

  • Increased Deposit Insurance

    The deposit insurance is a state-provided guarantee of deposits in respect of all types of accounts at banks and securities companies. The deposit insurance was as of 31 December 2010 increased to EUR 100,000 per customer from the previous level of EUR 50,000.
    - Delphi

Press Releases in Sweden

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
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