Profile: Mannheimer Swartling Advokatbyrå

Mannheimer Swartling Advokatbyrå - Who's Who Legal '70'

What is the Who's Who Legal '70'?

Mannheimer Swartling has four offices in the country as well as a presence internationally through bases in Berlin, Frankfurt, Brussels, St Petersburg, Moscow, New York, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

DISPUTES
The firm’s dispute expertise stands out, especially for commercial arbitration. Five of the 15 Swedish lawyers selected in the chapter are at Mannheimer Swartling. Kaj Hobér tops the research in the country overall, while Robin Oldenstam is “talented”, “young and really good”. Tore Wiwen-Nilsson is regarded as “very capable”. Claes Lundblad advised Svenska Petroleum Exploration on its US$13 million claim against Lithuania, and Olle Flygt, a 2007 lateral hire from local rivals Vinge, completes the quintet. The latter two also appear in the commercial litigation chapter, an area in which Lundblad is the most highly nominated individual in the entire country – his expertise in product liability matters also earns him an place in that chapter.

FINANCE
Mannheimer Swartling gives a good show in our finance-related research. Three partners are listed in the capital markets chapter, making it the best-represented firm in the country. The firm has a diverse client base drawn from both Swedish and international corporations, investment banks, unit trusts and other financial institutions. Tom Hård heads the corporate finance department and his securities practice was much praised. Eva Hägg, head of the firm’s securities practice group, is another respected partner and Thomas Wallinder completes the strong showing.

André Andersson is head of banking and insurance practice group and appears in the chapter devoted to the former practice area. Described as a “top-tier practitioner”, he received more nominations than any of his peers in the local research and is a “first-class financing lawyer”. Andersson also appears in the project finance section alongside Tore Wiwen-Nilsson.

The firm is also home to the only two lawyers in Sweden to appear in the corporate tax chapter. Peter Nordquist has twice argued cases before the European Court of Justice, and is “undeniably a leading authority on Swedish tax matters”. Martin Nilsson is head of the corporate taxation group and joins him in this chapter as part of a “highly efficient and thoroughly impressive practice”.
Elsewhere, Peter Alhanko heads the practice group for private equity and appears in the private funds chapter. “Hugely experienced”, his fund formation work is extremely highly rated.

The firm is also strong in transportation related fields of law. André Andersson makes his third appearance in the aviation chapter, where he is joined by Sven Unger and “financing guru” Jan Dernestam. The firm appears in the shipping and maritime chapter courtesy of a fourth listing for Claes Lundblad – his expertise in shipbuilding and related finance matters is regarded as “first class” and “difficult to beat”.

COMPETITION AND REGULATORY
The competition section showcases three more partners from the firm. Johan Coyet heads the EU and competition practice group and is also the Brussels office manager. Described as a “thoroughly reliable and effective practitioner”, he is joined by Tommy Pettersson – “one of the best in Sweden” – and Johan Carle, a “rising star”, according to our sources. In addition, the “very fine” Biörn Riese leads the IT, telecoms and technology practice and represents Mannheimer Swartling in the regulatory communications chapter.

REAL ESTATE and CONSTRUCTION
The firm boasts two nominees in the real estate research, one of whom is Klas Wennström, the most highly nominated individual in Sweden. Wennström’s practice focuses on the conveyancing of real estate holdings and real estate companies and he has developed a reputation as an expert in his own country, one source noting that he is “the only one [he] would go to”. Wennström is joined by Jesper Prytz, who heads the firm’s real estate practice group from the Gothenburg office and is a “go-to guy for work in the local market”. Tore Wiwen-Nilsson makes his third appearance in the construction chapter (“he is definitely a big name in this field”), while Per Molander is the most highly nominated lawyer in the Swedish environment research, heading the firm’s group in that area.