CMS Wistrand > Stockholm, Sweden > Firm Profile

International Capabilities

Your bridge to successful cross-border business in Sweden and Germany / the DACH region

Trading between Sweden and Germany has been intense ever since the Hanseatic period, which has helped both economies to grow and develop. Conducting cross-border business is now a matter of course with Germany being Sweden’s largest international trading partner today.

Our German Desk lawyers have years of experience

CMS Wistrand is one of Sweden’s leading full-service corporate law firms, and our German Desk provides legal advice to clients from the DACH region regarding Swedish law and/or by way of its project manager function. The areas of advice include the formation of a subsidiary or branch, cross-border transactions, all types of commercial agreements, labor law, disputes, as well as ongoing advice concerning daily business life in Sweden.

Our German Desk consists of Swedish and German lawyers with many years of experience in corporate law advice to clients from Germany, Switzerland and Austria. All the lawyers have trained and worked in Sweden as well as Germany.

In addition, we assist our Swedish clients with cross-border transactions, investments and other business aspects regarding the German-speaking part of the World.

Lawyers 

Robert Kullgren – Over the years, Robert has represented a large number of major German investors in Sweden, such as Deutsche Bank, Deka, Bouwfonds, Patrizia and Berlinovo. He holds a LL.M from a German university and has previously worked for a German law firm. 

Sascha Schaeferdiek – Sascha is a dual-qualified Swedish Advokat and German Rechtsanwalt, and is regularly engaged in cross-border M&A transactions, in particular for medium-sized companies from the German-speaking countries. Sascha holds a German law degree and a doctorate from a German university and has worked for a German law firm for several years. 

Erik Hygrell – Erik has for several years advised German clients on investments and various corporate law mandates in Sweden, including in particular clients from automotive and other manufacturing industry sectors. Erik holds an LL.M from a German university and has previously worked for a German law firm.  

CMS Wistrand also has a strong international practise within Banking and Finance, and Debt Capital Markets. 

Monica Petersson – advises leading Swedish and international banks and blue chip corporates on all aspects of debt financing, ranging from unsecured and secured bilateral and syndicated loans and export financing to Debt Capital Markets, derivatives, and related regulatory matters. She was admitted to the New York Bar in 1990 and to the Swedish Bar in 1994 and is now considered to be one of the top banking lawyers in Sweden. 

Ulf Forsman – a dual-qualified (England and Sweden) banking and finance specialist, he focuses mainly on secured lending (including real estate finance), export finance, acquisition finance and receivables finance. Ulf worked as a banking lawyer in the City of London for over 10 years and was based in Brazil for nine years, where he was Head of Legal for Latin America for a multinational company. In 2018 Ulf assisted the London Loan Market Association (LMA) in connection with the drafting of the export finance buyer credit agreement recently published by the LMA. 

Diversity

At CMS Wistrand, we strive for a long-term profitable business with a good balance between financial, environmental and social responsibility. Our sustainability work aims to achieve a good balance between these three aspects of our responsibility.

Financial responsibility

Our aim is to consistently generate sustainable profit and fortify our financial position in both the short and long term, while maintaining harmony with our environmental and social obligations.

Environmental responsibility

We commit to operating our business in a manner that preserves our natural resources over the long term, avoiding any negative impact on the environment.

Social responsibility

Our commitment involves running our business in a way that prioritizes the health and well-being of individuals, contributing positively to the development of a thriving society.

At CMS Wistrand, we have identified six areas that we focus our sustainability work on. These focus areas are fair business practices, diversity and inclusion, working conditions, community commitment and development, environment and human rights.

Fair business practices

Good business practices ensure we act in an ethical and sustainable manner in our interactions with the outside world. This includes relationships with actors we meet within the scope of our matters, e.g. clients, counterparties, courts and other authorities, but also other actors in our environment, e.g. the Swedish Bar Association, suppliers and competitors. This area includes legal ethics, anti-corruption work, actions against money-laundering and promotion of social responsibility in the value chain.

Diversity and inclusion

As an international organisation with clients and employees spanning a multitude of countries, and cultures, we believe that diversity is of fundamental importance to CMS. Engaging and supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the diversity of our clients and their sectors is the basis for a sustainable and successful business.

All those who are part of a society – regardless of skin colour, age, religion, sexuality, gender identity, physical and mental functions, financial conditions, cultural descent and ethnicity – shall have the same opportunities and rights. Wistrand’s work with diversity and inclusion is mainly about taking advantage of many different experiences and knowledge within the scope of our work. A good composition of people with various experiences increases both the efficiency and the quality in the business.

Working conditions
CMS Wistrand’s commitment within this area means continuously striving to create guidelines and work practices related to work within or upon assignment by Wistrand that brings about good working relationships. The work concerns, among other things, occupation and employment conditions, working conditions and social security, work environment and dialogue with representatives for employee and employers’ organizations.

Community commitment and development
We are a part of the society in which we operate. It is only natural for us to strive to contribute our knowledge and experiences in various projects advantageous to society. Wistrand encourages its colleagues to commit to such projects and with the help from its existing connections assume a social responsibility. Exchange with other actors is valuable as it helps them and us to learn and grow. The focus area includes community commitment to education and culture, health, development of and access to technology and social investments.

Environment
Our environmental work includes working for a sustainable employment of resources and striving to prevent negative environmental impact.

Human rights
The recognition of, and respect for, human rights is critical for the principles of the rule of law and is the basis for the most important institutions in society, such as the legal system. Our goal is that our business operations shall be permeated by the respect for human rights and freedoms. Respect for these is a prerequisite for sustainability work within all of our focus areas.