The Legal 500

Swedish Competition Authority

A recent Court of Appeal case illustrates the risk that parties (and their counsel) run when an agreement is governed by a law of a different language from that used in the agreement itself. Due to the chairman's casting vote, the otherwise split decision came down in favour of one dictionary translation.

Update and trends

In the first case of its kind to be decided by a higher court in Sweden, the Court of Appeal finds no probable cause for infringement where a competitor’s trade mark was used for keyword advertising on Googles AdWords service.

In a noteworthy ruling the Northern Norrland Court of Appeal had to consider two interesting questions regarding commercial agents:

New Swedish closely related party rules for listed companies: On 31 January 2012, the Swedish Securities Council issued a new set of closely related party rules which may have a substantial impact on the business and ownership of listed companies in Sweden. Partners Peder Grandinson and Ulf Grubbström of Hammarskiöld & Co comment on the new rules and possible consequences thereof.

Swedish Competition Authority

Industrial activities are of great importance to Europe’s financial wealth. Industrial emissions, however, cause environmental pollution and industrial emissions constitute a major part of Europe’s total emissions to air, water and soil. Consequently, there is a need for regulation of industrial operations at an EU level. Partner Erica Nobel and associate Christina Hellström comment on the new legislation and the possible consequences thereof.

Swedish state aid news

Effective July 1st, 2012, the new revised Swedish legislation on bribery entered into force. The last time this area was more thoroughly revised was in 1977. The previous regulation was criticized for being both inaccessible and outdated.

On October 1, 2012, changes in Regulation (2003:770) on government authorities’ electronic information exchange enter into force. The changes involve an obligation for a number of government authorities to implement e-commerce, and from May 31, 2013 handle all of their orders for supplies and services electronically. In this article partner Kristian Pedersen and associate Ingrid Sandstedt present the new rules.