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BA-HR has ‘skill in competition law which ranks them at the top in Norway’. Helge Stemshaug is ‘outstanding, pleasant to work with, creative, intelligent and enthusiastic’, while Beret Sundet is ‘thorough and thoughtful in her approach’. The practice has represented Det Norske Veritas through the aftermath of the dawn raid on its offices by the EFTA Surveillance Authority in 2008. Clients include Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and Wyeth.

Advokatfirmaet Schjødt DA’s lawyers have ‘an impressive combination of legal and industry knowledge’. Jan Magne Juuhl-Langseth and Brussels-resident Peter Dyrberg are ‘in a class of their own in European law and competition; Jan Magne is particularly good’. Christian Bendiksen is recommended for public procurement work. The team successfully assisted a competitor in the healthcare distribution market in blocking a proposed merger between Sunkost and Validus. Clients include A-Pressen and E.On.

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS’s team is ‘streamlined, yet personal in the service provided’. Siri Teigum ‘balances business priorities with the law’. Eivind Vesterkjær is recommended for merger and cartel cases. Recent recruit Fredrik Finstad is assisting pharmaceutical supplier Apokjeden in a complaint challenging preferential treatment given to state-owned pharmacies. Clients include SAS and Norway Post.

Wikborg Rein has ‘a very strong team of competition lawyers – the quality of work is excellent’. Mads Magnussen is ‘outstanding – I know competition lawyers from Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS and BAHR, but Magnussen is my first choice’. Morten Goller has an excellent reputation in procurement. Jonn Ola Sørensen, formerly legal director at the Competition Authority, has joined the Bergen office. The group’s clients include A-pressen and TeliaSonera.

Arntzen de Besche’s Thomas Nordby is commended for his efficiency and constructive approach. Stein Ove Solberg and Espen Bakken successfully obtained merger approval for Ticketmaster’s Norwegian operations on the all-share merger with Live Nation. Clients include Mesta and Nortura.

Selmer’s clients include multinationals such as Kraft and Xerox. Harald Evensen ‘has great knowledge of competition law and EU issues and gives to-the-point advice’. Evensen and Marit Aaberg handled the competition aspects of the merger which led to the creation of Polaris Media. Katinka Mahieu is recommended for complex contentious cases.

Simonsen Advokatfirma DA’s clients are ‘fully satisfied with the work and service given – the lawyers have high competence in competition law’. Mona Soyland advised Oslo Børs in its recent strategic partnership with London Stock Exchange, and was joined by new partner Anders Thue when Sparebanken 1 required assistance with the Glitnir Bank acquisition. Adept at telecoms and media work, the group advises clients including Synnøve Finden and Franzefoss.

Wiersholm’s competiton group lost Wilhelm Matheson to the Supreme Court but regrouped under Anders Ryssdal, who is recommended for competition litigation. Stephan Jervell recently advised energy company Hafslund in connection with state aid in the energy sector. Kari Lunde and Tone Ripel have impressed with their handling of complex regulatory assignments.

Advokatfirmaet Grette DA’s IT specialist Jarle Sæbø is ‘extraordinarily knowledgeable in competition law’. The team assisted in the Bravida acquisition of Siemens Installation in 2009.

Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS succeeded in obtaining permission for the marketing of the high-caffeine Red Bull energy drink in Norway, citing EEA/EU free movement rules. Nina Melandsø is ‘a very good business lawyer, always to-the-point and practical’, while Ian Anders Tobiassen is also recommended.

Advokatfirmaet Hjort’s loss of partner Frode Elgeshem to Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is significant, although Heddy Ludvigsen and Monica Syrdal are capable of rising to any challenges with the support of Kristin Veierød who, ‘besides being one of the best in Norway on regulatory law, is an excellent business lawyer’. Clients include Telenor and Film & Kino.

Kvale Advokatfirma Da’s Henrik Svane and Olav Kolstad ‘give first class advice in complex, oil-industry-specific, competition law matters’. The small team attracts high-quality instructions from a wide range of commercial clients including Orkla and EnterCard Norge.

Advokatfirmaet Steenstrup Stordrange DA’s Oslo-based Tuva Aas Bakke took over the leadership of the group on her promotion to partner. Trond Skogly successfully assisted Troms fylkeskommune over allegations of public procurement rule breaches in the award of a fast-ferry contract.

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Legal Developments in Norway

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