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Axelsson appointed to the Supreme Court of Iceland

10. October, 2015

One of LEX’s Partners Mr Karl Axelsson, Supreme Court Attorney and Associate Professor at the University of Iceland, has been appointed as judge of the Supreme Court of Iceland. Mr Axelsson is one of LEX’s most experienced attorneys and is among the most respected lawyers in the country.

Mr Axelsson’s areas of expertise are inter alia property law, real estate law and natural resources law. He has taught property law at the Faculty of Law at the University of Iceland for the past 23 years. He has tried numerous court cases, including several landmark cases, before the Supreme Court since he was awarded licence to practices before the Supreme Court in 1997. In addition, Mr Axelsson has been the defence attorney in a variety of difficult criminal cases. Mr Axelsson had previously been appointed to the Supreme Court on a temporary basis from October 16 2014 to June 30 2015.

During his time at LEX Mr Axelsson has been sought after as consultant by individuals, organizations and the public sector. He has served on and led numerous public committees, including in the field of natural resources law and energy law and the working environment of the media. Mr Axelsson has also been involved with the preparation and drafting of numerous legislative bills pertaining to his field of expertise, he has written articles and given lectures on various legal issues, especially pertaining to ​​property rights and property law.

Mr Axelsson has undertaken many important legal projects and advised clients in important cases in recent years. Most recently, he inter alia advised the Icelandic Guarantee Fund with regards to claims filed by the Dutch central bank and the British deposit fund. One of the most comprehensive projects Mr Axelsson undertook in recent years was to manage the resolution of disputes on public lands in the highlands.
Mr Axelsson is married to Margret Reynisdóttir and they have two daughters. In his spare time he is a forestry enthusiast, a keen angler and has held a number of positions of trust for Valur Football Club.
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Mr Örn Gunnarsson, Managing Partner at LEX: “Attorneys have long emphasised the importance that an increased number of judges in the Supreme Court have experience as litigators. Thus, the appointment of Mr Axelsson to the Supreme Court of Iceland, which is a great recognition of his previous experience, is a joyous occasion for the legal profession and for LEX, which Mr Axelsson has along with his partners build-up over the past few decades. Mr Axelsson colleagues at LEX offer their heartfelt congratulations on his appointment to the Supreme Court and know that he will discharge his duties with fidelity and dedication for the benefit of the nation.”

Mr Axelsson, departing Partner at LEX: “I will leave my colleagues at LEX with regret while at the same time I look forward to the challenges that await me. Having made a career to serve the law there are few tasks as noble as to serve on the republic’s Supreme Court. Indeed, I will use all my efforts to be worthy of the great confidence bestowed upon me with my appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court.”

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