Swedish firm Magnusson has hired former Sony Ericsson general counsel Per Hendar as part of an expansion drive that has also seen the firm form an alliance in Belarus.

Hendar, who has joined Magnusson from Swedish rival Wistrand, will head the firm’s new Gothenburg base, launched last week (1 October). Before joining Wistrand as a partner, Hendar was general counsel and corporate vice president of Sony Ericsson between 2001 and 2005.