Vinge Dude Diligence – for improved gender equality

Vinge authors the Swedish contribution regarding tax disputes for The Legal 500

International companies run the risk of the erroneous management of tax issues when conducting operations in several jurisdictions. In such event, disputes can arise with the relevant tax authorities. The Legal 500 has now introduced a dedicated chapter on tax disputes in its comparative guide for the first time and Ulrika Bengtsson, advokat and counsel, has been selected to provide a clear picture of the Swedish tax litigation system.

The wide reach of the prohibition against circumventing EU sanctions

Against the background of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU has imposed a number of sanctions, which include a prohibition for companies within the EU to take certain measures in relation to Russia, as well as designated Russian people and entities on the sanction lists. Furthermore, a prohibition to circumvent the sanctions has been introduced in order to ensure that the sanctions are effective also in practice. When it comes to this circumvention prohibition, it is important to be aware of its wide interpretation, as established by the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Commission.

Sanctions update 14 October

Further to our previous sanctions updates of 25 February, 3 March, 11 March, 16 March , 14 April and June 8 and 22 July, we herewith provide a further update of recent sanctions developments following Russia’s war against Ukraine:

Temporary EU measures addressing rising energy prices

The EU has adopted a new Regulation setting out various temporary measures to lower prices on the energy market. The aim of the temporary measures is to reduce Russia’s impact on the European energy market. The Regulation provides, among other things, that the Member States are obliged to reduce the electricity consumption by at least 5 % during certain peak hours and that the crude oil, natural gas, coal, and refinery sectors are required to pay a solidarity contribution.

The European Commission proposes a Cyber Resilience Act

On 15 September 2022, the European Commission published a proposal for a new regulation on cyber security (Cyber Resilience Act) (COM (2022) 454 final) that will protect consumers and businesses from products with inadequate safety features.

Vinge has contributed to the Swedish chapter in the International Comparative Legal Guide - Sanctions 2023

Vinge’s sanctions and compliance specialists Anders Leissner and Tove Tullberg have written the Swedish chapter on sanctions in the International Comparative Legal Guide. The chapter provides an overview of the Swedish sanctions regime and includes information on inter alia Swedish sanctions authorities, Swedish implementation of sanctions laws and regulations as well as enforcement.

Proposed EU regulation prohibiting forced labour

On 14 September 2022, the European Commission proposed a EU new regulation which bans products made with forced labour (COM (2022) 453).

Private Funds – Vinge forms new practice group for fund formation in Sweden

Historically, private equity firms have often managed their funds from abroad. More recently, there has been a clear reversal of this trend in favour of repatriating the management of funds and establishing funds as Swedish limited companies. Vinge has formed a new Private Funds practice group in order to be in a better position to advise in conjunction with Swedish fund formations.

Proposal for a European Media Freedom Act

The European Commission has presented a proposal for new legislation which aims to protect journalists and media companies and combat disinformation.

The European Commission proposes a new Single Market Emergency Instrument

On 19 September 2022, the Commission adopted a proposal for a new regulation on an emergency instrument for the Single Market. Following the Covid-19 pandemic and other crises in the last years, the Union has seen internal entry restrictions, unpredictable rules and supply disruptions which, according to the Commission, have highlighted that there are structural shortcomings in the EU legal framework on the Single Market. The proposed emergency instrument aims to preserve the free movement of goods, services and persons and to ensure the availability of essential goods and services in the event of future emergencies.

New partners and counsels appointed at Vinge’s Gothenburg office

Ninos Aho has been appointed partner at Vinge’s Gothenburg office, as of 1 January 2023. In addition, advokat Petronella Hallberg and advokat Martin E Svanberg have been appointed as counsels, also as of 1 January 2023.

Helena Rosén Andersson joins Vinge

Today we welcome former Justice of the Supreme Administrative Court in Sweden, Helena Rosén Andersson, to Vinge. We thereby strengthen our services within public procurement, administrative and public law, constitutional law, state aid and dispute resolution.

Vinge’s experts provide an insight into Swedish maritime law in the latest edition of International Comparative Legal Guide – Shipping Law 2022

Vinge’s experts in martime and transport law have again contributed to the Swedish chapter on maritime law in the International Comparative Legal Guides (ICLG).

Sanctions update 22 July

Further to our previous sanctions updates of 25 February, 3 March, 11 March, 16 March , 14 April and June 8, we herewith provide a further update of recent sanctions developments following Russia’s war against Ukraine:

A new EU instrument for international procurement (IPI)

On 17 June 2022, the Council adopted a regulation on a new instrument for international procurement (“IPI”), following the formal adoption of the IPI at the European Parliament plenary session on 9 June 2022. The general objective of the IPI is to create reciprocity in the access to international public procurement markets by enabling the Commission to undertake investigations and adopt measures to open and improve access to third-country public procurement and concession markets.