The large Swedish law firm Mannheimer Swartling
was founded in 1990. The firm has international presence in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, Brussels, Singapore and New York.
Focusses / specialisms
A powerhouse in the Swedish market, the firm is one of the leaders across the financial and corporate space.
The firm’s banking team has particular strengths in acquisition financing, corporate financing, project financing and refinancing mandates, acting for a mix of borrowers and lenders. The firm also has a credible financial services regulatory offering. It assists clients on the application of the regulatory framework to a variety of transactions and corporate matters and advises on a range of EU and Swedish financial services regulations.
In the capital markets area the firm is among the market’s best firms. On the debt side, the firm often engages on Sweden’s most complex and innovative transactions.
In equity capital markets the firm maintains a high share of the country’s high profile transactions thanks, in part, to strong links with many of the large “blue chip” companies.
The firm has an active investment funds practice which assists on all aspects of the full life cycle of a fund from formation and equity fundraising, co-investments and incentive programmes to going private, acquisitions and exits.
The firm’s strong M&A and transactional private equity practice works for acquirers and sellers on a number of large deals across sectors including industrials, healthcare, and technology.
In the restructuring and insolvency area the firm regularly works for the full spectrum of regional and international clients ranging from lenders and equity investors to companies facing financial difficulties to the Swedish Government and governmental agencies.
The firm’s project development team has consistently been involved in the lion’s share of the largest infrastructure, energy and industrial projects in Sweden.
Key clients
Among its clients are Storskogen Group, Nordea Bank, DNB Bank, Wind Systems, Danske Bank, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, Swedbank, Summa Equity, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, Carnegie, Swedavia, Castellum, AB Bonnier Fastigheter Finans, Heimstaden, Landshypotek Bank Aktiebolag, Stillfront Group and Trafikverket.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
During the research period the firm was active in all areas of corporate law and project development.
In banking and finance the firm has advised both borrowers and lenders on issues such as direct financing, project financing, acquisition financing and refinancing.
In capital markets it has been active in areas such as debt, equity and structured finance. In terms of debt capital markets work it assisted mostly issuers on various bond and note types.
In equity capital markets it advised issuers on share issues and IPOs.
In the M&A field it advised acquirers, targets and sellers on acquisitions and investments in various industries, including industrials and manufacturing, healthcare and banking.
In project development it acted for developers on projects in a broad range of industries, especially in transport, industrials and manufacturing and energy.
In restructuring and insolvency, the team at Mannheimer Swartling advised creditors and a debtor on debt restructuring and insolvency proceedings.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Preem $300 million term facility
Bonnier Fastigheter Finans SKr 5bn medium term note programme
Philip Morris $16 billion acquisition of Swedish Match
Client feedback: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Banking and finance
"Professional."
"High availability, problem-solving attitude, making complex structures more transparent and understandable."
"Service-minded, swift, well-educated, experienced, excellent communication."
"High knowledge, swift, efficient and responsive."
"Large team with wide expertise."
Capital markets
"Proactive and with very high competence. Easy to deal with."
"Eminent expertise within relevant legal areas. Responsiveness to client needs and concerns, dedication to achieving the best possible outcome for the client. High integrity and ethical conduct. Personalised attention to the client and our needs."
"Very knowledgeable, care about the product they produce. Excellent reputation."
M&A
"Trustworthy, reliable, likeable, knowledgeable."
"They are good at managing complex projects with a wide range of issues that need to be managed. Delivery is timely and very high quality."
"Professional, well read up on the matter. Strong negotiators."
"Very high-quality work and very familiar with our preferences."
"Deepest bench' of all Swedish law firms. Responsive and competent."
"Very good knowledge, broad network, great service and availability."
"They are extremely competent and fast. The service is excellent. Also, I always feel that you get the best person for the job no matter if that person is your contact or not (i.e. if the partner you contact isn't the specialist in the area he/she doesn't hesitate to use other people in the firm, even in other cities). MSA also have an understanding of commercial terms and what to accept and not accept in a negotiation."
"They are very quick at answering and producing documents, etc. The staff is available almost 24/7, which makes them one of the few law firms in Sweden that can handle a large transaction which has a tight deadline. Their partners are great bouncing boards and bring extensive experience to the discussions."
"Good availability, reliable advice, good support in negotiations."
"Professional, available, knowledgeable, easy to work with, client-focused."
"Great commercial, pragmatic advice, great at seeing the bigger picture and advising on market norms."
"Extensive knowledge. Fast response times. Personable contacts."
"Mannheimer Swartling is the go-to full-service firm in Sweden. The width of expertise and the fantastic client service is second to none."
"Highly knowledgeable, practical, quick responses, business-orientated, client service."
Private equity
"One of the leading law firms in Sweden with a full-service offering with unparalleled breadth and depth. Excellent quality across the board and able to deal with the most complicated situations in all areas."
"They have a true full-service offering with a few senior and great individuals leading the wider team."
Project finance
"Great competence and experience as well as understanding for legal as well as commercially linked topics."
Per Åsbrink
"Great competence and experience as well as understanding for legal as well as commercially linked topics. Per has been our single point of contact in M&A."
Johan Berg
"Deep knowledge. Fast responses. Practical solution-finding "
Rickard Carrick
"Very good knowledge, broad network, great service and availability."
"Great client management, creative and responsive."
Henrik Dock
"Strong relationship management, know-how of our business and well-informed on project-specific details."
Gustav Glimblad
"Friendly, easy to work with."
Adam Green
"Adam is a lawyer like no other! He takes the time to understand the business so he is a true extension of the in-house team – being able to provide specialist external advice perfectly tailored to the needs of the business."
Maria Holme
"Likeable, easy to work with, offers good service, meets expectations and deadlines."
"Positive attitude, professional and responsive."
"Likeable, knowledgeable, good availability."
Jan Holmius
"Commercially savvy, dedicated, on top of details and hands-on despite being a very seasoned professional. Excellent at strategic advice and to act as sounding board. Impressive interpersonal skills."
Aleksander Ivarsson
"Easy to deal with, proactive and very competent."
Mattias Karlsson
"Very competent and service-minded. He knows our business very well and I feel 100% comfortable to leave the legal works to him. I would be comfortable to ask him to do an SPA negotiation by himself and deliver the complete SPA for signing."
Daniel Khayyami
"Pragmatic, problem-solving."
"Very knowledgeable in his areas, commercially smart, excellent communicator, experienced, very nice as a person."
"Very knowledgeable and a great problem-solver."
Johan Lekholm
"Johan Lekholm is outstanding and very commercially driven. He is a fantastic problem-solver and is good at getting everyone on the same page and identifying solutions in apparent deadlock situations."
Fredrik Lundegårdh
"Very approachable and trustworthy. Always available, calls back immediately. Good sparring partner."
Emma Olnäs-Fors
"Very service-minded and client-focused, easygoing, pleasant, professional."
Isabella Ramsay
"Very accessible, highly skilled and fun to work with."
Jon Rastad
"Knowledgeable, responsive and knows private equity structures well."
Jakob Wijkander
"In-depth knowledge of Swedish ECM law."
Andreas Zettergren
"Highly knowledgeable, honest, clear and pragmatic."
