Harry Bergman

Languages

Swedish
English

Harry Bergman specializes in dispute resolution. He has long and extensive experience of assisting Swedish and international clients within a wide range of commercial disputes in courts and in Swedish and international arbitration proceedings. He has significant experience of acting as lead counsel in large and complex disputes that require the efforts and coordination of many lawyers.

Harry Bergman is often engaged as arbitrator in Swedish and international arbitrations, both as chairman and party-appointed arbitrator.

Harry Bergman has experience of commercial disputes in a wide range of industries and business areas, such as disputes concerning commercial contracts for the supply of products and services (sale of goods and other delivery disputes), construction disputes, professional liability disputes, insurance disputes, disputes concerning M&A and venture capital investments, as well as disputes concerning various IP rights, media, sports, online gambling and EU law and other rights-oriented disputes and in disputes concerning trade secrets.

Harry Bergman has long been ranked by internationally recognized ranking institutions as a leading practitioner in commercial disputes and he is also ranked as an arbitrator (Chambers, Legal500, Business Insider, Who's Who Legal).

Professional experience

Partner, CMS Wistrand, 2002-
Partner, Kilpatrick Stockton, 2001-2002
Partner, Ernst & Young, 2000-2001
Lawyer, Tisell Advokatfirma, 1994-1999 (CMS Tisell from 1999)
Associate, Tisell Advokatfirma, 1991-1994
Law Clerk, Södra Roslags District Court, 1988-1991

Relevant experience

Lead counsel in one of the largest civil law disputes in history in Swedish courts, concerning the termination of public infrastructure contracts for tunnel construction.
Counsel in a large number of disputes in Swedish and international arbitration proceedings and in Swedish courts concerning the supply of technical products, machinery, medical equipment, etc. (under the CISG or under Swedish law on the sale of goods).
Counsel in disputes in Swedish courts and in arbitration proceedings concerning broadcasting rights to football matches.
Counsel in disputes in Swedish courts against the Swedish government regarding infringement of international gambling companies' right to free movement under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Counsel on behalf of leading Swedish commercial law firms in several disputes concerning professional liability matters and in disputes concerning company officers’ liability.
Arbitrator in a large number of arbitration proceedings concerning compulsory redemption of shares under the Swedish Companies Act.
Arbitrator in several arbitration proceedings concerning disputes regarding wind power establishments.

Memberships & Roles

Swedish Bar Association, 1994

Awards & Rankings

Recommended in Lexology Index and Global Arbitration Review, 2025
Individual ranking, Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2025: Dispute Resolution
Individual ranking, Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2025: Dispute Resolution: Most in-demand arbitrators
Leading Partner, Legal 500 2025: Dispute Resolution
Leading Individual, Legal 500 2024: Dispute Resolution

Quotes

Below are some quotes about Harry Bergman submitted to ranking institutes by clients and legal practitioners:

''Harry Bergman has the ability to handle really complex and big cases''
''Harry Bergman is one of the stars of Swedish litigation and arbitration. He has a very good client manner and is also a fantastic advocate in court. When he is counsel, he is tireless in his pursuit of success for his client. When he is arbitrator, he is fair-minded and commercially sensible.''
"He is a superstar who is user-friendly, creative and sensitive towards his clients”.
An "excellent litigator". Harry Bergman is a "complete and rounded lawyer - skilled, knowledgeable, cool and with a lot of creativity”
”Extremely skilled, knowledgeable, creative and hard-working, with a winning personality"
“Creative and thoughtful" adviser, while one interviewee describes him as a "very sympathetic and likeable lawyer who knows how to get the judges to see your side," adding that he is "good to use when there are some unusual elements in a claim"
“Works hard and gets great results. He has strong analytical skills”
Interviewees say that ’’He is an ambitious and hard-working lawyer’’ and that he is “highly regarded and very experienced”
“Harry Bergman and Christel Rockström’s competence is second to none. They remembered nearly every single detail in the case and always had a clear strategy.”
“Harry Bergman and Andreas Rönnheden – They know everything one can know about professional indemnity claims in Sweden.”
''Harry Bergman is one of the best dispute resolution lawyers in Sweden, with a wealth of experience and a good commercial sense as well as excellent legal skills. He is also one of the best arbitrators in the Swedish market.''
''Harry Bergman is one of those rare lawyers who are both very impressive in terms of their intellectual ability and expertise, and very competent in terms of strategy, tactics and practical execution. His efforts made it possible to sail the uncharted waters of litigating an unprecedented case.''

Education

Diploma in International Arbitration, organized by the Swedish Arbitration Association and the Arbitration Institute at the SCC, 2008
LL.M., University of Stockholm, 1988

Lectures (utbildningsverksamhet):

Harry Bergman has long been active as a teacher and lecturer in his specialist areas. The following can be mentioned:

Teacher at the Swedish Bar Association's courses in dispute resolution that are part of the mandatory Swedish Bar Exam.
Seminars in various arbitration law subjects at the Arbitrator's Program organized biannually by the Swedish Arbitration Association and the Arbitration Institute at SCC (seminars on drafting of arbitration awards and on arbitration and insolvency)
Lectures on various litigation, arbitration and general civil law topics (e.g. litigation craftsmanship and litigation strategy, security measures in the modern economy, documentary evidence and copyright, professional liability of lawyers).

Practice Areas

Dispute Resolution Intellectual Property

sectors

Insurance

Insights

Global Reach