Next Generation Partners

Shipping in Sweden

Mannheimer Swartling

Mannheimer Swartling’s shipping, transport and logistics team advises domestic and international companies, including major shipping companies, on shipbuilding and vessel conversion contracts as well as joint ventures and pool arrangements within the shipping sector, among other matters. The team is increasingly involved in energy transition work, recently assisting with the negotiation of a shipbuilding contract concerning hybrid methanol-powered cargo vessels. Stefan Brocker, a regular chairman in shipping arbitration proceedings, leads the team alongside Johan Ljungberg, who primarily advises investors and corporations on transactions and joint ventures in the shipping and transport sectors. Ljungberg is particularly experienced in transactions involving state-owned assets, such as port terminals. With broad transactional shipping industry expertise, Hanne Aarsheim plays a key role in the team.

Practice head(s):

Stefan Brocker; Johan Ljungberg


Other key lawyers:

Hanne Aarsheim


Testimonials

‘The “go-to firm” in Sweden with a strong shipping practice in Gothenburg.’

‘Stefan Brocker is a constant high performer who benefits from a strong position in the industry. He is technically and commercially skilled and very pleasant to deal with.’

‘Johan Ljungberg puts resources in place at the right time and his professionalism is outstanding. He is dedicated and brings success.’ 

‘Stefan Brocker is on top with extremely good communication skills. He is very pleasant to work with.’

‘Stefan Brocker is excellent. He is very competent, knows the shipping business and has a practical and commercial approach, providing valuable advice. In addition he is nice to work with and gets along very well with suppliers.’

‘Hanne Aarsheim has good knowledge of shipbuilding contracts. She is a good person to have next to you when negotiating shipbuilding contracts.’ 

‘A very focused and skilled team that is solution oriented.’

Key clients

The Stena AB group


Volvo Car Corporation


Heidelberg Cement Northern Europe AB


Shell International Trading and Shipping, London


Baltic Cable AB


LKAB


Wallenius Wilhelmsen


Swedish Orient Line


Gard A/S


Bolloré Logistics


The A.P Moller – Maersk group


Finnlines


Preem AB


Tallink/Silja Line


Donsö Shipping


Bertling Group


Salinity Group


Trafikverket


Concordia Maritime Ab


MSEA Capital Management Limited


Aspo Plc


ESL Shipping Oy


AtoB@C Shipping AB


Eastern Light AB


DSV Miljø Group A/S


Work highlights


  • Advised GDL Transport Holding AB, part of Danish DSV Miljø Group A/S, in relation to the divestment of its majority owned subsidiary GDL Sjöcontainer AB to Danish Daniaco Holding ApS.
  • Advised AtoB@C Shipping, a subsidiary of ESL Shipping, in connection with the sale of its agency business NSG Norra Skeppningsgruppen to GAC Group.
  • Assisted Stena RoRo AB/Stena Ropax Cyprus Limited with negotiating the shipbuilding contracts for two new hybrid cargo vessels operating on methanol. The vessels will be constructed at CMI’s Weihai Shipyard in China.

Setterwalls

Setterwalls’ maritime and transport law group handles a wide range of contentious and non-contentious matters, including shipping-related mergers and financings as well as international disputes concerning damages and loss of goods. The department represents both domestic and international clients, with a particularly strong reputation in acting for P&I Clubs. Stockholm-based practice head Åke Fors specialises in P&I matters, transport agreements, ship finance work, insurance claims, and accidents. Martin Sandgren boasts notable experience in charterparty, ship building, ship sale, and ship finance matters, while associate Samuel Pihl focuses on cargo and liability insurance mandates. Gothenburg-based senior associate Andréa Jällbrink stands out for her experience in international claims and disputes as well as contract negotiations.

Practice head(s):

Åke Fors


Other key lawyers:

Andréa Jällbrink; Martin Sandgren; Samuel Pihl


Testimonials

‘The team seems well equipped on matters related to shipping and logistics. They seemed comfortable in taking a strong position in a non-routine matter when a lot of law firms may be hesitant or unclear in the advice they provide.’

Key clients

Rederi AB Soya


Wallenius Lines AB


Wallenius Marine AB


Wallenius SOL AB


Wallenius Water AB


Sweden Orient Line AB


EUKOR Car Carriers Inc.


UK P&I Club


London P&I Club


North of England P&I Club


Steamship Mutual P&I Club


Elof Hansson Trade AB


Trident BMC AB


NYK Line


NorthStandard Limited


Deugro


ZITON A/S


SBM


Work highlights


  • Advised the non-profit organisation Better Shelter in connection with providing humanitarian aid in Turkey and Syria after the massive earthquake 2023. The work related to shipping and transportation of shelters to the epicentre of the catastrophe area.

Advokatfirman Vinge

Advokatfirman Vinge’s leading maritime and transport law department advises a wide range of clients, including domestic and foreign shipping companies as well as major P&I Clubs and other insurers, on contentious and non-contentious matters. The Gothenburg-based team is well known for its expertise in sea transport and port-related work. With considerable experience advising domestic and international clients on transactional matters as well as in litigation and arbitration proceedings, Michele Fara leads the practice. Ninos Aho, who was promoted to partner in January 2023, has over a decade of international shipping experience, and senior associate Paula Bäckdén handles all aspects of maritime and transport law, including insurance and cargo damages claims. Anders Leissner, who specialises in international trade issues in the shipping sector, also plays a key role in the team.

Practice head(s):

Michele Fara


Other key lawyers:

Anders Leissner; Ninos Aho; Paula Bäckdén


Testimonials

‘Vinge seems to completely lack weak links, but a couple of individuals stand out. Paula Bäckdén is a star; her expertise is world-class. Her complementing qualities of being attentive and humble make her a superstar in Sweden. Michele Fara is another talent that must be mentioned, with incredible knowledge and broad experience!’

‘Without a doubt Anders Leissner is a standout within the group. His knowledge of EU sanctions and relationships within the maritime community is unmatched. He is also incredibly responsive, which is even more impressive given the onslaught of sanctions work.’

‘Paula Bäckdén is a very knowledgeable and skilled shipping lawyer. She has a broad knowledge of the shipping industry and its legal peculiarities, and she is very quick to think on her feet.’

‘Michele Fara and Paula Bäckdén are knowledgeable, professional and have a good business-oriented approach to legal advice.’

‘The team has strong legal skills and vast expertise in the area. They provide exquisite attention to clients and colleagues. A highly recommended firm and lawyers.’

‘A competent and diverse team with great skills and knowledge, including an ability to think outside the box in their search for answers, an ability to listen, to communicate in a simple and understandable way, and to adapt to situations.’

‘They understand the shipping industry and associated business problems and are solution oriented.’

‘Advokatfirman Vinge is the go-to firm when it comes to all kinds of transport law in the Nordics. Their expertise in the field is simply unparalleled.’

Cirio Advokatbyrå AB

Cirio Advokatbyrå AB’s shipping team focuses on dry shipping mandates, including M&A, financing, and chartering matters, working closely with lawyers in the firm’s other departments. With considerable experience advising ship owners and banks on cross-border shipping investment and financing matters, Stockholm-based Carl Axel Morvay leads the team. Erik Linnarsson retired from practice in 2023.

Practice head(s):

Carl Axel Morvay


Testimonials

‘Cirio has a team of very skilled people with broad and deep expertise in many areas relevant for shipping.’

‘Cirio takes on new problems in a efficient way, providing fast, high-quality responses.’

‘Carl Axel Morvay’s team is great to work with – very engaged and personable, and they always deliver.’

‘Carl Axel Morvay is a top individual to work with – clearly very gifted as he straight away grasps the core issues and commercial nuances of some of the largest and most challenging transactions in the market.’

Key clients

Viking Line Abp


Stromma Group


Gard AS


Swedish Orient Line


Wallenius SOL


Work highlights


  • Advised Swedish Orient Line on shipping mandates.
  • Advising Credit Agricole on the financing of two vessels.
  • Advising NIBC BANK NV on the financing of two vessels.

CMS Wistrand

Ida Dahlborg and Kristofer Selvin jointly lead CMS Wistrand’s Gothenburg-based shipping and transport practice, which has recently advised on ferry and roll-on roll-off operations as well as port agreement negotiations. Selvin has considerable experience advising major ferry operators in relation to port agreements; he also handles domestic and cross-border ship sale and ship finance transactions. Dahlborg’s broad practice includes marine insurance, charterparty and marine energy matters.

Practice head(s):

Ida Dahlborg; Kristofer Selvin


Key clients

Stena Line Scandinavia AB


Advokatfirman Lindahl KB

Advokatfirman Lindahl KB’s shipping and transportation practice, working closely with the firm’s M&A, finance and capital markets team, handles a range of dry shipping matters for domestic and international clients. Johan Karlefors in Helsingborg heads up the team, while Malmö-based Sten Gejrot specialises in shipping finance matters. Senior associate Peter Bäverlid plays a key role, handling commercial matters for a variety of clients active in the sector.

Practice head(s):

Johan Karlefors


Other key lawyers:

Sten Gejrot; Peter Bäverlid


Key clients

Västtrafik AB


Svenska Skeppshypotek


Next Advokater

Next Advokater’s shipping department handles wet and dry matters for a wide range of clients. Practice head Matthias Schmitt, who is a member of both the Swedish and German bar associations, specialises in shipping, transport, logistics and insurance law, and has considerable experience advising on cross-border shipping insurance matters.

Practice head(s):

Matthias Schmitt