ADVEL Attorneys at Law > Reykjavik, Iceland > Firm Profile

ADVEL Attorneys at Law > The Legal 500 Rankings

Iceland > Real estate and construction Tier 1

ADVEL Attorneys at Law counts domestic and international companies across the real estate and energy sectors, including Mannvit Engineering and Kolufell, on its key roster of clients. The team successfully represented real estate developer Reitir before the appeals court in a case involving the correction of an encumbrance error by the public registrar, regarding a property in Hallarmuli, Reykjavik. Gudmundur Siemsen leads the practice and is noted for his experience in projects and disputes relating to landmarks, contractor issues, planning and construction cases, and public procurement work.

Iceland > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 2

Counting Arion Bank as one of its key clients, ADVEL Attorneys at Law continues to collaborate with international law firm Allen & Overy LLP and provides ongoing advice as local counsel to Arion Bank on its EMTN and covered bond programmes. The team, which is led by corporate partner Stefan Thor Ingimarsson, advises insurance companies and other financial institutions on reorganisations, loan agreements and financing matters. Other key members of the team include Ragnar Guðmundsson, Dora Sif Tynes and Bjarni Þór Bjarnason, who joined the firm in mid-2021 from Deloitte Legal ehf..

Iceland > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

ADVEL Attorneys at Law has notable experience in high-end transactions and recently advised leading Nordic IT company Advania on the sale of a majority stake to Goldman Sachs. Stefan Thor Ingimarsson leads the practice group and is praised for ‘understanding the complexities of international matters’, particularly in relation to the refinancing and reorganisation of Icelandic companies. Bjarni Þór Bjarnason joined the firm from Deloitte Legal ehf. in mid-2021, following the departure of Kristinn Hallgrimsson to an in-house position at Arta in early 2021.

Iceland > Dispute resolution Tier 2

ADVEL Attorneys at Law has experience representing a roster of domestic and international clients in high-end disputes before the district, EU and EFTA courts, and is noted for its experience in handling cases involving major financial institutions. Key clients include the Icelandic Government and Vodafone; the team is representing the latter in an appeal to the EFTA Court regarding a state aid decision adopted by the EFTA Surveillance Authority. Guðmundur Siemsen leads the group and is supported by EEA and EU law specialist Dóra Sif Tynes. Kristinn Hallgrímsson left the firm in 2021 to join Arta.

Iceland > EEA and competition Tier 2

ADVEL Attorneys at Law’s EEA and competition team counts domestic and multinational companies, including Vodafone, as well as employees and public institutions among its key list of clients. The team has experience before the Icelandic Competition Authority, Icelandic courts and the EFTA Surveillance authority, and handles a range of matters, notably state aid issues and competition disputes. Praised for her ‘intimate knowledge of EU law’, Dóra Sif Tynes leads the practice.

Iceland > Employment Tier 2

ADVEL Attorneys at Law handles a range of employment and labour law matters, often involving a cross-border element, including redundancies, transfer of employee issues share options plans. The team counts Icelandic companies across the energy, banking, fishing and IT sectors, as well as public authorities, on its key roster of clients. Following the departure of Óskar Norðmann in February 2021 to Arta, Stefan Thor Ingimarsson leads the practice group and is supported by Guðmundur Siemsen.

Iceland > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2

ADVEL Attorneys at Law handles company reorganisations, distressed funding issues and financial restructuring matters, in addition to bankruptcy proceedings, and acts a key adviser to Arion Bank. The team also counts Festi and leading Nordic IT company Advania on its key roster of clients. Litigator Guðmundur Siemsen jointly leads the practice group alongside attorney-at-law Svanhildur Anna Magnúsdóttir.

Iceland > TMT and IP Tier 3

ADVEL Attorneys at Law’s workload includes handling the registration of trade marks and domains, in addition to license agreements, often involving a cross-border element, and IP protection matters. The TMT and IP team acts for technology and development companies, including the Advania Group and Hampidjan, as well as food and beverage sector clients. Stefan Thor Ingimarsson leads the practice, while Kristinn Hallgrímsson departed in mid-2021 to Arta.