The Legal 500

Advokatfirman Cederquist’s four-partner practice represents international and domestic banks including Nordea, SEB and Swedbank. Practice head Svante Hultqvist, who ‘understands the issues behind the documents’, and Åsa Nordman acted for Svenska Handelsbanken in the financing of Biovitrum’s acquisition of Swedish Orphan. Mattias Larsson and his team acted as Swedish counsel to Geely in connection with its €1.3bn acquisition of Volvo Car Corporation from Ford Motor Company.

Mannheimer Swartling represents government organisations and major banks. Group head André Andersson, who is ‘extremely capable in financial transactions and has an inventive mind’, advised Nordic Governments on loan agreements with Iceland totalling €1.8bn. Jan Dernestam advised SAS on financing deals totalling SEK7.6bn. Daniel Karlsson assisted Biovitrum with a term loan facility provided by Svenska Handelsbanken for the acquisition of Swedish Orphan.

Advokatfirman Vinge’s high-profile clients include SEB, Svenska Handelsbanken, Nordea Bank and Swedbank. It assisted Barclays Capital and Merrill Lynch International with a €675m senior multicurrency term and revolving facilities agreement for the acquisition of Kerling. Stefan de Hevesy assisted Westdeutsche Immobilien Bank with a SEK325m credit facility agreement. Henrik Ossborn in Malmö ‘is second to none for securitisation and asset finance’. Hans Wibom departed for the Wallenberg Foundations.

Gernandt & Danielsson Advokatbyrå handles complex financing mandates for banks, investment firms, fund managers, finance and insurance companies. It advised China Construction Bank (London) on a $200m acquisition finance facility for Geely’s acquisition of the Volvo Group. Niclas Rockborn is ‘especially strong on regulatory matters’. Mikael Borg was promoted to partner and Marcus Johansson is recommended.

At Linklaters LLP, managing partner Per Nyberg, Dennis Hansson and Patrik Olsson advised lenders on a €200m multicurrency revolving credit facility for Finnair. Nyberg and Jörgen Axelsson were part of an international team advising on the Paroc Group restructuring.

At White & Case Advokat AB, group head Magnus Wennerhorn assisted Nordea Bank with EQT’s acquisition of AcadeMedia. Fredrik Gillgren assisted Altor Fund III with senior and mezzanine financing for its acquisition of over 200 pharmacies from Apoteket. Bengt-Åke Jonsson handles cross-border deals.

At DLA Nordic, group head Mikael Kövamees, Carl Schwieler and Filip Dahlstedt advised advised Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and RBS on a five-year £200m senior debt facility to the TelecityGroup. Bengt Kärde advises two Swiss-owned banks operating in Sweden. Björn Sjöberg advised Barclays Capital.

Hammarskiöld & Co AB advises on asset and aviation finance. Group head Per Gustaf Ekbom assisted SEB, KFW, Calyon and Nordea Finance with an EIB guarantee facility for Finnair. Ekbom and Philip Heilbrunn advised Nordea Bank on Triton’s acquisition of Ambea/Carema from 3i.

The ‘popular, busy’ Fredrik Rydin’s ‘high-quality, reliable’ team at Roschier, which includes ‘good, pragmatic’ Joakim Wedlund, advised Investor in connection with a senior facilities agreement arranged by SEB and Swedbank for the financing of its acquisition of Aleris and represented DnB NOR (as lessor) in a leasing transaction with Storstockholms Lokaltrafik relating to Stockholm’s new tramway line.

Setterwalls’ ‘highly competent’ team ‘works to develop creative solutions’. Åke Fors assisted Bomhus Energi AB with a SEK1.3bn facility agreement with Nordea Bank and Svenska Handelsbanken. Jörgen Almelöv specialises in ship finance. Peter Sarkia from Hammarskiöld & Co AB and Assur Badur from EFM/Boultbee joined the group. Thomas Lakhall moved to Nord & Co Advokatbyrå.

Mats Rooth and his team at Ashurst represented Nordea Bank on senior financing for Triton’s acquisition of part of the Ovako group and advised Nordic Capital on its takeover offer for Munters.

Leif Gustafsson and his team at Baker & McKenzie Advokatbyra work closely with the firm’s international offices. Sten Bauer and Cecilia Bjelle assisted Capman with its acquisition of Aspen i Jönköping Holding and INR Holding in one of 2010’s few private equity deals.

At Advokatfirman Delphi, Clas Romander and Per Lagerkvist advised lenders Dresdner Bank and Commerzbank and borrowers, notably Riverside Europe Partners. Key mandates included assisting the City of Linköping with back-up credit facilities and assisting Bank of America with restructuring matters. Erica Johansson joined from Mayer Brown International LLP.

Fredrik Madani’s team at Hannes Snellman Advokatbyrå AB includes Ingvar Zander, John Cohen and structured finance specialist Paula Röttorp. Supported by the firm’s pan-Nordic strength, the team represented Triton in its acquisition of Ambea and EQT in its public offer for Academedia.

At Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, the ‘dedicated and quick to respond’ Tord Svensson represents banks including Eurohypo and Swedbank while Håkan Lindgren represents Crédit Agricole and handles borrower-related work for Niam Nordic Fund IV. Clients commend their ‘depth of professional and industry knowledge’

Lars-Hernrik Andersson’s team at Lindahl has ‘in-depth knowledge of project and acquisition finance terms and conditions’, handling financing transactions notably for DnB NOR Bank. Peter Bäverlid represented shipowner Rederi Transatlantic on a SEK120m financing secured by cargo/container vessels. Jesper Johansson’s ‘knowledge and advocacy is unrivalled’. He also represented Deutsche Pfandbriefbank and Aareal Bank in a SEK1.9bn capex and term facilities agreement for a commercial property portfolio acquisition.

Sten Gejrot’s ‘commercially focused’ team at MAQS Law Firm represents lenders, borrowers and government bodies, notably HSBC, GE Capital and government agency Kommuninvest. Clients commend Lars Isacsson’s ‘capacity to deal with many ongoing matters simultaneously with excellent results’.

At Wistrand, practice head Monica Petersson and Ulf Forsman advised the European Investment Bank on the €400m loan to Saab Automobile. Tommy Grönberg assisted Deutsche Genossenschafts-Hypothekenbank with acquisition financing. The firm applied its restructuring expertise to various mandates related to the financial crisis.

Hans Svensson’s team at Bird & Bird Advokat KB focused on insolvency and security-related issues, increasing its activity on the lender side. Major clients include Citibank. Anders Nilsson and Gustaf Anselmsson advised Vasallen on its SEK1.2bn refinancing with three separate banks.

Gärde Wesslau Advokatbyrå represents borrowers and lenders in infrastructure, restructuring and debt buyback transactions, notably advising Nordea Bank on ship finance. Staffan Olsson advises investment group Spiltan.

Hamilton Advokatbyrå undertakes commercial and regulatory work. Peter Kullgren represents American Express in Sweden. Banking litigator Johannes Ericson strengthened the practice following its merger with Advokatfirman Nilsson & Co.

At Hellström Law, Anders Lundberg, Jonas Wetterfors, Manne Bergnèhr and Göran Lundsten provide ‘above average advice’ to Swedish financial institutions and international institutions entering the Swedish market on capital markets law, including structured products and regulatory matters.

Clients appreciate Moll Wendén Advokatbyrå AB’s ‘high knowledge and competence’. Thomas Moll and Martin Jönsson advise on asset finance, M&A support and regulatory matters.

Advokatfirman Törngren Magnell KB provides ‘excellent service’. Tobhias Brandell is commended as ‘accessible, responsive and knowledgeable’. Clients include state-owned Jernhusen. Sara Axelsson advised Eqvitec Capital and Ares Capital on mezzanine financing for Altor Fund III’s acquisition of 200 pharmacies for Apotek Hjärta.