Vinge Dude Diligence – for improved gender equality

What an employer should know about the New Whistleblowing Act

Why adopt a new Whistleblowing Act when the current act was adopted as late as 2017?

Employer bears burden of lack of clarity regarding dismissal        

In a judgment in case AD 2021 no. 14, the Swedish Labour Court has clarified that, if an employer has had a justifiable reason to believe that an employee considers himself or herself to be terminated or summarily dismissed notwithstanding that the employer does not believe such to be the case, the employer must make it clear that the employment relationship persists. Passivity in such a situation will cause the employee to be regarded as being terminated or summarily dismissed, which may constitute a violation of the Swedish Employment Protection Act.

The Supreme Administrative Court grants leave to appeal regarding comparison month for short-term work

At the request of the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, the Swedish Supreme Administrative Court has granted leave to appeal on an issue involving a short-term work comparison month.

Extended measures in response to COVID-19

As we have previously reported in the newsletter, the Government has pursued various measures to reduce the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market, including the implementation of qualifying-period compensation for employees and reduced employer’s social insurance contributions for persons aged 19-23.

Amendments to the Employment Protection Act (Ministry Publications Series 2021:17): Labour law reform

Amendments to the Employment Protection Act (Ministry Publications Series 2021:17): Labour law reform – for flexibility, adaptability and security on the labour market

The European Court of Justice restricts a company’s possibility to “buy its way out of” discrimination cases

The European Court of Justice has clarified in a new judgment the fact that someone who believes they have been discriminated against is entitled to a determination by a court of law which establishes whether discrimination has occurred – on condition that the opposing party has denied it. Thus, a party who has been accused of discrimination may no longer “block” the right of the affected party to judicial review by stipulating to the compensatory part of the legal action. This decision augments the protection for individuals against discrimination and might mean that certain Swedish procedural rules are incompatible with EU law.

Anti-counterfeiting – the best way to work to counteract trademark infringement and counterfeiting

Counterfeiting and intellectual property law infringement constitute significant problems for both individual trademarks and companies as well as from a broader societal perspective. In this year’s edition of WTR’s “Anti-Counterfeiting: A Global Guide” we present the most important parts of the Swedish legislation, as well as how companies can create successful preventive measures.

The EU’s climate taxonomy – new legal act concerning technical review criteria

On 21 April this year, the EU Commission adopted an action package containing several delegated legal acts with the purpose of supplementing the EU’s taxonomy regulation, i.e. the EU’s classification system for environmentally sustainable operations. One of these legal acts determines technical review criteria which shall clarify which operations contribute a majority of the EU’s environmental goals. The purpose is to increase the amount of green investments and to counteract so-called “greenwashing” – i.e. that businesses claim to be more sustainable than they actually are.

Full service within IP gives top ranking

Vinge's IP team has been ranked in the top band by the international guide IP Stars in two areas; Trade mark contentious and Trade mark prosecution - law firms.

Extensive amendments to the Swedish Protective Security Act - increased obligations and a comprehensive sanctions system

Extensive amendments to the Swedish Protective Security, which include increased obligations for operators of security-sensitive activities and a comprehensive sanctions system, are proposed to enter into force on 1 December 2021. These changes, which were presented in a Government bill of 18 March 2021, generate new and far-reaching obligations for many companies, especially in view of the severe sanctions that may be imposed if the obligations are not complied with.

New survey of the conditions for working at home during the pandemic

The work environment has been altered for many employees during the pandemic largely due to the recommendation from the Swedish Public Health Agency that employers, to the extent possible, should see to it that their employees can work from home.

Guidance judgment on the criminal liability for ordering a cabotage transport

The ordering of a road transport made by one of the largest freight forwarders in Sweden has been considered in accordance with the conditions for legal cabotage transports through a decision from the Court of Appeal over Skåne and Blekinge. The Court of Appeal, thus, changes the District Court’s judgment and acquits the freight forwarder. The central issue in the case was how the number of cabotage transports should be calculated.

The Scope of Work According to AB 04

One of the most important parts of a construction agreement is the part where the scope of work is defined. There is a major difference between finding scope of work issues early in a construction project, instead of later during the execution phase.

A shift in EU merger control policy and practice could affect deal certainty and create opportunities for complainants

The European Commission is expanding its control of mergers and acquisitions within the existing legal framework, allowing national authorities to refer a transaction they do not have jurisdiction over for review in Brussels.

Vinge awarded Sweden Law Firm of the Year 2021 by Chambers & Partners

The award, Chambers Europe Award for Excellence – Sweden Law Firm of the Year 2021, is one of the foremost awards a Swedish law firm can receive. Vinge has previously received the award on four occasions.