The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Mannheimer Swartling is a first tier firm,

Mannheimer Swartling’s 40-lawyer practice represents government organisations and major banks. Group head André Andersson advised certain Nordic governments on loan agreements with other countries, and Jan Dernestam advised SAS on a financing. Daniel Karlsson represents Swedish and international banks.

Within Capital markets, Mannheimer Swartling is a first tier firm,

Mannheimer Swartling is ‘committed, hardworking, knowledgeable and pragmatic’. Eva Hägg and Biörn Riese assisted Haldex and Concentric with Concentric’s spin-off and listing on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm. Hägg assisted Industrivärden with its €550m convertible bond issue, and Klaes Edhall advised TeliaSonera on its SEK10bn share repurchase offer.

Within Construction, Mannheimer Swartling is a first tier firm,

‘Experienced negotiator’ Jan Kansmark heads Mannheimer Swartling’s seven-partner practice, which ‘provides invaluable process support’. It is advising Stockholm County Council on the SEK14bn New Karolinska Solna University Hospital, and ‘construction expert’ Johan Granehult is advising ESS Scandinavia (Lund University) on the SEK14bn European Spallation Source research facility as well as Botniabanan on construction of Botnia rail link. Kaj Hobér acts in international arbitrations.

Within Corporate and commercial, Mannheimer Swartling is a first tier firm,

Bo Söderberg heads Mannheimer Swartling’s ‘first-class’, 15-partner group, which provides ‘deep knowledge in different fields’. The team advised on the establishment of BAB Bankernas Automatbolag. Martin Pekkari, who is ‘fast, knowledgeable and a good negotiator’, recently advised Storstockholms Lokaltrafik on the procurement of new trams. Biörn Riese has been advising on the Haldex group restructuring.

Within Dispute resolution, Mannheimer Swartling is a first tier firm,

Clients commend Mannheimer Swartling’s ‘efficient, responsible, professional’ team, which handles high-profile disputes and arbitrations. Kaj Hobér successfully represented RosInvest in arbitration with the Russian Federation, and Olle Flygt is representing the Swedish National Debt Office in disputes concerning Carnegie Investment Bank. Mattias Göransson is praised for his ‘good industry knowledge’, and practice chair Robin Oldenstam is also recommended.

Within EU and competition, Mannheimer Swartling is a first tier firm,

Mannheimer Swartling’s team is ‘approachable, knowledgeable and easy to work with’. It combines transactional support with contentious, regulatory and public procurement work. Recent key mandates include representing Skanska in the long-running court case concerning the asphalt cartel; HeidelbergCement in the ongoing European Commission cement cartel investigation; and Milko in its merger with Arla Foods. Johan Carle and Thomas Pettersson lead the practice with support from public procurement specialist Louise Widén and Brussels-based Stefan Perván Lindeborg.

Within Employment, Mannheimer Swartling is a second tier firm,

Mannheimer Swartling is commended for its ‘experience, speed and good documentation’. Gothenburg-based Henric Diefke’s team handles the employment aspects of major transactions, including advising AstraZeneca on the sale of Astra Tech to DENTSPLY.

Within Energy, Mannheimer Swartling is a first tier firm,

Hans Andréasson’s 12-partner team at Mannheimer Swartling is ‘strong, flexible’, and is commended for its ‘international perspective’. Per Molander recently assisted E.ON with power station permits and Bo Hansson advised WPD Scandinavia and NV Nordisk Vindkraft on wind farm permits. Kaj Hobér represented Vattenfall in international energy treaty arbitrations.

Within Environment, Mannheimer Swartling is a first tier firm,

Mannheimer Swartling’s ‘thorough, professional’ team provides ‘solid advice with short lead times’. Group head Per Molander represents Boliden Mineral in permit proceedings. Gothenburg-based Mårten Tagaeus is assisting Varbergs kommun with an environmental permit for Varberg’s port expansion. Malmö-based Bo Hansson’s clients include the City of Stockholm. Mikael Wärnsby moved to Lindahl.

Within IT and telecoms, Mannheimer Swartling is a first tier firm,

Mannheimer Swartling’s ten-partner group shows ‘business acumen and outsourcing knowledge’. Practice head Bo Söderberg advised Bankernas Automatbolag on outsourcing its payment transaction services, Malmö-based Niklas Bogefors advised Lyckeby Group on IT outsourcing, and Martin Pekkari recently acted for KF Group and Stockholms Lokaltrafik. Telecoms clients include Telenor and TeliaSonera.

Within Insolvency, Mannheimer Swartling is a second tier firm,

Mannheimer Swartling’s Thomas Pettersson and Biörn Riese advise creditors and debtors negotiatiating restructuring and recovery. Riese was appointed liquidator of HQ Bank, and Pettersson advised Allokton on its restructuring.

Within Insurance, Mannheimer Swartling is a second tier firm,

Mannheimer Swartling’s clients include Codan Forsikring, Gard and Skandia Liv. The ‘responsive, capable’ Helena Rempler and her team advised Brummer Life on establishing a new insurance company. Hans Hammarbäck focuses on disputes. The group recruited Jörgen Sköld from Setterwalls and Annika Grönlund from Trygg Hansa. Stefan Brocker is also a significant figure in the practice.

Within Intellectual property and media, Mannheimer Swartling is a second tier firm,

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.

Within Legal market overview,

The two largest firms in Sweden – Mannheimer Swartling and Advokatfirman Vinge – dominate the market, and Lindahl is Sweden’s third-largest firm with a strong national and regional presence. That said, smaller firms and breakaway boutiques are thriving due to their ability to provide specialist expertise at a competitive price. For example, successful litigation boutique A1 Advokater attracted top new clients and lateral hires. A recent development was the return of shipping and insurance boutique JCA Skarp Advokatbyrå AB. Gozzo Advokater, which closed its offices in 2008, but which has reopened featuring some of its original partners.

Within Mergers and acquisitions, Mannheimer Swartling is a first tier firm,

Mannheimer Swartling’s busy team is led by the ‘sharp and experienced’ Biörn Riese, who in his role as liquidator organised the sale of HQ Bank to Carnegie Investment Bank. Clas Nyberg advised AstraZeneca on the $1.8bn sale of Astra Tech to DENTSPLY International. Also recommended are the ‘extremely commercial’ Adam Green, who provides ‘fast, pragmatic advice’, and Eva Hägg, who leads the public M&A group. Isabella Ramsay, Nina Svensson, Emil Boström and Lucas Jonsson were promoted to partner.

Within Real estate, Mannheimer Swartling is a first tier firm,

Jesper Prytz leads Mannheimer Swartling’s ‘commercial, knowledgeable and enthusiastic’ 50-lawyer team, which assisted AstraZeneca with the SEK450m sale of its R&D site in Lund, and NCC Property Development on a mixed-use property development in Malmö. Klas Wennström advised Kungsleden on purchasing a SEK3.6bn international property portfolio.

Within Shipping, Mannheimer Swartling is a first tier firm,

Mannheimer Swartling’s Gothernburg-based maritime and transport department is ‘efficient, with a straightforward, no-nonsense approach’. It recently advised Stena RoRo on delivery of two RoPax super ferries, and Johan Ljungberg advised DFDS and C.PORTS on the acquisition of Älvsborg Ro/ro and taking over operations of the ro/ro terminal in the Port of Gothenburg. Former managing partner Stefan Brocker and Fredrik Andersson jointly lead the group.

Within Tax, Mannheimer Swartling is a first tier firm,

Mannheimer Swartling is ‘Sweden’s premier law firm for corporate tax’. Martin Nilsson’s ‘competent, resourceful’ team has ‘a deep bench of talent’ to advise on reorganisations, incentive plans, structured finance and transfer pricing and transactions, such as AstraZeneca’s $1.8bn sale of Astra Tech to DENTSPLY International. Nilsson and Anders Erasmie assisted IGT with its SEK700m public offer for Entraction Holding. Karin Attorps advised Haldex on its restructuring and the subsequent listing of Concentric on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm.