The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters LLP’s ‘global strength provides the best possible product’. Managing partner Per Nyberg, Dennis Hansson and Patrik Björklund advised Nordic banks on financing of EQT V’s SEK12bn acquisition of Dometic Group. Nyberg, Björklund and Linn Siljelöf advised Assa Abloy on financing of its SEK11.3bn public bid for Cardo. Roger Johnson rejoined from Hannes Snellman Advokatbyrå AB.

Within Capital markets, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Jörgen Axelsson leads Linklaters LLP’s ‘excellent’ team, which is ‘hard to beat’. Svante Johansson, Fredrik Lindqvist and rising stars Darragh Byrne and Charlotte Levin advised the joint lead managers and underwriters on Eniro’s SEK2.5bn rights issue; Goldman Sachs as agent and financial adviser to Renault regarding the SEK28bn sale by private placement of its series B shares in Volvo; and Morgan Stanley & Co. International and Svenska Handelsbanken on Industrivärden’s €550m convertible bonds issue.

Within Corporate and commercial, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Hannes Snellman Advokatbyrå AB hired Christoffer Saidac and corporate governance expert Björn Kristiansson from Advokatfirman Vinge, although Roger Johnson rejoined Linklaters LLP.

Within Dispute resolution, Linklaters LLP is a third tier firm,

Linklaters LLP’s Anders Nordström and global counsel Niclas Widjeskog act in cross-border transactional and regulatory disputes. Widjeskog represented Barclays in an arbitration arising from a tender offer for Wayfinder Systems.

Within EU and competition, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters LLP’s Jonas Koponen, who divides his time between Stockholm and Brussels, handles merger control and state aid work, and represented Assa Abloy regarding its €1.3bn public takeover of Cardo. Other clients include Microsoft and Johnson & Johnson. Christina Mailund advised Kirkbi, PFA Pension and Lundbeck Foundation on the purchase of a 55% stake in Falck.

Within Employment, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters LLP’s employment group supports big-ticket transactions. Practice head Anders Nordström and Ottilia Boström Iskanius advised Pang Da on its equity investment in Saab Automobile and Thermo Fisher Scientific on the acquisition of Phadia. Charlotte Demegård divides her time between Stockholm and London.

Within IT and telecoms, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters LLP’s Elisabet Lundgren advised Pang Da on its €245m equity investment in Swedish Automobile, and Thermo Fisher Scientific on its €2.5bn acquisition of Phadia.

Within Insolvency,

Frederik Madani leads Hannes Snellman Advokatbyrå AB’s team, which acts for clients including Ålandsbanken and MezzVest. Roger Johnson rejoined Linklaters LLP.

Within Insurance, Linklaters LLP is a third tier firm,

Linklaters LLP has represented major insurers in contentious matters.

Within Intellectual property and media, tier 4

Elisabet Lundgren, who heads Linklaters LLP’s pan-Nordic TMT practice, has an excellent reputation in hi-tech IP.

Within Legal market overview,

Among the global firms in the market, Baker & McKenzie Advokatbyra, Bird & Bird and DLA Nordic handle a combination of local and international mandates, whereas Linklaters LLP focuses on the larger cross-border mandates; having downsized considerably in recent years it has consolidated its position and begun to hire again. MAQS Law Firm continued to expand its pan-Nordic presence. Ashurst is increasingly visible on Swedish and cross-border mandates.

Within Mergers and acquisitions, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Fredrik Lindqvist’s ‘top-notch, commercial, responsive’ team at Linklaters LLP advised Thermo Fisher Scientific on its €2.47bn acquisition of Phadia as well as Assa Abloy in several transactions including the SEK11.3bn public bid for Cardo and the SEK5.9bn sale of Cardo Flow Solutions. Darragh Byrne is ‘a rising star’. Roger Johnson rejoined from Hannes Snellman Advokatbyrå AB.

Within Real estate, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters LLP’s ‘considerate, commercial’ practice head Magnus Lidman advised Commerz Real on its SEK4.35bn divestment of a property to Vasakronan, and Unibail-Rodamco on the SEK2.4bn divestment of shopping centres to Grosvenor. Mounir Tajiou left for an in-house post.

Within Tax, Linklaters LLP is a third tier firm,

Linklaters LLP’s practice head Mats Anderson rejoined the firm from a consultancy, and advises on multi-jurisdictional transactions, such as Triton’s acquisition of Wittur Group. Ebba Perman Borg specialises in private equity fund structuring and incentives. Karl Sandström joined Deloitte.