When requesting a legal opinion under Swedish law, one practical question often arises:
Should the opinion be written in Swedish or English?
In cross-border transactions, language can affect not only clarity and efficiency but also how well the opinion is understood by international counterparties. The choice depends on the transaction’s nature, the audience, and the intended use of the opinion.
Legal Opinions in Swedish – When They Are Used
A Swedish-language opinion is most common when:
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The recipients are Swedish institutions or public authorities.
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The transaction involves domestic parties only.
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The opinion will be used primarily within Swedish corporate or regulatory filings.
Writing in Swedish ensures full alignment with Swedish legal terminology and reduces any risk of mistranslation. It may also be required if the opinion forms part of proceedings or filings before a Swedish court or agency.
However, for most international transactions, a Swedish-language opinion can limit accessibility for foreign lenders or counsel who are unfamiliar with Swedish legal terms.
Legal Opinions in English – The International Standard
In cross-border transactions, English is the default language for Swedish legal opinions. This reflects international market practice, particularly under LMA (Loan Market Association) and ICMA templates.
An English-language Swedish legal opinion is preferred when:
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The opinion is to be relied upon by international lenders, investors, or trustees.
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The main transaction documents are in English.
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Foreign counsel requires confirmation of Swedish law in a globally understood format.
A Swedish advokat issuing an English-language opinion ensures that all legal terms are carefully translated and defined to match both Swedish law and international expectations.
Dual-Language Options
In rare cases — for example, in complex financings or regulatory filings — a dual-language opinion (Swedish and English) may be prepared. This can help avoid ambiguity and satisfy both local and international requirements. However, it increases time and cost, and must be drafted with particular precision to ensure consistency between the two versions.
Why Legal Opinion Sweden
At Legal Opinion Sweden, we regularly prepare English-language legal opinions for international transactions, as well as Swedish-language versions when required by local authorities. All opinions are drafted and reviewed by Swedish advokater experienced in both domestic and cross-border law, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and full compliance with Swedish legal standards.
In short:
English is generally preferable for cross-border transactions, while Swedish is suitable for purely domestic or regulatory purposes. The key is not the language itself — but the precision, independence, and legal authority of the Swedish advokat issuing the opinion.
