Osborne Clarke has launched a new office in Stockholm, Sweden, with the hire of two new partners and three associates.

The new recruits are Bird & Bird partner and head of the firm's Swedish commercial group Henrik Bergstrom, and Fredrik von Baumgarten (pictured above middle), previously a founding partner at Stockholm boutique Baumgarten Bystroem Rooth & Partners.

In addition, the firm has hired Bird & Bird senior associate Angelica Lundqvist (pictured above left) alongside Bird & Bird associate Isabella Palmgren (pictured above right) and SEB Merchant Banking legal counsel Gabriel Liska, who both join in early October.

The firm is looking to add other partners to the office in due course.

International CEO at Osborne Clarke Simon Beswick said: "Not only is Sweden the third most active M&A market in Europe and growing faster than most other European economies, it's a key market for many of our core sector clients. Having a presence in Stockholm will strategically position our business so we can support our clients on the ground and in a market that presents exciting opportunities for them."

Bergstrom added: "Given some of the most exciting technology-driven businesses are coming out of this region, there is a big opportunity here for us. Both Fredrik and I look forward to working closely with the wider international Osborne Clarke team, as well as building and growing the Swedish offering."

The office, which takes the firm's global total to 25, will focus on digital, economic, environmental and political practice areas.

Earlier this year, the firm entered mainland China through a tie-up with Shanghai-based firm, Zhang Yu & Partners.