KRISTINN BJARNASON

Practice Areas

  • Company Law
  • Competition Law
  • Contractors
  • Finance
  • Financial Institutions, Mutual Funds & Insurance Companies
  • Human Rights Law
  • Litigation & Arbitration
  • Municipalities
  • Property Law
  • Resources, Energy & Environment
  • Restructuring, Receivership & Liquidation

ATTORNEY AT LAW – PARTNER

Kristinn’s main areas of practice are banking and finance, corporate and commercial law, property law, real estate law, and restructuring and liquidation. When it comes to insolvency and restructuring Kristinn’s experience and knowledge is second to none. He has been appointed liquidator in many of Iceland’s largest insolvencies, including Landsbanki Íslands hf. (LBI hf.). The insolvency of LBI hf. was a complex multi-jurisdictional insolvency with estimated assets approximately USD 14 billion and liabilities around USD 30 billion.

Kristinn is one of Iceland’s most seasoned litigators having pleaded over 400 civil and criminal cases in the courts, thereof approximately 200 in the Supreme Court. His experience and sharp mind make him an excellent partner for clients having to assess whether to settle a complex dispute or take it to the courts.

Recently, Kristinn served as an ad hoc judge in cases both before the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court.

ADMISSIONS

  • The Supreme Court of Iceland (1998)
  • The Appeal Court
  • The District Courts

EXPERIENCE

  • Partner, LAGASTOÐ, 2010-
  • Partner, KB lögmannsstofa ehf., 1996-2009
  • Associate, Almenna lögfræðistofan hf., 1989-96

APPOINTMENTS

  • Member of the Disciplinary Committee of the Bar Association, 2002-
  • Ad hoc Judge, the Appeal Court, 2022
  • Ad hoc Judge, the Supreme Court of Iceland, 2017 and 2021
  • Chairman of the Winding-up Board of Landsbanki Íslands hf. (LBI hf.), 2011-16

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

  • University of Iceland, Faculty of Law (Cand.jur.), 1989
  • Menntaskólinn á Egilsstöðum (Matriculation Exam), 1984

TEACHING & EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

  • Teacher (Bankruptcy and liquidation) at the Icelandic Bar Association, 2009-
  • External examiner, University of Iceland, Faculty of Law, 2011-

LANGUAGES

  • English
  • Nordic languages