Scan Magazine

By Ian Welsh

Swedish lawyers Hamilton Advokatbyrå have had a London outpost for nearly 25 years. It was established to help clients fromSweden to set up in the UK, but now the firm is helping companies from the UK that need advice on operating in Sweden.

Christoffer Hamilton and Dag di Meo are two partners in the Stockholm-headquartered legal firm Hamilton Advokatbyrå who have a double (working!) life. While the firm has a number of offices throughout Sweden, Hamilton Advokatbyrå also has a London office, where Hamilton and Di Meo spend part of their working month.

Christoffer Hamilton says that having a London presence demonstrates how seriously the firm takes continuing to “develop interest and experience in UK-Swedishmatters”.

Hamilton Advokatbyrå opened its London office in 1985. This was a time, Hamilton says, when many Swedish companies were opening and developing operations in London. “It was important for us to be there to help them make the first step. It was a key service for our Swedish clients.” Now, though, the firm’s primary emphasis is on working with UK-based clients who need specifically Swedish legal advice.

For UK clients, Hamilton Advokatbyrå’s network of offices across Sweden is a definite plus. “As well as at our Stockholm base, I have colleagues in Malmö, Växjö, Karlstad and Falun,” Hamilton says. This proves useful for clients who, for example, are buying another company based in Sweden. “If you are doing a process of due diligence on a company it is helpful to have a local base,” Hamilton says.

Hamilton Advokatbyrå has assisted buyers and sellers of companies in a considerable number of transactions over the years. The firm has been instructed to provide advice regarding the sale or purchase of non-listed companies, as well as bidding for listed companies. It has particular expertise in advising private equity funds, and also assisting in management buy-outs or buy-ins.

Strong M&A activity

“Our large practice has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions activity, establishing businesses in Sweden, Swedish employment law and other relevant matters,” Hamilton says.

He highlights that mergers and acquisition activity is something that continues during an economic downturn. As some businesses struggle, it is an ideal time for companies in a stronger position to buy up competitors at an advantageous price. “When there is more liquidity available I sense that there may well be a useful window of opportunity for companies to pick up other enterprises,” Hamilton says.

Coping with the intricacies of employment rules and regulations can be a sticking point when establishing or restructuring a business presence in another country. Hamilton points out that companies more used to the UK environment are frequently pleasantly surprised at the relative ease of operating in Sweden. He says: “There is a perception that Swedish employment laws are more complicated than they are. For example if a company has to make a redundancy, the employee is entitled to salary payments due under the terms of his or her notice period but nothing further.” This, he says, often comes as something of a surprise for UK-based companies.

Debt recovery litigation

An inevitable consequence of a difficult economic climate is an increase in litigation, and particularly in relation to insolvency and debt recovery matters. Again this is a point where Hamilton Advokatbyrå scores well with clients, including those from the UK, with its network of Swedish offices. As Christoffer Hamilton points out, when recovering debt a court appearance is often required and “having lawyers available on the ground is a significant benefit”.

In fact, since the firm was established in the 1960s it has been a leader in the area of insolvency – so much so, in fact, that Hamilton Advokatbyrå’s lawyers have played a major role in developing Swedish legislation in this field.

Another growing area is IT law. As companies are involved in significantly more cross-border trading they may need to take detailed advice about doing business in different jurisdictions. “This really is a business sector we have seen expanding – much more than 10 years ago, and it’s an indicator of how people are now doing business,”

Hamilton says. For companies hoping to open up the Swedishmarket for online sales, Hamilton Advokatbyrå is an ideal first port of call. More than that, though, as the firm has access to a wide range of lawyers around the world through membership of a widespread international network, ideal for clients opening up online business worldwide.

There are also a number of Swedish clients with UK connections in Hamilton Advokatbyrå’s roster. Christoffer Hamilton highlights the large Swedish non-governmental school business Kunskapsskolan Education Sweden AB. “We have advised the company in connection with its planned developments in UK, where three schools are currently under planning, which will operate using the specific learning concepts developed by Kunskapsskolan,” he says.

The schools Kunskapsskolan is developing are Holywells High School in Ipswich, Hampton Community College in Richmond upon Thames and Whitton School in Twickenham, both in southwest London.

And despite 20 years of travelling to and from the UK and Sweden, Hamilton says he still enjoys the two-centre working life. Things have improved, he says, with better IT and transport infrastructure making the travelling easier. “I certainly don’t have to carry so much stuff now, and the quick rail links to the airports in London and Stockholm make the journey more pleasant,” Hamilton says.

He does recommend avoiding London’s tube system during rush hour, though, but has the ideal alternative. “I like just being able to walk around in London – it’s very pleasant. And while it can take some time to walk right across the city, it is a very easy way to get around.”

Award-winning service Hamilton Advokatbyrå’s performance has caught the attention of the Swedish legal press. Business magazine Affärsvärlden recently ranked the firm equal top in the business benefit category of its law firm of the year awards. Overall Hamilton Advokatbyrå came a highly creditable fifth in the survey, conducted for the magazine by market analysts RegiAB