AGRD Partners will provide specialist corporate and commercial advice across public and private M&A, banking & finance, technology, real estate, employment law and related fields. From day one, the group’s scale and combined capabilities will make it one of Sweden’s top 10 business law firms by revenue, with around 250 employees across eight offices.

“With AGRD Partners, we see an opportunity to shape the future of business law,” says Björn Larsson, Partner at Axcel. “There’s a growing international trend of external capital and new strategic ownership reshaping and strengthening the legal sector, much like developments in the audit sector. By bringing together several of Sweden’s top business law firms and enabling substantial structural investments, we’re creating a powerful partnership with the potential to transform the business law landscape in Sweden and beyond.”

Seizing opportunity in an evolving legal landscape
The legal sector is evolving rapidly, shaped by changing client needs and technological advances such as AI. AGRD Partners aims to be at the forefront of this transformation, investing significantly in digital tools, knowledge sharing and talent development.

“Business law remains a highly relationship-driven profession, and innovation has often been slow to take hold,” says Maria-Pia Hope, Chair of AGRD Partners. “AGRD Partners unites leading firms with a shared commitment to innovation, enabling us to meet and exceed the evolving expectations of our clients.”

Maria-Pia Hope has served as lead industrial advisor to Axcel on this investment and now takes on the role of Chair of the Board. She was previously Managing Partner of Vinge, a leading Swedish law firm.

New structure, same legal expertise
The six Swedish law firms that have come together to form AGRD Partners are Allié, Born, Morris Law, Next, Synch and TM & Partners. Each firm will retain its name and continue to operate independently, while collaborating closely to implement technological innovation, skills development and new client offerings across the group.

To enable the new ownership structure, the firms will withdraw from the Swedish Bar Association.

“This reflects their commitment to driving progress in business law through a modern model that allows for external ownership, long-term investment and innovation, while keeping their independence, expertise and client focus,” says Maria-Pia Hope.

The transaction is Axcel VII’s eighth investment and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2025.