mellanhand

Mellanhand is a Swedish term used to describe an intermediary who arranges a transaction between a buyer and a seller. The mellanhåndens role is to bring parties together, provide information, negotiate terms, and coordinate logistics, without typically taking ownership of the goods or rights involved. In practice, a mellanhand acts as a broker, agent, or intermediary depending on the context.

Typical duties include sourcing counterparties, assessing fit and price expectations, conducting basic due diligence, coordinating contract drafting, and handling logistics or payment processes. The intermediary helps reduce information gaps and transaction costs by bridging gaps in knowledge, access, or networks between the party seeking to buy and the party seeking to sell.

Remuneration for a mellanhand is usually a commission or fee, often expressed as a percentage of the transaction value or as a fixed amount. Payment arrangements vary and can be charged by the hiring party, by both sides, or by a platform that connects buyers and sellers.

Applications and sectors are broad. Real estate brokers, employment agencies, stock or commodity brokers, export/import intermediaries, and dealers in art or antiques commonly operate as mellanhänder. Online marketplaces and platforms that connect buyers with sellers can also function as modern mellanhänder by facilitating matches and transactions.

Criticism and regulation of mellanhänder focus on potential conflicts of interest, lack of transparency, or unequal information. In many markets, licensing, fiduciary duties, or disclosure requirements are in place to protect clients, while other sectors rely on contractual clarity and market competition to govern intermediary behavior.