What Setterwalls does

Setterwalls (legal entity Setterwalls Advokatbyrå AB) is one of Sweden's oldest and largest full-service business law firms, operating since 1877 across three offices in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö with a headcount described as 'over 320 employees' (327 listed on its employee page). The firm provides advisory and litigation services across 18 core practice areas including capital markets, M&A/corporate acquisitions, banking and finance, real estate, employment and pensions, tax, IP/IT and data protection, EU and competition, dispute resolution, insolvency/restructuring, environmental, shipping/transport, insurance and public procurement. Specialised offerings include ESG advisory, blockchain counsel, and international desks for China and Germany. Its client base is concentrated among publicly listed Swedish and international companies, private equity and venture capital firms, life sciences companies (often listed on Nasdaq First North/Nasdaq Stockholm) and real estate groups; representative mandates include advising Balder on a ~SEK 5 billion distribution of its Norion Bank holding, Catena on two property divestments, Cantargia on a SEK 124 million capital raise, and Nordic Waterproofing on the Kingspan recommended offer.

The firm earns revenue through hourly fee billing under bespoke engagement terms (general terms and conditions effective for mandates commencing September 2025), pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, and there is no software, subscription or productised offering. The go-to-market is sales-led through direct enterprise engagement, professional referrals, conferences (including Almedalen), webinars (including the recurring 'Setterwalls and VILDA' life-sciences series), thought-leadership publications (M&A Report, Life Sciences Report), and tier-1 directory recognition in Chambers Europe (Sweden Law Firm of the Year 2026), Legal 500 (three Hall of Fame partners), IFLR1000 and Who's Who Legal. Ownership is a partner-led Swedish private limited company (Setterwalls Advokatbyrå AB) with no disclosed external parent, institutional investor or public listing; leadership includes Managing Partner Kristina Einarsson and Executive Partner Joakim Edoff alongside partner-led office management (a new CEO was appointed for the Gothenburg office in 2023). The firm has no proprietary technology stack — the underlying 'platform' is its international network of independent law firms, its ranked partner bench, and its institutional client relationships built over nearly 150 years.

Name

Setterwalls

Legal name

Setterwalls Advokatbyrå AB

Website

https://setterwalls.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1877

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Setterwalls is a Swedish full-service business law firm founded in 1877, with over 320 employees across Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö, advising listed corporates, PE/VC, life sciences and real estate clients on M&A, capital markets, banking, dispute resolution and ESG matters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Legal advisory services: Setterwalls generates revenue through billing for professional legal advisory services rendered to corporate clients. The firm applies general terms and conditions for engagements (effective for assignments commencing September 2025 onwards). Services span corporate law, M&A, capital markets, banking and finance, dispute resolution, employment law, real estate, tax, IP, IT law, EU/competition law, insurance, environmental law, shipping and transport, and public procurement. Client types include publicly listed companies, private equity firms, life sciences companies, and other Swedish and international businesses.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Setterwalls is a full-service Swedish business law firm (Setterwalls Advokatbyrå AB) providing corporate legal advisory services across 18 practice areas including capital markets, M&A, banking and finance, dispute resolution, employment law, real estate, tax, IT and data protection, EU and competition law, IP, insurance, environmental law, shipping and transport, and public procurement. The firm serves Swedish and international publicly listed companies, private equity firms, life sciences companies, real estate companies, and foreign companies doing business in Sweden. Specialized offerings include ESG advisory, blockchain counsel, and dedicated International Desks (China, Germany) for cross-border mandates.

Product overview

Setterwalls is a full-service Swedish business law firm (affärsjuridisk advokatbyrå) with over 320 employees across offices in Stockholm, Göteborg, and Malmö. The firm offers a comprehensive portfolio of legal services organized into 18 core practice areas including Capital Markets, Labour Law, Banking & Finance, M&A, Real Estate, IT Law & Data Protection, Tax Law, and Dispute Resolution. Specialized offerings include ESG advisory, Blockchain counsel, and International Desks (China, Germany). The firm publishes periodic industry reports including the Life Sciences Report covering regulatory developments in pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Setterwalls operates as a unified legal practice rather than a modular software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aktiemarknadsrätt (Capital Markets) Legal advisory services covering stock market law, public offerings, share issuances, and securities regulations for listed companies.
• Arbetsrätt och pensioner (Labour Law and Pensions) Legal counsel on employment law, collective bargaining agreements, workplace disputes, and pension regulations.
• Bank & finans (Banking & Finance) Advisory services for financial institutions on lending, financing arrangements, regulatory compliance, and banking transactions.
• EU- & konkurrensrätt (EU & Competition Law) Counsel on EU regulatory matters, competition law compliance, merger control, and antitrust issues.
• Fastighetsrätt (Real Estate Law) Transactional and advisory services for property acquisitions, sales, leases, and development projects.
• Företagsöverlåtelser, M&A (Corporate Acquisitions) Legal advisory on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and corporate restructuring transactions.
• Immaterialrätt, marknadsrätt & mediarätt (IP, Marketing & Media Law) Trademark, copyright, patent advisory, marketing law compliance, and media regulations.
• IT-rätt & dataskydd (IT Law & Data Protection) Legal services covering IT contracts, data protection regulations including GDPR, cybersecurity matters, and technology transactions.
• Kommersiella avtal (Commercial Contracts) Drafting, negotiation, and review of commercial agreements, joint ventures, licensing arrangements, and supply contracts.
• Skatterätt (Tax Law) Tax advisory services including corporate taxation, VAT, transfer pricing, and tax dispute resolution.
• Tvistelösning (Dispute Resolution) Litigation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution services for commercial conflicts.
• Compliance & Investigations Internal investigation services, regulatory compliance assessments, and anti-corruption advisory.
• International Desks (China Desk, Germany Desk) Cross-border legal advisory with specialized desks for China and Germany, providing localized expertise for international transactions and inbound clients from these markets.
• ESG i rådgivningen (ESG in Legal Advice) Environmental, social, and governance advisory services integrated into legal counsel across practice areas.
• Blockchain-rådgivning (Blockchain Advisory) Legal counsel on blockchain technology, cryptocurrency regulations, and distributed ledger applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sweden Law Firm of the Year 2026 — Chambers Europe Awards 2026
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International network of leading independent law firmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSetterwalls maintains a network of leading independent law firms globally that enriches and strengthens its operations with valuable knowledge across various practice areas and industry sectors. This network enables the firm to provide world-class legal advice locally in Sweden while leveraging international expertise for cross-border mandates.
• VILDA (Life Sciences)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSetterwalls partners with VILDA to deliver joint webinars and educational content for life sciences companies, covering topics such as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), shareholders' agreements, and clinical research. Scheduled webinars in 2026 include sessions on 'Introduction to FDI for Life Sciences Companies' and 'Shareholders' Agreements — Key Considerations for Life Sciences'.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Linklaters (Stockholm): Global Magic Circle firm with a Stockholm office that competes for the largest Swedish and cross-border mandates (M&A, capital markets, finance). Johan Hallén began his career at Linklaters, illustrating the talent overlap.
• Bird & Bird (Stockholm): International firm with a Stockholm office strong in technology, IP, and life sciences sectors — overlapping with Setterwalls' IT, IP, and life sciences practices.

Direct peers

• Hammarskiöld & Co: Stockholm-based independent Swedish business law firm with a transactional and equity markets focus. Comparable in scale and practice mix to Setterwalls and a former employer of Setterwalls partner Ola Grahn.
• Cederquist: Stockholm-headquartered Swedish business law firm specializing in M&A, capital markets, and corporate advisory. Competes with Setterwalls for premium Swedish transactional mandates.
• Mannheimer Swartling: Largest full-service Swedish business law firm with a similar Stockholm-centric model and comparable M&A, capital markets, and dispute resolution practices. Setterwalls is positioned as a top Swedish competitor across the same corporate, real estate, and life sciences mandates.
• Advokatfirman Delphi: Swedish full-service law firm with Stockholm and Gothenburg offices. Directly comparable to Setterwalls in size and practice mix, and a known destination for former Setterwalls partners (e.g., Marcus Nivinger, Olof Reinholdsson).
• Vinge: Stockholm-headquartered full-service Swedish law firm with strong M&A, capital markets, and banking practices. Directly competes with Setterwalls for Swedish listed-company and cross-border mandates.
• Gernandt & Danielsson: Stockholm-based Swedish business law firm with a strong transactional and dispute resolution focus. Competes with Setterwalls in M&A, capital markets, and commercial law mandates.
• MAQS Law Firm: Nordic full-service law firm with a Stockholm presence that overlaps with Setterwalls' full-service model. Directly comparable as a competitor in Swedish and cross-border business law mandates.

Regional players

• Roschier: Leading Finnish-Nordic law firm with a strong Stockholm presence. Comparable in Nordic full-service model and competes for the same cross-border Swedish and Nordic mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/setterwalls
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/33691
• Instagraminstagram.com/setterwalls
• Facebookfacebook.com/setterwalls

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Setterwalls