In 2025, Advokatbyrån Gulliksson and Ström & Gulliksson celebrate 50 years of expertise. With a focus on innovation, intellectual property and business law, we have supported entrepreneurs and companies since 1975.
A unique combination of intellectual property and business law. A business idea based on offering a complete and distinctive business service. For founders Jonas Gulliksson and Tore Ström, this focus as a business concept was crystal clear from the start. This year, two strong companies are celebrating their anniversary.
When the companies’ Managing Partners – Jens Olsson (Gulliksson) and Rikard Roos (Ström & Gulliksson) – talk about then and now, they share a common view of the companies’ strengths.
– Celebrating an anniversary like this provides an opportunity to reflect. I joined Ström & Gulliksson when the firm was already well established, but a lot has happened during my years here, says Rikard, while noting that the he and the firm are the same age.
– It is always difficult to relate to time and the passing years, but it is easy to see that there have been major and rapid developments that have affected the world in which we operate. Over the past 50 years, we have seen major developments and changes in both the patent and trademark systems, says Jens, who represents clients in both Swedish courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union and is also a registered representative at the Unified Patent Court. He says that things may not necessarily have been easier in the past, but the world at large has not become less complicated.
– The legal context in which we operate is becoming more and more complicated as it becomes more internationalized. As much as a system to comply with, intellectual property is a business strategy tool. The tension still lies in navigating the interface between legal frameworks and scientific facts and theories. The driving forces of our founders are still alive, to create IP rights that carry a commercial value, says Rikard Roos.
In terms of day-to-day work, a great deal has been simplified in 50 years. Smoother information management, simplified processes and, not least, increased digitization have made administration easier.
– Digitization has made it possible to handle cases faster and more efficiently, and many administrative tasks that previously burdened both law firms and patent offices have been reduced, Rikard says and adds: – But it has also meant that the pace of communication and the demands on our patent attorneys have increased significantly. Today, people expect answers quickly.
– The field of law and the industry have evolved enormously and we will most likely see many more changes ahead. If we look at the Unified Patent Court, there is both resistance and drivers that have in various ways paved the way for multinational courts. It is possible that we will see more centralization in the future, and if we look back, the changes are constant and often developing for us as a company.
Competence, commitment and close-knit teams
Jens and Rikard reflect on what really remains from the companies’ joint start 50 years ago. After a moment’s reflection, they both conclude that there is a lot, both what is stated and what is more “in the walls”.
– Internally, both companies have been keen to nurture their staff and corporate culture, and to make a joint commitment to taking on assignments, says Jens, explaining that many people come to Gulliksson precisely because of the unique combination of intellectual property law and business law.
– Our history and expertise in intellectual property law have given us a market-leading position. Today, it is our breadth as well as our clear focus on intellectual property law that attracts both clients and employees. There are lawyers who want to work in this particular environment, with close access to patent attorneys, and they will not find this at any other firm in Sweden.
Intellectual property law is a central and important area of law and can be of great commercial value. Clients who turn to both Gulliksson and Ström & Gulliksson do so for the expertise and commitment required to protect, develop and fully commercialize what can be a company’s most important asset.
– There is strength in being able to offer all stages of the intellectual property service chain together, not least when employees from the firms jointly litigate at patent offices’ opposition divisions and in national courts, Rikard says and concludes:
– When required, the experience should be to have access to a close-knit team. I can see that over the years we have reconnected a little more to the basic idea of our founders: to offer patent engineers and lawyers under “one roof”. Even though we are two different firms today, we see time and time again that many of our clients benefit from our unique and long-standing collaboration.
Advokatbyrån Gulliksson today
Gulliksson is owned and operated by seven partners. The firm has four offices in Sweden (Malmö, Lund, Stockholm and Gothenburg). Gulliksson’s business is built around different competence groups divided into legal areas and industries. The firm’s lawyers work in teams with senior paralegals, assistants and administrative staff working in HR, knowledge management, marketing, administration, finance and IT. Gulliksson’s organizational model is called True Partnership. The model ensures team spirit and long-term management of the business. The whole company should benefit from success and not just individuals. This contributes to knowledge sharing and smooth cooperation between the company’s staff, competence groups and offices. The organizational model promotes that each client has access to the collective experience and knowledge of the whole agency and thus the best possible advice.
