Professional notice
Mannheimer Swartling is one of the largest firms in Sweden, with a competition practice to match.
The Firm's competition team of seven partners and 14 associates is led by Johan Coyet, a nominee to The International Who's Who of Competition Lawyers and Economists, who wins universal praise from rivals, many of whom name him as their pick for the ideal director general of the national competition authority. Though Coyet professes to have no interest in the position, sources describe him as "Sweden's leading competition lawyer". Coyet is supported by two fellow Who's Who nominees, Johan Carle and Tommy Pettersson, both of whom are seen as "active and able" in the field.The firm handles a variety of behavioural and merger work. "It's been an intense year for transactions," says Carle. "We've had more to do this summer than any other year. It's surprisingly hectic for what is usually a quieter period."
Mannheimer is representing Assa Abloy, the world's largest lock-maker, in its acquisition of security product wholesaler Copiax. The deal is one of the few transactions to have been referred to an in-depth investigation by Sweden's Competition Authority. The firm is also acting for Securitas in its takeover of GAS's German security business.
Mannheimer also boasts the largest litigation department in Sweden and is currently handling around 15 damages cases related to the authority's long-running investigation of a national asphalt cartel. That case saw five asphalt companies and the National Road Association fined over US$150 million for distorting the market and agreeing prices during the 1990s.
Other antitrust clients of the firm include Trioplast, an industrial bags company accused of price fixing in a case before the European Court of First Instance, and Hydro Kraft and E2/Energi, who are suing Swedish electricity grid operator Svenska Kraftnät for more than €7 million for abuse of dominance.