The Legal 500

Mannheimer Swartling’s ‘approachable, highly knowledgeable and easy to work with’ team, led by Johan Carle and Tommy Pettersson and supported by Brussels partner Stefan Perván Lindeborg and public procurement specialist Louise Widén, combines transactional support with contentious, regulatory and public procurement work. It advised on Esselte’s acquisition of Isaberg Rapid, Ford’s sale of Volvo to Geely and and represented Trioplast Industrier in the European Commission’s Industrial Bags cartel case.

Carl Wetter at Advokatfirman Vinge is advising the Swedish State on the Swedish pharmaceutical monopoly deregulation. The ‘excellent, knowledgeable’ antitrust expert Johan Karlsson advised Tele 2 regarding the Swedish Competition Authority’s claim against TeliaSonera before the Stockholm District Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union for abuse of dominance in the DSL market. Malmö-based Björn Mullaart handles public procurement matters for railway operator DSB SOV. Kristian Hugmark joined from Howrey LLP in Brussels and Marcus Glader was promoted to partner.

At Advokatfirman Cederquist’, ‘business-oriented’ practice head Olle Rislund, is ‘an excellent communicator’ Fredrik Lindblom and recently promoted partner Carl Bokwall defended Arla Foods and Swedavia against Swedish Competition Authority investigations into alleged abuse of dominance. The firm handled Swedish and Norwegian merger control advice and filings in relation to Investor’s € 460m acquisition of Aleris Holding from EQT III.

Advokatfirman Delphi’s ‘expert, responsive’ team is recommended for public procurement cases, ‘establishing deep client relationships’. Practice head Anna Ulfsdotter Forssell is representing Johnson & Johnson in the Supreme Court. Ulfsdotter Forssell, Sara-Li Olovsson, Erik Olsson and Elisabeth Eklund advised Sanofi Pasteur. Kristian Petersen was promoted to partner.

Gernandt & Danielsson Advokatbyrå recruited Ola Wiklund from Wistrand. Kenny Carlsson and his team defended NCC against nine municipalities following alleged cartel charges by the Swedish Competition Authority. Significant clients include Pernod Ricard, Nordea, Carnegie and Alfa Laval.

Hammarskiöld & Co AB’s ‘excellent’ competition team is strong in high-profile merger and abuse of dominance cases. Managing partner Claes Langenius and Joakim Sundbom represented Stockholms Stadshus in state aid litigation. They also acted for Lycos Europe in its damages claim against TeliaSonera and represented Systembolaget, the Swedish alcohol retail monopoly, in competition and public procurement issues.

Lindahl recruited David Frydlinger from telecoms operator Ventelo. Practice group head Eva-Maj Mühlenbock represented a claimant against the municipality of Stockholm regarding illegal state aid for the promotion of local broadband services. The team assisted with the competition aspects of numerous transactions, notably advising Altia in respect of its purchase of Pernod Ricard’s wine and spirits portfolio and is defending TV4 against a complaint about the decision by the Swedish Radio and TV Authority’s to decrease TV4’s fee for terrestrial television. The 15-lawyer public procurement team advises numerous Swedish and international clients.

Linklaters LLP lost Eric Söderlind and Kent Karlsson, who established Kastell Advokatbyrå AB. The practice led by Jonas Koponen, who divides his time between the firm’s Brussels and Stockholm offices, handles merger control and state aid work. Clients include Swedish multinationals Vattenfall and TeliaSonera. Christina Mailund advised the Swedish Government on state aid matters arising from SAS’s rights issue.

Setterwalls recruited Erik Hellners from SAS. ‘Dedicated, knowledgeable and supportive’ practice head Ulf Djurberg and his 19-lawyer team advised Kronans Droghandel Retail on the merger control and antitrust aspects of its acquisition of 171 pharmacies across Sweden. Martin Levinsohn, who heads the Malmö practice, is advising the SodaStream Group in relation to a Swedish Competition Authority investigation.

Clients recommend Leif Gustafsson and his team at Baker & McKenzie Advokatbyra for ‘high service standards and down-to-earth advice’. It advised KTF and L’Oréal on one of the first oppositions under the new Swedish Competition Act. Caroline Khattar Boström joined from the Swedish Competition Authority.

Ragnar Lundgren’s team at Bird & Bird Advokat KB advised 3GIS on competition law issues and multiple disputes concerning connection fees, and Empower Oy on merger control elements of its purchase of Scancon Industrimontage. Litigator Michael Frie is handling a private enforcement damages case.

Karl Dhunér at Dhunér Järvengren Advokatbyrå is a leading name in EU and competition law.

Hamilton Advokatbyrå’s growing practice won new clients including Tele2 and ThyssenKrupp Xervon Sweden. Group head Fredrik Linder, commended for his ‘skill and knowledge of public procurement law’ successfully represented Ernst & Young and SCA and advised Investor Growth Capital and Priveq Investment on their acquisition of two pharmacy clusters from the Swedish Government.

Hannes Snellman Advokatbyrå AB trebled its team, hiring partners Ingvar Zander from Linklaters LLP and Peter Forsberg from Advokatfirman Vinge, and assistants Olof Larsberger from Linklaters LLP and Liana Thorkildsen from Roschier. Joakim Lavér is representing Stockholm’s public transport authority Storstockholms Lokaltrafik in several public procurement matters. TeliaSonera is an important new client.

EU and competition law boutique Öberg & Associés recruited Martin Mörk from the office of the Chancellor of Justice. Ulf Öberg is recommended along with Ida Otken Eriksson, who specialises in state aid. Key mandates included representing Konsum Nord in the first Swedish state aid case before the EU Courts.

Following the departure of Lars Johansson to Nord & Co Advokatbyrå, Christian Wik in Helsinki leads Roschier’s Finnish and Swedish competition group, which was strengthened by Björn Lundqvist from DLA Nordic. Increased activity included advising Top-Toy on its purchase of Leksam and pension fund Tredje AP-fonden on its acquisition of Hemsö Fastigheter.

Olof Alffram at Wistrand represented Shell and Peab in cartel cases and Canal Plus in disputes regarding broadcasting rights to the national Swedish Football league. Ola Wiklund joined Gernandt & Danielsson Advokatbyrå.

Ashurst’s practice is reinforced by the firm’s 70-lawyer EU and competition group. Mats Johnson and Johan Gregow advised Skanska Infrastructure Development on PPP project Nya Karolinska Solna. Other key clients include Åhléns and DeLaval International.

At Eversheds Södermark Advokatbyrå AB, Eva Kullberg Tideman specialises in EU, competition and public procurement. Lars Sandberg represented NCC in Sweden’s largest cartel case.

John Hane and Foyen Advokatfirma KB’s public procurement team advise contracting authorities and suppliers on tendering processes and construction and infrastructure disputes. Notable clients include municipalities and utilities and suppliers, Sweco and WSP Sverige.

Helsingborg-based Michael Lettius at Advokatfirman Glimstedt, who ‘listens, evaluates and delivers the right performance’, advised on MaserFrakt’s acquisition of Fraktcentralen i Gestrikland and represented municipalities against electricity suppliers. Jonas Ågren in Jönköping handles competition-related disputes.

MAQS Law Firm assisted with numerous merger filings, notably UNIVAR’s acquisition of a large part of Shell’s Nordic lubricant business. Johan Lannering heads the competition group, while Anders Stening in Stockholm and Kajsa Adlercreutz in Gothenburg specialise in public procurement. Linda Dahlström joined from the Swedish Competition Authority

At Magnusson Advokatbyrå, Charlotte Bus advises longstanding client Global Blue on multinational projects. She advises clients including a major petroleum producer, on REACH compliance and negotiations with the European Chemicals Agency. Bobby Arash joined from Steptoe & Johnson LLP in Brussels.

At Moll Wendén Advokatbyrå AB, Mikael Karlsson represents the region of Skåne in public procurement matters and disputes.