The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Advokatfirman Vinge is a first tier firm,

Advokatfirman Vinge’s 40-lawyer group is ‘swift, highly skilled’. It advised the Swedish government on Saab’s rescue and sale to Spyker Cars and the provision of a state guarantee for a European Investment Bank (EIB) loan to Volvo in connection with its sale to Chinese Geely. Practice co-heads Mikael Ståhl and Fredrik Vinge are recommended, as are Stefan de Hevesy and Henrik Ossborn.

Within Capital markets, Advokatfirman Vinge is a first tier firm,

Advokatfirman Vinge is commended for its ‘high integrity and broad knowledge base’. Group head Mikael Ståhl and his team advised Aardagh Group on a $2.47bn combined bond and revolving credit facility. Göran Nyström advised RusForest on its SEK437m rights issue. Erik Sjöman in Malmö is ‘an asset to any project team’. Clients also recommend securitisation expert Stefan de Hevesy.

Within Construction, Advokatfirman Vinge is a second tier firm,

The ‘professional, knowledgeable, responsive’ Daniel Ericsson and his ten-lawyer team at Advokatfirman Vinge advised the Port of Gothenburg on a reconstruction project and Fastighets AB Brodal on the construction of new offices for fashion chain Gina Tricot.

Within Corporate and commercial, Advokatfirman Vinge is a first tier firm,

Advokatfirman Vinge ‘combines legal and commercial knowledge’. It has four Swedish offices and is developing closer links with China. Malin Ohlin Åkermark advises Boliden, and Malmö-based Björn Mullaart advises Tetra Pak and DSB. Bertil Villard and Christian Hybbinette are advising the Swedish Ski Association.

Within Dispute resolution, Advokatfirman Vinge is a second tier firm,

Advokatfirman Vinge is recommended for its ‘professionalism, knowledge and response times’. Practice head James Hope and Johan Gernandt are representing a state-owned Chinese company against a US engineering company in an $80m SCC arbitration. Christer Söderlund is joint Swedish counsel in court proceedings arising from a $22.5bn multiparty arbitration. Jonas Eklund and Krister Azelius are representing homeowners in a $36m defects class action against NCC.

Within EU and competition, Advokatfirman Vinge is a first tier firm,

The ‘speedy and extremely competent’ Carl Wetter and Johan Karlsson at Advokatfirman Vinge advised Tele2 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 DSB SOV. Marcus Glader advises Swedbank and Google.

Within Employment, Advokatfirman Vinge is a first tier firm,

At Advokatfirman Vinge, the ‘committed, serious’ Björn Lindskog and Fredrik Gustafsson ‘provide constructive advice’, and recently represented SAS in three discrimination cases. Fredrik Dahl and Linnéa Blommé advised Quintiles on its restructuring. Malmö-based Ingela Malmborg acts for Tetra Pak, and Gothenburg-based Olle Lindén assisted PV Enterprise with a major reorganisation. New clients include Selecta and LG Electronics.

Within Energy, Advokatfirman Vinge is a first tier firm,

Advokatfirman Vinge’s ‘highly competent’ team includes Malmö-based Ingela Malmborg and Mathias Lindquist, who are representing Cementa in the Supreme Court, as well as Stockholm-based Johan Göthberg and Johan Cederblad, who advised Fortum regarding a SEK3.8bn joint venture with Skellefeå Kraft. Karin Ebbinghaus and Christoffer Thalin recently joined from Vestas.

Within Environment, Advokatfirman Vinge is a second tier firm,

Thomas Sjöberg in Stockholm and Ingela Malmborg in Malmö lead Advokatfirman Vinge’s ‘committed, serious’ team. Malmborg is representing Cementa in a high-profile dispute and Sjöberg is advising SSE Renewables Sverige on wind energy projects. Maria Paijkull assists with environmental permits and permissions.

Within IT and telecoms, Advokatfirman Vinge is a second tier firm,

Advokatfirman Vinge is recommended for its ‘excellent industry knowledge and accurate advice’. In Stockholm, Björn Gustavsson is an IT procurement expert and Carl Johan af Petersens advised Tele2 Sverige in regulatory disputes with TeliaSonera regarding interconnection fees and antitrust matters. Malmö-based Henrik Borna advised Qlik Technologies on its SEK1.9bn secondary offer, as well as licensing and support agreements. Susann Vahlenbreder Hecht leads the team in Gothenburg.

Within Insolvency, Advokatfirman Vinge is a second tier firm,

Advokatfirman Vinge’s Gothenburg team includes court-appointed administrators Per Settergren, Fredrik Tengström, Morgan Hallén and Anders Strid, who handled the bankruptcies of Elator Aktiebolag, Elator Holding and Milljanären. The Stockholm team concentrates on restructuring.

Within Insurance, Advokatfirman Vinge is a first tier firm,

Advokatfirman Vinge advised Gjensidige Insurance on the first Swedish cross-border insurance company merger. Practice head Peter Morawetz, who was appointed to administer the life insurance company Aspis Liv, is recommended along with Per Johan Eckerberg. Fabian Ekeblad and associate Malin van den Tempel joined from the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority.

Within Intellectual property and media, Advokatfirman Vinge is a second tier firm,

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.

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, Advokatfirman Vinge is a first tier firm,

Christina Kokko heads Advokatfirman Vinge’s ‘competent, experienced’ team, which advised EQT V on its SEK12bn acquisition of the Dometic Group. Johan Winnerblad, who represented Saab on the sale of C3 Technologies, and managing partner Michael Wigge are also recommended. The team remains sizeable but experienced various departures: three partners joined Roschier; two joined Hannes Snellman Advokatbyrå AB; Jan Byström joined Ashurst; and Johan Cederlund left the legal profession.

Within Real estate, Advokatfirman Vinge is a second tier firm,

The ‘professional, experienced’ Patrick Forslund heads Advokatfirman Vinge’s ‘excellent’ 25-lawyer group. Morgan Hallén and Fredrik Sonander advised Norwegian Property on the SEK10bn sale of Norgani Hotels, and Stefan de Hevesy advised Nordic Real Estate Partners on the SEK520m sale of five shopping centres to Kungsleden.

Within Shipping, Advokatfirman Vinge is a first tier firm,

Advokatfirman Vinge’s Gothenburg-based team advises on the purchase, sale, financing, and registration of vessels, and has notable strength in arbitration. Clients include P&I clubs, insurers, banks, shipowners, oil companies and offshore businesses. Jonas Rosengren, who handles cargo claims and other disputes, is recommended along with Per-Olov Sköld and Fredrik Vinge.

Within Tax, Advokatfirman Vinge is a first tier firm,

Mattias Schömer heads Advokatfirman Vinge’s ‘swift, highly skilled’ 19-lawyer practice, which is recognised for its international network, strong transactional record, and work on incentive schemes and reorganisations. It also advises family businesses on succession planning. Lennart Larsson and Odile Fallenius are recommended.