Barbara Segesvary was an American lawyer who became one of Sweden’s first female business lawyers. She represented major international companies, served as a partner at Advokatfirman Carler, later worked at Setterwalls, advised the Italian embassy, and handled the prominent Hallandsåsen tunnel litigation.
Background
Barbara Segesvary was born in Björnaby in Ångermanland and grew up in rural northern Sweden as her family moved in connection with her mother’s teaching appointments and her father’s work in forestry. At twelve she began attending the realskola in Örnsköldsvik, where she lived in lodgings, and she completed her commercial secondary education at Handelsgymnasiet in Sundsvall in 1954. Her youth included piano playing in church, singing, involvement in the Salvation Army, and an extended bus journey through the United States at the age of eighteen, after which she wrote travel accounts for Örnsköldsviks Allehanda.
Education
Segesvary attended realskola in Örnsköldsvik from the age of twelve and graduated from Handelsgymnasiet in Sundsvall in 1954. After working internationally for many years, she moved to Uppsala in 1972 and completed a law degree at Uppsala University in 1975. Her legal training was followed by district-court service in Uppsala before she entered private legal practice.
Between 1955 and 1972, Segesvary held a series of international positions, including work at the Swedish embassy in Helsinki, the Lutheran World Federation and the World Alliance of YMCA in Geneva, and CERN. She also worked as a life underwriter in London and Geneva and became a department head at International Life Insurance Co. After completing her law degree and district-court service in Uppsala, she joined Advokatfirman Carler in Stockholm, where she became a partner and developed an international business-law practice. Her fluency in Swedish, English, French, German, and Italian and her international network enabled her to represent prominent French companies including L'Oréal, Louis Vuitton, Renault, Appellation Champagne Contrôlée, and Rhône-Poulenc. She also served as adviser to the Italian embassy. From 1996, she worked at Setterwalls advokatbyrå in Stockholm, remaining active there well beyond ordinary retirement age. One of her final major matters was the widely publicized litigation concerning environmental damage associated with the Hallandsåsen tunnel project; the court found that her client Rhône-Poulenc bore no responsibility for the damage caused by the use of Rhoca Gil.
Became one of Sweden’s first female business lawyers and developed an international commercial-law practice representing major French companies and other foreign clients.
Successfully represented Rhône-Poulenc in the prominent Hallandsåsen tunnel litigation; the court found that the company was not responsible for the environmental damage associated with the use of Rhoca Gil.
Served as a mentor to younger lawyers, including Massimo Caiazza, who credited her with teaching him the legal profession.
Membership
Segesvary was a member of the Swedish Bar Association, reportedly joining in 1981. She was also associated with the Italian embassy as a legal adviser.
Member of the Swedish legal profession's national bar association.
Swedish Bar Association
,
Sweden
1981 - 2012
Personality
Segesvary was remembered as forthright, colorful, independent, and highly distinctive. She was described as an influential mentor whose direct manner and professional example left a strong impression on younger lawyers. Her personal style included carefully matching colorful spectacles and shoes.
Quotes from others about the person
Massimo Caiazza described Segesvary as his mentor at Advokatfirman Carler and said that he learned the legal profession from her.
Interests
Travel writing and international languages.
Music & Bands
Singing and piano playing, including piano performance in church, were important interests during her youth.
Connections
Her brother was Jan Danielsson. Segesvary also had a significant professional mentoring relationship with younger lawyers, including Massimo Caiazza, who identified her as a mentor during his early work at Advokatfirman Carler.
Brother:
Jan Danielsson
Survived Segesvary and was identified as her brother.
References
Svenska Dagbladet obituary for Barbara Segesvary
Obituary documenting Segesvary's upbringing, international employment, legal education, career at Advokatfirman Carler and Setterwalls, Italian distinction, personal interests, and family.
