ADVEL Attorneys at Law > Reykjavik, Iceland > Firm Profile

ADVEL Attorneys at Law
SUDURLANDSBRAUT 18
108 REYKJAVIK
Iceland

Iceland > Real estate and construction Tier 1

Iceland > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 2

ADVEL Attorneys at Law is home to an experienced team of banking and financing practitioners, regularly engaged on complex cross-border mandates on behalf of a client roster that includes Arion bank, Virðing and LSS Pension Funds, among others. The practice group frequently collaborates with international firm Allen & Overy LLP, particularly when providing advisory services to Arion bank, including on its €3bn EMTN programme. Practice leader Stefan Þór Ingimarsson excels in complex cross-border transactions and advises on the refinancing of domestic companies; he is supported by other key points of contact Dora Sif Tynes, Ragnar Guðmundsson and Bjarni Þór Bjarnason.

Practice head(s):

Stefan Þór Ingimarsson

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

Arion bank

Hampidjan

Advania Group

Klappir Green Soulutions

VÍS

N1

Oryggismidstodin

atNorth

Samskip

Reitir Real Estate

Work highlights

  • Advising Arion Bank on its EMTN programme.
  • Advising Arion Bank on its Covered Bonds Programme.
  • Advising Arion Bank in relation to issuances under its EMTN programme, as local advisers to the issuer.

Iceland > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Strategic refinancings and corporate re-buildings are key areas of expertise for the ‘business minded’ commercial, corporate and M&A practice group at ADVEL Attorneys at Law. Under the stewardship of ‘responsive, personable and helpful’ practice leader Stefan Thor Ingimarsson , the team also sees regular premium work in the form of high-end M&A transactions and offers services to start-up companies. Bjarni Þór Bjarnason and Ragnar Guðmundsson are other key names at partner level. In recent work, the team advised large domestic security company Öryggismidstoð Íslands on various commercial matters relating to Covid-19 testing.

Practice head(s):

Stefan Thor Ingimarsson

Testimonials

‘This practice seems to be a leading practice in their local market demonstrating strong knowledge and international experience as well as transparency and commercial acumen.’

‘Stefan Thor Ingimarsson is our main contact who is always available and demonstrates very strong legal and commercial skills. He is also very friendly.’

‘Stefan Thor Ingimarsson is very responsive, personable and helpful.’

‘Business minded and to-the-point advice.’

Key clients

Arion banki

Hampidjan

Advania Group

VÍS

Klappir Green Solutions

Oryggismidstodin

Brim

Valitor

N1

Work highlights

  • Advised Öryggismidstoð Íslands on its implementation of processes for Covid-19 testing in Iceland.
  • Advised Festi on its forest carbon offset project, to reduce the group’s carbon footprint.

Iceland > Dispute resolution Tier 2

ADVEL Attorneys at Law is equally adept at domestic and EFTA Court claims, and also handles a range of alternative dispute resolution including out-of-court attorney led negotiations, international arbitration proceedings at the LCIA, and appearing before municipal and government authorities. The team frequently represents international financial institutions and major global corporations; Arion Bank and Vodafone are key examples from its roster of clients. Guðmundur Siemsen acts as team leader, receiving support from additional key contact Dóra Sif Tynes.

Practice head(s):

Guðmundur Siemsen

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

The Icelandic Government

Arion Bank

Advania Group

SMI

N1

Stræto

Air Atlanta

Vodafone

Askja

Work highlights

  • Acted as counsel for Sýn (Vodafone Iceland) to appeal a decision of the EFTA Surveillance Authority concerning state aid to Farice for the roll-out of a third submarine cable for international connectivity in electronic communications.
  • Representing insurers in numerous court cases filed by the liquidators of the Wow Air estate involving claims under the D&O policy of Wow Air.
  • Providing legal advice and representation to Brim in an employment dispute.

Iceland > EEA and competition Tier 2

Leading EEA expert Dóra Sif Tynes heads up the practice group at ADVEL Attorneys at Law, which has demonstrable expertise in state aid and sector-specific regulatory issues, including financial supervision, energy and electronic communications mandates. The team frequently represents clients before the Icelandic Competition Authority, Icelandic courts and the EFTA Surveillance Authority in an array of cartel investigations, collusive behaviour claims and unfair competition cases.

Practice head(s):

Dóra Sif Tynes

Key clients

The Icelandic Government

Arion Bank

Advania Group

Reitir Real Estate

N1

Stræto

City of Reykjavik

Vodafone

Work highlights

  • Engaged as counsel for Sýn (Vodafone Iceland) to appeal a decision of the EFTA Surveillance Authority concerning state aid to Farice for the roll-out of a third submarine cable for international connectivity in electronic communications.
  • Represented Arion Bank in a case filed by EC-Clear which is an action for damages against all of Iceland’s major banks, including Arion bank, and credit card companies for breaches of competition law (concerted practices).
  • Assisted numerous clients, including the Insurance company VÍS and the First North listed Klappir Grænar Lausnir, in preparations for the implementation of MiFID II and MAR in Iceland.

Iceland > Employment Tier 2

ADVEL Attorneys at Law assists leading companies, public entities and municipal government bodies with a range of employment-related matters, including handling negotiations of collective agreements and strike actions. The team also advises on cross-border work on behalf of large international corporations. Stefan Þór Ingimarsson heads up the team and has recently been notably active on the refinancing and reorganisation of Icelandic companies. He is supported by experience practitioner Guðmundur Siemsen.

Practice head(s):

Stefan Þór Ingimarsson

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

The Icelandic Government

atNorth

Hampidjan

Advania

Arion bank

Work highlights

  • Represented Brim in a number of cases before the District Court in Reykjavik as well as the Court of Appeals concerning the legal status of fishermen.

Iceland > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2

ADVEL Attorneys at Law is regularly instructed on financial restructurings, corporate reorganisations, bankruptcies and distressed funding issues, while the team’s attorneys act as liquidators and appointed trustees of distressed and insolvent entities and estates. The team also co-operates with major domestic financial institution, Arion Bank, on reorganisation and funding matters. Highly experienced litigator Guðmundur Siemsen leads the practice group alongside Svanhildur Anna Magnúsdóttir.

Practice head(s):

Guðmundur Siemsen; Svanhildur Anna Magnúsdóttir

Key clients

Festi

Advania Ísland

Festing

Arion Bank

Iceland > TMT and IP Tier 3

Corporate, company and M&A specialist Stefan Þór Ingimarsson heads up the TMT and IP practice at ADVEL Attorneys at Law, overseeing the team’s work, which largely consists of cross-border license agreements, intellectual property rights protection and copyright issues. Advania Group and Hampdijan are key examples from the firm’s client list.

Practice head(s):

Stefan Þór Ingimarsson

Key clients

Advania Group

Hampidjan

Calor ehf.

Polyhudun ehf.

Lactol ehf.

Sýn hf. (Vodafone Iceland)

Work highlights

  • Engaged as counsel for Sýn hf. (Vodafone Iceland) to appeal a decision of the EFTA Surveillance Authority concerning state aid to Farice for the roll-out of a third submarine cable for international connectivity in electronic communications.
  • Advising the Icelandic government in relation to its project to make digital services the main means of communication between its agencies and the Icelandic people.

The firm: ADVEL Attorneys at Law is a leading Icelandic law firm, providing a full range of legal services for individuals, corporations and institutions alike, both foreign and domestic. The law firm traces its roots back to 1966 to the formation of Logvisi. From the very beginning Logvisi, and later ADVEL, has first and foremost been a corporate and commercial law firm with a strong standing in dispute resolution, providing legal services to several of Iceland’s largest companies, government authorities and pension funds, advising its clientele both locally and abroad. Over the years it has also provided substantial advice to foreign clients seeking business in Iceland.

ADVEL Attorneys at Law has been extensively relied upon during the ongoing financial crisis, with its lawyers advising various financial institutions, companies, local and foreign creditors and official authorities, including the FME. This involves advice on the new emergency legislation, foreign currency restrictions, financial restructuring, redundancies, composition with creditors, sale of assets and advice on insolvency and bankruptcy procedures applicable within the Icelandic jurisdiction.

ADVEL Attorneys at Law has a long history of serving international clients, as well as local clients abroad, pioneered by one of its early founders, attorney Jon Finnsson, who attended both Universität Hamburg and Johan-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität in Frankfurt am Main. He counselled numerous foreign clients and all of the firm’s major local clients abroad, from 1966 until he retired in 2004. The law firm’s attorneys have maintained this tradition. It currently counts 20 attorneys, with legal education from nine different countries and substantive work and litigation experience in Europe and the US. Its attorneys are proficient in English, German, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and Spanish. ADVEL takes pride in an exceptionally strong international team and can safely say that it is unmatched by other Icelandic law firms. Through ADVEL’s membership of Globalaw, a leading global law firm network, it is linked to 116 law firms with over 5,000 lawyers, enabling it to provide clients with an international legal resource and providing assistance in cross-border dealings.

Areas of practice: ADVEL Attorneys at Law is one of Iceland’s leading law firms. ADVEL represents many of Iceland’s most prominent companies, public authorities and individuals, as well as having served numerous foreign clients in this time. Its practise currently consists of 20 attorneys, and fundamental clients include N1 (Esso/Exxon), Vodafone, Arion Bank, Advania, HB Grandi, Alfesca, Reykjavik City Hall, local municipal governments, Iceland Seafood International, Mannvit Engineering, Alcoa and Frumherji, to name a few.

Corporate and M&A is one of the firm’s primary practices, based on a decade-long experience, and includes consultation for all its major clients. The firm’s other areas of practice include: banking, finance and tax; dispute resolution; EEA, EU and competition; employment and labour; maritime, aviation and transport; projects and PFI; energy and environmental, restructuring and insolvency; trademarks and intellectual property.

Reference is made to the firm’s online submissions for further work highlights.

DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
Banking, finance and tax Bjarni Thor Bjarnason
Banking, finance and tax Dora Sif Tynes
Banking, finance and tax Stefan Thor Ingimarsson
Corporation and commercial Bjarni Thor Bjarnason
Corporation and commercial Ragnar Gudmundsson
Corporation and commercial Dora Sif Tynes
Corporation and commercial Stefan Ingimarsson
M&A Bjarni Thor Bjarnason
M&A Ragnar Gudmundsson
M&A Stefan Thor Ingimarsson
Foreign investments, contracts Dora Sif Tynes
Foreign investments, contracts Stefan Thor Ingimarsson
EU, EEA and competition Dora Sif Tynes
Administrative and local government Gudmundur Siemsen
Administrative and local government Arni Freyr Arnason
Bankruptcy, insolvency Gudmundur Siemsen
Bankruptcy, insolvency Ragnar Gudmundsson
Maritime, aviation and transport Gudmundur Siemsen
Litigation Arni Freyr Arnason
Litigation Gudmundur Siemsen
Trade marks, intellectual property Arni Freyr Arnason
Employment and labour Gudmundur Siemsen
Energy and environmental Gudmundur Siemsen
PhotoNamePositionProfile
Stefan Thor Ingimarsson photoMr Stefan Thor IngimarssonMr. Ingimarsson holds an LL.M. In International Economic and Business law from…
Gudmundur Siemsen photoMr Gudmundur SiemsenMr. Siemsen has extensive experience in litigation, in particular disputes concerning landmarks, planning…
Dora Sif Tynes photoMs Dora Sif TynesMs Tynes is an expert in the field of EU and EEA Law…
Number of lawyers : 15
Danish
English
German
Icelandic
Spanish
Swedish
Globalaw - the international law group (www.globalaw.net)
Iceland Chamber of Commerce
Contact : Vilborg Asgeirsdottir (general manager)