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When people think of Sweden, they probably picture moose and fjords, or think of red wooden houses or the Swedish royal family. In fact, however, there are also close trade links between Sweden and Germany. Since 2017, for instance, there has been a government-led innovation partnership between Sweden and its most important trading partner, focusing on e-health, mobility, the digitalisation of SMEs and other areas. The commercial law firm kallan specialises in German-Scandinavian business relations. In November, it will celebrate its fifth anniversary in Berlin and Frankfurt.
kallan stands for ‘source
’. The name of kallan Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH is derived from the Swedish word ‘källan’, meaning ‘source’. This refers both to the firm’s transparent working methods and to its history: Five years ago now, the German team of a major Scandinavian law firm regrouped under the kallan brand – and has since risen to become the leading provider of independent German-Scandinavian legal advice. Consequently, kallan’s understanding extends far beyond the German and Scandinavian legal systems. The Swedish economy and society are also a key focus at kallan:
- Dr Christina Griebeler is not only admitted as a lawyer in Germany but is also admitted as an advokat in Sweden and is an elected member of the Board of the Swedish Bar Association,
- Dr Maria Wolleh serves as Vice-President of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Germany, and
- Dr Christian Bloth holds the office of Honorary Consul-General of the Kingdom of Sweden in Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland.
Comprehensive legal expertise
Consequently, even Juve – an industry publication known for its critical reporting – attests that the firm possesses “comprehensive knowledge of Swedish clients” and notes, for example, with regard to the crucial area of mergers and acquisitions, that kallan has “occupied a niche in M&A that hardly any other law firm in Germany offers: advising Swedish companies and investors on medium-sized deals”. But beyond this, kallan also covers all core areas of commercial law.
A distinctive approach
“It is something quite special,” says Berlin-based partner Thilo Schulz, “that in the property sector – which is often purely profit-driven – we are able to work closely and on a long-term basis with clients who take a long-term view. Here, we also keep a close eye on the impact of their investments on users and the environment, and take this very seriously.” “Our approach is influenced by the Nordic way of doing things,” adds Wolleh. “We often compare this to Nordic design, which stands for clarity and a focus on the essentials. In concrete terms, this means that our clients receive clear recommendations for action from us and that we work in a highly service- and results-oriented manner. We are delighted when this leads to long-standing, trusting client relationships, in which kallan effectively becomes part of the in-house team.”
“When a client then writes to us saying, ‘Thank you for all your hard work, experience, expertise and guidance – deeply appreciated!’, recalls their Frankfurt colleague Oliver Cleblad, “it’s not just a boost after an intensive transaction. It’s also recognition that we have once again succeeded in bringing Swedish and German stakeholders together beyond the scope of the legal advice itself.”
Social commitment “Another important aspect
,” adds Griebeler, “is our commitment to supporting the next generation. Law students are our future colleagues. That’s why, every year, we award a scholarship to a law student at a German university who is spending a semester or an academic year in Sweden, Denmark, Finland or Norway. We are currently supporting a student from Kiel during her stay in Stockholm.”
Closing
the sustainability gap in the long term. Even though sustainability is still rarely associated with law firms – at kallan, things are different. Here, the firm’s own expertise is growing and its approach is adapting in line with the fact that many clients’ business models are increasingly based on sustainable ideas or technology. The firm’s internal sustainability task force develops future-proof models for the firm’s organisation and for its own services. In this way, kallan contributes to the success of its clients – a win-win scenario.
New and sustainable approaches are continually being applied, for example in the area of ‘green finance’ when advising on the issuance of ‘green promissory note loans’ or other forms of financing, taking specific ESG criteria into account. The property law practice was recently involved in advising on the planning and implementation of the eco-friendly ‘School of the Future’, which utilises innovative construction techniques and materials, in the south of Berlin.
Other projects being closely monitored include, amongst other things, the construction of high-rise buildings using timber. A world-leading manufacturer of drone technology, for whom kallan provides employment law advice, makes a significant contribution to optimised environmental monitoring through its products.
Accordingly, the firm has been offering a broad range of services for the past five years, combining a client-focused approach with a strong commitment to social responsibility. The entire firm embodies an inspiring blend of knowledge, culture and a forward-looking way of working. This makes ‘Hej future’ an exciting greeting for kallan.
Note: This language version has been produced using AI-assisted translation. If you notice anything that could be improved, we would be pleased to receive your feedback.