A new SCC UK Patron’s view of the deal landscape

Sweden–UK business is moving from routine to strategic. What once centred on getting goods over the border now increasingly revolves around shared bets on energy transition, digital infrastructure, high growth tech, and more resilient supply chains. On both sides of the North Sea, boards are weighing the same questions: which projects to back, how much risk to carry, and how to stay competitive as conditions shift.

New SCC UK Patron CMS is in the middle of that conversation. With a long history of advising across jurisdictions, the firm has watched the UK–Nordic corridor move from a promising niche to a core part of its workload.

“We see a consistent flow of investment between the UK and the Nordics in sectors like energy, technology, infrastructure, and real estate,” says Eva Talmacsi, partner in the global M&A and corporate team at CMS London. “Our London and Stockholm colleagues  work as a single team on mandates that span both markets, helping clients with strategy, structuring, and execution.” That rhythm – and the close teamwork behind it – helps businesses move with more confidence in an uncertain environment.

Next level relationship building 
Against this backdrop, CMS is joining the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK as a Patron – a step that links the firm’s legal insight directly with a Swedish-British business community looking for growth and collaboration.

In other words, it’s about people more than anything else. “Becoming a Patron was a natural step,” says Magnus Forssman, partner in CMS’s Stockholm Office. “We have grown our Nordic platform significantly with offices in Sweden and Norway, and strong ties across Denmark and Finland. Supporting the Chamber and its community lets us share insight, foster connections, and help Swedish and British businesses find and scale opportunities.”

Eva highlights the SCC UK as “a great forum to bring people together: corporates, investors, and advisers, all aligned around practical business outcomes.” In practice, that might mean a Business Breakfast where a Swedish scaleup meets its future UK distribution partner over coffee, or a roundtable that gives a British investor a clearer view of the Nordic landscape before they commit capital. It can also be a platform where bigger themes – from geopolitical tensions to digital infrastructure – take centre stage, and ideas are tested and sharpened before they turn into transactions or long‑term projects.

Eva agrees: “We are seeing opportunities in core sectors – and Swedish and British businesses are uniquely positioned to collaborate. The Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK plays an important role in this ecosystem, and we’re excited to be part of it.”

Magnus sums up what clients are looking for today: “Clients today want advisers who understand not just the law, but the business drivers in each market. In Sweden and the UK, we’re seeing converging priorities: from digital infrastructure and renewable energy to high‑growth tech, and that’s where we add value.”

Deals that match today’s risks and ambitions
Across the Nordics, dealmaking is changing shape, and entry into new markets remains a key driver for M&A. In 2024, nearly a third of Nordic transactions included purchase price adjustments and earn‑outs are becoming more common as parties bridge valuation gaps and manage uncertainty.

“These structural shifts – savvy use of deal mechanisms, more sophisticated risk allocation – reflect a maturing market,” Eva says. “For international investors, it means faster execution and clearer pathways to value.”

Magnus adds: “Clients are thinking beyond price. They want predictability and post‑closing success – and that changes how we advise on transaction terms.”

Beyond transactions – energy, infrastructure, and data
The Swedish–British relationship is just as active outside pure M&A. The Nordic region’s energy transition, digital infrastructure, and storage markets are drawing interest from global capital – from Norway’s data centre growth to Sweden’s industrial and digital ecosystem and Finland’s focus on renewables and storage.

Eva sees a clear pattern emerging in boardroom conversations. “Our clients are looking at dual‑use investments” – projects that address multiple needs such as energy flexibility, grid resilience or integrated data infrastructure, she explains. “Those structures can unlock efficiency and resilience, and we are helping clients think through legal, regulatory, and commercial frameworks.” For boards and management teams, this translates into decisions about where and how to build assets that will still make sense a decade from now.

Long‑term partnership and wider change
Across sectors and borders, both partners come back to one theme: relationships. “We don’t just show up for transactions, we build long‑term partnerships,” Magnus reflects. “That means understanding how clients work, what keeps their executives awake at night, and anticipating how markets are shifting.”

Eva adds: “It’s about being ahead of the curve. Whether it’s ESG, digital transformation or emerging regulation, our teams invest in knowledge, technology, and coordination so clients can act with confidence.” Internally, CMS is embracing tools that enhance quality and consistency – including expanded use of AI platforms that support lawyers firm‑wide. The aim is to give clients advice that is not only technically sound, but timely, joined‑up, and highly tailored.

No one can predict every twist in the market – but you can choose who you work with, which tools you rely on, and how you make decisions so they can bend without breaking. Whether you are entering the UK, scaling across the Nordics, reshaping your infrastructure or backing the next wave of Swedish–British innovation, the message from CMS is the same: connect early, stay curious, nurture enduring partnerships, and build with resilience in mind.

Join CMS – Become an SCC UK Patron

CMS is one of the newest SCC UK Patrons – our most prestigious membership tier for organisations shaping Swedish–British business. As a Patron, you gain exclusive access, high‑level networking, and a platform to make an impact. Ready to join this distinguished group? Become a Patron and help shape the future of SCC UK.