The world-leading rankings institute Chambers and Partners once again awards Setterwalls Advokatbyrå its highest ranking in the 2025 Fintech Legal rankings. This recognition confirms the firm’s position as one of Sweden’s leading advisors in the fintech sector. In addition to the top firm ranking, Setterwalls also receives three individual accolades.
Fintech is a key driver of innovation and growth across Swedish business. Its developments are transforming the financial sector—introducing new business models and value chains—and shaping the operating conditions for a wide range of organizations.
The fintech ecosystem spans established financial institutions, banks and major technology companies as well as innovation-driven startups. In recent years fintech has increasingly become a core legal issue as digitalisation reshapes the market.
Setterwalls has long-standing experience in the fintech field and publishes an annual Fintech Report. In this year’s edition, released on 28 November, the report’s authors note that a broad wave of new regulation is sweeping across Swedish companies.
Setterwalls ranked at the top Today the independent global research organisation Chambers and Partners published its Fintech Legal 2025 rankings. For the seventh consecutive year, Setterwalls is placed at the highest band for fintech.
In its assessment Chambers highlights Setterwalls’ ability to combine deep legal expertise with a strong commercial understanding of client needs, as well as the firm’s capability to handle complex matters ranging from regulatory change to technical and commercial challenges.
“Fintech is crucial for Sweden’s innovation capacity. At the same time, we see how complex legal processes can slow growth. Next year we expect a tsunami of new regulations, and it will be essential to support our clients through the complicated regulatory landscape that characterises the fintech industry. The result in this year’s Fintech Legal ranking is an important quality stamp. I am very proud of our fintech team—their deep expertise, responsiveness and professionalism. We are preparing for 2025, when fintech will play a decisive role for Swedish business,” says Henrik Kjellander, Managing Partner, Setterwalls.
In addition to the top firm ranking, Setterwalls also receives three individual recognitions for its leading fintech specialists.
Joacim Johannesson, head of Setterwalls’ fintech group, retains his Band 1 ranking. Tobias Björklund, specialist counsel and expert in financial markets regulation, strengthens his position and rises from Band 2 to Band 1 in this year’s ranking. Niklas Follin, an expert in intellectual property and IT and technology-related matters, also moves up from Band 3 to Band 2. These individual moves reflect the group’s continued success.
Selected client feedback from this year’s ranking:
- “Setterwalls have a very high expertise in fintech and banking. They handle both legal, compliance and tech business demands.”
- “Setterwalls are very strong and have a lot of knowledge in the payments and fintech space.”
- “Setterwalls prioritise getting to know their clients, and can therefore give more pragmatic recommendations adjusted to the clients’ needs.”
- “Tobias Björklund is very professional and responsive and strong on the regulatory side. He is a specialist with unique competence.”
- “Tobias Björklund has a great depth of knowledge in his area of expertise.”
- “Niklas Follin has great knowledge of license agreements and was very supportive in negotiating the agreement with the counterparty.”
- “Niklas Follin understood and interpreted our requirements well and delivered what we actually needed.”
- “Joacim Johannesson is top in everything; he is extremely responsive and competent.”
- “Joacim Johannesson gives a very high level of service. He is easy to work with and always available. He has deep knowledge within the field.”
The Chambers and Partners recognition and the individual rankings underscore Setterwalls’ position as a leading legal advisor to fintech companies, well-positioned to help clients navigate an evolving regulatory environment while supporting innovation and commercial growth.