The Legal 500

Advokatfirmaet BA-HR DA is probably best known for its excellent patent litigation practice, where it receives instructions from major patent originators such as Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline. Practice head Are Stenvik and the ‘excellent’ Gunnar Sørlie recently successfully represented AstraZeneca before the Court of Appeal in a patent validity case. Lars Norheim leads the soft IP team, which is regularly utilised in corporate and M&A matters involving IP and TMT. The team also handles trade mark and copyright issues for media companies such as TV3 and Viasat, and corporate head Svein Gerhard Simonnæs regularly handles transactional work in the TMT sector.

Føyen Advokatfirma DA provides ‘very hands-on advice’ to leading IT service providers including Accenture, Logica Norge, Bouvet and Itera Group. Team head Arve Føyen is regularly involved in major media deals and continues to advise the Norwegian Football Association on its sale of media rights. The ‘solution-focused’ Lars Folkvard Giske has ‘good knowledge and experience with IT agreements’, and senior associate Kirill Miazine ‘knows software from a technical point of view’.

Advokatfirmaet Grette DA provides an ‘outstanding service’ in patent, copyright and trade mark disputes, as well as non-contentious issues such as licensing and IP work associated with M&A transactions. Inga Kaasen and Amund Brede Svendsen, who has ‘huge experience not only in patent law but also other IP matters’, are representing Blafro Tools in a patent infringement and cancellation case. Astri Lund’s reputation as one of Norway’s ‘foremost copyright experts’ is underscored by her position as chairperson of the Norwegian Copyright Association. ‘Reputed trade mark specialist’ Felix Reimers is also recommended.

Advokatfirmaet Schjødt AS is particularly appreciated by clients for its ‘excellent ability at handling contentious matters’. Team head Halvor Manshaus, who is ‘extremely smart in court’, recently represented General Electric in an arbitration with Rainpower regarding a licence agreement and use of IP and know-how. Co-head Kaare Risung has a busy practice in the infomedia industry and Sigurd Holter Torp litigates a wide range of IP matters.

Simonsen VogtWiig is predominantly involved in copyright, trade mark, patent and design cases relating to media or telecoms. Team head Espen Tøndel excels at telecoms-related IP matters and recently advised TeliaSonera Norge on its joint venture with Tele2 and Telenor. Other clients include Apple, TV2 and A-pressen. The team is ‘value for money’ as a result of the ‘very high level of knowledge among its junior lawyers’ Bjarte Bogstad is ‘smart, reliable and responsive’.

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS‘ seven-partner team has ‘people with in-depth expertise in most areas’, including patents, trade marks and copyright. Arne Ringnes and Camilla Vislie successfully represented the manufacturer and designer of the Tripp Trapp children’s chair in a high-profile copyright dispute before the Supreme Court. Jan Morten Evertsen has an excellent reputation in the film and media sector and recently advised Rubicon TV on the popular US/Norwegian TV series, Lilyhammer. Haakon Opperud is recommended for IT and technology transactions.

Praised for its ‘perfect combination of the practical and theoretical’, Wiersholm is best known for its media expertise where it is instructed by clients including Bonnier Media and Mediebedriftenes Klareingstjeneste. The ‘first-class’ Hans Erik Johnsen recently represented Canal Digital in a major copyright win against TV2. Kyrre Eggen has an excellent reputation for freedom of speech and defamation matters.

Wikborg Rein has ‘attorneys with extensive knowledge and experience in the field of patent litigation’, and is particularly excellent for pharmaceuticals matters. ‘Highly ethical’ patent litigator Gunnar Meyer is ‘truly a team player who puts the interests of the client at the very forefront of his considerations’. Meyer continues to handle a raft of litigation on behalf of leading generics manufacturer, Actavis. Patent litigator Ingvild Hanssen-Bauer is ‘accurate and detailed’. Torleif Dahl handles IT and telecoms transactions, and Rolf Riisnæs is recommended for ICT contracts.

Bing Hodneland advokatselskap DA is ‘an attractive proposition for a client seeking a mid-size law firm in the IP field’. The ‘experienced’ John Gulbrandsen is regularly engaged in major copyright cases for media clients such as the Norwegian Clearing Service. The ‘commercially oriented’ Ole Tokvam is advising Opera Software on various IP matters. Jon Wessel-Aas and Jon Bing are also recommended.

Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS provides an ‘impressive service’ and ‘fresh and modern approach’ to IP and IT work. Helge Olav Bergan has ‘in-depth knowledge of media and broadcast matters’, and advised Get Group on the rights to distribute TV2 channels. The ‘very brainy’ Anne Marie Sejersted and Håkon Bleken continue to represent Actavis in patent infringement and validity cases. The ‘focused’ Jørgen Monn and ‘very good’ Espen Werring are experts in IT outsourcing.

Headed by Espen Sandvik, Arntzen de Besche’ four-partner team excels at M&A in the TMT sector, as well as the commercialisation of technology. Clients include Sensor Developments and Sintef Petroleum Research.

Kristine Madsen leads Bull & Co Advokatfirma AS‘ six-partner team, which has a longstanding reputation in IP. Tom Eilertsen is the go-to-partner for various film and TV companies and is advising Filmkameratene – Norway’s oldest feature film company – on a range of contractual matters. ‘Efficient’ senior associate Rune Nordengen is a rising star and provides ‘well-balanced advice’ to clients such as Puma and Timberland.

DLA Piper has ‘good knowledge of domestic and global technology’, and acts for clients such as AstraZeneca, Cognizant and the Discovery Channel. The ‘very solid’ Nils Arne Grønlie heads the team.

Jointly headed by Kristin Veierød and Rolf Chr. Trolle Andersen, Advokatfirmaet Hjort has a strong presence in the media sector, where clients include Telenor and Canal Digital.

Kluge Advokatfirma DA’s team head Torstein Arendt provides ‘strategic and commercial advice’ on matters including IT procurement.

At Kvale Advokatfirma Da, team head Lars Trygve Jenssen is recommended for IT matters, and the ‘experienced and high-quality’ Per Conradi Andersen has litigated a number of IP cases.

Selmer’s five-partner team remains busy with commercial and transactional IP work, but has also seen an increase in litigation for clients such as Air Liquide and Telinet Energi. Nils Kristian Einstabland heads the team.

Advokatfirmaet Steenstrup Stordrange DA’s compact group, which is headed by Aksel Joachim Hageler, handles IP matters including patent litigation, franchising agreements and data protection. The firm provides copyright law and general advice to Warner Music Norway.

Brækhus Dege Advokatfirma DA’s Per Bjørnsen and Stein Hove have a strong reputation for IT and telecoms law.

Advokatfirmaet CLP DA’s nascent technology group mainly provides the firm’s private equity and venture capital clients with IP and regulatory advice associated with transactions in the technology sector. Key contact Stephan Brodschöll is ‘likeable and practical’, and is praised for his ‘in-depth IT technology law knowledge’.

The recent arrival of IP litigator Joakim Marstrander from Advokatfirmaet Vogt & Wiig AS has boosted Deloitte Advokatfirma AS‘ IP capability, particularly regarding the sports industry.

Kulturadvokatene’s Eirik Djønne is an accomplished expert in advising media clients on copyright law.

Staffed by a number of ex-Telenor lawyers, Legalteam advokatfirma DA has ‘real expertise in the telecoms sector’.

Advokatfirma Ræder DA’s team head Inge Svae-Grotli handles copyright and trade mark matters.

Advokatfirmaet Sverdrup DA’s IP clients include Nortelco Group, Duravit and Vita. Erik Dahl is recommended for TMT advice.