Mannheimer Swartling Advokatbyra

Mannheimer Swartling's competition practice includes three Who's Who nominees – practice head Johan Coyet, Johan Carle and Tommy Pettersson. The 22-strong group is also a member of the Slaughter and May ‘best friends' network, which is sixth in the inaugural GCR 20.

Mannheimer Swartling advokatbyrå

The firm has been active on the merger control front this year, particularly in the telecoms, software, infrastructure and banking sectors. For example, it represented Swedish telecoms operator Ericsson in its acquisition of service delivery platforms provider Drutt Corporation. It also advised mining equipment supplier Sandvik on its takeover of mobile crushing equipment companies Fintec and Extec, and Swedish engineering company Hexagon on its acquisition of Turkish measuring tools company Transmetal.

In the banking sector, Mannheimer advised Swedbank on its acquisition of asset management company Folksam Fond, and Nordic banks Danske Bank, Handelsbanken, Nordea and Swedbank on the sale of card processor CEKAB to EDB Business Partner.

On the behavioural side, Mannheimer represented construction company Skanska in the asphalt cartel case – the Sweden Competition Authority's largest ever fine for cartel activity. This year, Stockholm's County Court reduced Skanska's fine for its role from US$78 million to US$25 million. Mannheimer is also advising drinks company V&S Vin & Sprit in arbitration against Swedish alcohol retail monopoly Systembolaget. The case concerns whether Systembolaget's delisting of products breaches article 82.

Other clients include packaging company Trioplast, which it represented before the Court of First Instance on charges of fixing prices on industrial bags; free newspaper Metro, which is claiming for damages from the Swedish state for alleged breaches of state aid rules; and Swedish airline Skyways.