When dealing with Swedish lawyers, especially in connection with legal opinions, due diligence, or cross-border transactions, understanding the rules on confidentiality and professional secrecy is essential. These principles are at the core of the Swedish legal profession and ensure that clients can communicate openly and securely with their lawyer.
The Legal Basis for Confidentiality
Under Swedish law, lawyers are bound by one of the strictest confidentiality obligations in Europe. According to Chapter 8, Section 4 of the Swedish Code of Judicial Procedure (Rättegångsbalken), an advokat (Swedish advocate) must maintain absolute secrecy concerning all information received in the course of professional work.
This duty applies regardless of:
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Whether the information concerns a private individual, a company, or a government body.
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Whether the client relationship continues or has ended.
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Whether the information seems sensitive or not.
The obligation covers everything from oral discussions and emails to internal memos and drafts.
Professional Secrecy – A Cornerstone of the Advokat Role
For Swedish advokater, confidentiality is not just a professional courtesy – it is a legal duty and ethical cornerstone. The Swedish Bar Association’s Code of Conduct reinforces this rule, requiring absolute discretion unless the client expressly authorises disclosure or the law mandates it (for example, in very limited cases involving imminent crimes).
A breach of confidentiality can lead to:
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Disciplinary action by the Swedish Bar Association,
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Civil liability for damages, and
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Loss of the title “advokat.”
This strict framework provides clients with full assurance that their communications with a Swedish advokat remain private and protected.
Confidentiality in Legal Opinions and Cross-Border Work
Even when a Swedish legal opinion is prepared for third parties — such as lenders or investors — confidentiality remains critical. The advokat may only disclose the information necessary to issue the opinion and must always:
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Obtain the client’s consent for disclosures, and
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Limit the scope of shared material strictly to the agreed purpose.
When working alongside foreign counsel, Swedish advokater apply the same high standard of professional secrecy, ensuring cross-border consistency and client trust.
Why Legal Opinion Sweden
At Legal Opinion Sweden, all work is handled under full professional secrecy by Swedish advokater. We ensure that sensitive commercial and legal information remains secure throughout the preparation of opinions, negotiations, and documentation — whether the client is in Stockholm, London, or New York.
In short:
Confidentiality under Swedish law is absolute for advokater. Clients can rely on the fact that every conversation, document, and instruction shared with a Swedish advokat remains fully protected by law and professional ethics.
