The Legal 500

Bird & Bird’s broad practice handles contentious and non-contentious work relating to industrial property and soft IP. Practice head Sara Sparring and Per Svanteson successfully represented SEAB, the Swedish distributor for DC Shoes in infringement proceedings in Stockholm District Court. Media team head Staffan Boström and Jerker Edström advised Max Martin on a producer agreement with Katy Perry; and Jim Runsten, Edström and Svanteson are representing Sony Computer Entertainment against distributors of ‘jailbreak’ devices. Richard Lewinson represents Teva. Ragnar Lundgren joined the re-established Gozzo Advokater.

Danowsky & Partners Advokatbyrå’s lawyers are ‘highly competent with a deep understanding of the media industry’. Ulf Isaksson recently represented Swedish newspaper Expressen and its editor-in-chief. Peter Danowsky and Olof Roos, who later joined the judiciary, successfully represented the record companies at appeal in ‘The Pirate Bay’ case. ‘Creative thinker’ Karin Nordborg joined from Essen International.

Lindahl’s ‘service-minded, proactive’ team, led by Malmö-based Johan Norderyd, represents Novartis, Arla and TryggHansa. Ulf Dahlgren and ‘goal-oriented, energetic’ trade mark and enforcement specialist Henrik Wistam recently represented LEGO, and ‘calm, experienced’ patent litigator Håkan Borgenhäll successfully represented Merck. Managing partner Staffan Eklöw advises TV channels.

Clients recommend ‘fantastic’ IP firm Sandart&Partners Advokatbyrå KB for contentious and non-contentious work. Anders Kylhammar, who is ‘easy to work with and understand clients’ needs’, handles litigation, licensing and contractual work covering trade mark, copyright and media law. ‘Outstanding litigators’ Peter Sande and Eric Runesson succeeded in complex arbitration over a patent licensing agreement. Peter Adamsson Karin Cederlund, Dag Sandart and Magnus Jonson are the key names. Recent additions to the team include Ia Modin from Vinnova, Henrik Rydqvist from Wistrand, and Christopher Tehrani from Stockholm District Court.

‘Excellent one-stop shop’ Advokatfirman Cederquist recruited new practice head Kristina Lidehorn from TV4. Lidehorn and Fredrik Ståhl advise Bisnode on online content and Elkjöp Nordic and Metro International on trade mark and copyright issues. Media clients include TV4 Group and Warner Music.

Advokatfirman Delphi’s Henrik Bengtsson is representing Andritz Hydro in a trade secrets case. ‘Terrific negotiator’ Johan Kahn, who leads the ITC/IP group, advised STIM on copyright for databases, software and levies. Johan Hübner has ‘unique competence on the borderline between IT, media and IP’. Peter Skoglund advises Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. Ann-Charlotte Söderlund joined Gozzo Advokater.

IP boutique Advokatbyrån Gulliksson shows ‘business sense and integrity’, and represents IKEA, Domo, Tetra Pak and ICA. The ‘highly experienced’ Jonas Gulliksson and ‘fantastic litigator’ Mattias Malmstedt are representing ratiopharm in a patent litigation. Hans-Anders Odh recently won a trade secret dispute.

Hammarskiöld & Co AB combines ‘brilliant response times and top-quality advice’, covering IP, media and marketing. Patent issues, including litigation, are a particular area of focus. Practice head Thomas Lindqvist is representing Siemens in trade secrets litigation, and managing partner Claes Langenius represents Universal Music.

Heidenstam Legal Advokat AB’s Peter von Heidenstam is representing Procter & Gamble against SCA Hygiene Products in two diapers advertising cases, and acting for Converse in a counterfeiting case. Helena Östblom joined from patent attorney firm Albihns.Zacco.

MAQS Law Firm is ‘accessible, proactive and straightforward’. Monique Wadsted, who also represents Canal+ Sweden and TV4, successfully represented the Motion Picture Association against The Pirate Bay. Trade mark and counterfeiting expert Christina Berggren in Gothenburg represented G-Star in a copyright infringement claim, and also acts for Apple, Gucci and Botega Veneta. Clients describe Carl Fhager as ‘Sweden’s best sports lawyer’.

At Mannheimer Swartling, Gothenburg-based Niklas Sjöblom advised AstraZeneca on the $1.8bn sale of Astra Tech to DENTSPLY International. Per Josefson represented Pfizer in a patent infringement claim, and Stefan Widmark advised Com Hem, Canal Digital Sverige and Tele2 Sverige regarding the retransmission of public service TV channels. Claudia Wallman was appointed specialist counsel.

Advokatfirman Vinge advised AGA Medical Corporation in patent litigation, and B Locket in a SEK10m copyright infringement case. The practice leaders are the ‘skilled and experienced’ Per Eric Alvsing in Stockholm, Susann Vahlenbreder Hecht in Gothenburg, and Henrik Borna in Malmö.

At Baker & McKenzie Advokatbyra, Stefan Brandt and Filip Skoglund advise Google; Brandt and Stefan Bessman are advising Concorp and Specsavers in high-profile cases; and Johan Nylén represented Hercules Capital in its acquisition of Process Vision Oy.

Advokatfirman Björkman AB’s Per Björkman is a sole practitioner specialising in IP and media law.

G Grönberg Advokatbyrå AB’s Einar Wanhainen and the ‘knowlegeable, available’ Mats Jansson advise on IP rights protection and software development agreements.

Gernandt & Danielsson Advokatbyrå’s Anders Lundin and Pontus Scherp successfully represented Toyota in the Swedish Market Court. Mats Hugoson assisted Viasat with terrestrial licences and distribution agreements.

Setterwalls’ ‘shrewd operator’ Lennart Arvidson is representing Teva in a patent dispute. Owe Hjelmqvist in Stockholm advises ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus on IP rights, and Gothenburg-based Fredrik Roos advises on trade mark and brand protection. Malmö-based Martin Levinsohn is the ‘sharp, competent’ practice head.

Wistrand’s ‘knowledgeable, responsive’ Michael Plogell handles patent and trade mark disputes. Copyright expert Olof Alffram is advising a database supplier, and Peter Helle is advising ePhone Sweden on data disclosure.

Senior consultant Elsa Arbrandt heads Ashurst’s team, which provides IP-related transactional support, notably advising the banks on Transmode Systems’ SEK530m IPO.

DLA Nordic fields a ‘dedicated, experienced and attentive’ team. Jan Bryme represents the Association of Swedish Professional Photographers, and Mathias Berggren acts for Egmont Tidskrifter and MTG Modern Studios. The team recruited Christopher Büller from the Swedish Patent and Registration Office as well as former film producer Jakob Vedefors. Frank Advokatbyrå AB’s Johan Sahlstrand, Mattias Erdös and Anna Byström advise Boxer TV-Access, TV4, Jagex and EMI Music. Recent mandates include representing V2 Tobacco in trade mark disputes.

Gärde Wesslau Advokatbyrå advises on IP and marketing law, and has particular expertise in trade marks. Petter Holm rejoined from STIM.

Advokatfirman Glimstedt’s knowledgeable and speedy team includes Gothenburg-based litigator Håkan Sjöström and Lund-based Jens Kinnander, who handle trade mark, patent and IP matters in the media and medical sectors.

Well-respected IP litigator Gabriel Lidman at Hamilton Advokatbyrå represents major publishers and collecting societies.

Fredrik Ahlqvist at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton advises bwin Games, Adobe, NYX Interactive and Marketmaker Norden on soft IP issues.

Elisabet Lundgren, who heads Linklaters LLP’s pan-Nordic TMT practice, has an excellent reputation in hi-tech IP.

At marketing law boutique Advokatfirman för Marknadsrätt, Daniel Tornberg, Katarina Ladenfors and Marcus Ateva represented Mercedes-Benz and Manpower Aktiebolag in the Swedish Market Court.

Moll Wendén Advokatbyrå’s David Klose successfully represented Mars against Kraft Foods. Thomas Moll advised Findus on IP infringements.

Mårten Stenström at Advokatfirman Nordia advises broadcasting networks, publishing houses, authors, composers and artists.

Roschier’s ‘experienced, sharp and analytical’ team is jointly led by Erik Ficks and Björn Johansson, who was recently recruited from Mannheimer Swartling. Highlights included advising Saab Automobiles in negotiations with GM. Other clients include Volvo and Rainpower. Former practice head Niklas Östman joined Nokia.

Pär Leander heads von lode advokat AB’s team, which handled new mandates for Pernod Ricard Group and Lantmännen. Henrik Lindström advises on trade marks and copyright, and clients praise Richard Wessman as ‘one of Sweden’s best IP lawyers’. Tom Kronhöffer joined from MAQS Law Firm.

Advokatfirman Westermark Anjou AB’s Johan Åberg advises on copyright, marketing and media law.