The Legal 500

BA-HR is ‘recommended, as a friendly firm with strong senior lawyers’, including Jan Einar Barbo, Gunnar Sørlie, Rolf Johan Ringdal and Morten Smørdal. The firm’s blue-chip client list in the offshore and oil sectors can lead to conflicting out but there is no doubt as to the expertise on offer. The firm is regularly instructed by Aker Group, Sevan Marine, and has increasingly been handling complex international assignments, and incomers to the Norwegian market such as China Oilfield Services (COSL) Europe.

Kyllingstad Kleveland Advokatfirma DA continues to add expertise; new partner Lasse Hagen brings extensive experience as a litigator and arbitrator from his time at the Nordisk Defence Club. Eirik Hoiby ‘has a unique ability to drill down to the root of a particular issue and present a compelling argument’. Odd-Arne Kleveland, Erik Brannsten and Anne Christine Kroepelien attract very positive comment for broad expertise and high service standards. The firm’s clients include Aker Solutions, Nexans and Halliburton.

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS has ‘outstanding competence in offshore construction and shipbuilding’. Pål Lieungh is ‘particularly good’, and ‘the teams set up for the different cases have been strong, accurate and appropriate’. Olav Vikøren is recommended for contentious matters. Newly promoted partner Jacob Bull assisted Det norske oljeselskap with numerous aspects of opening up the Frøy licence for production. Clients include Viken Shipping and Mowinckel Suezmax Tankers.

Advokatfirmaet Vogt & Wiig AS’ Knut Erik Westad in Oslo and Tor-Arne Holand in Trondheim are recommended. The practice, which shares personnel with the firm’s maritime department, offers comprehensive expertise in ship and rig construction, with over 100 newbuild contracts finalised in the last two years, as well as excellent litigation and arbitration support. Clients include Ulstein Group, Songa Bulkers and Olympic Shipping.

Wikborg Rein is instructed in numerous major offshore and shipbuilding projects, disputes and reorganisation, and has deep international penetration in the sector. Finn Bjørnstad assisted with the restructuring of Floatel International, an assignment which required renegotiation of construction contracts, and complex refinancing. Partners also expert in the sector include Trond Eilertsen, Øyvind Axe and Geir Ove Røberg. Clients include Odfjell Drilling, BW Offshore and Blue Ocean.

Kvale Advokatfirma Da’s offshore construction expertise ties in closely with the firm’s significant presence in the oil and gas sector. Construction contract expert Amund Bjøranger Tørum and Jens Brede provide ‘excellent customer-oriented service, and clear prompt advice’. Clients include Statoil, Talisman Energy and Dong.

Selmer’s recommended Nils Bugge heads a small but busy group which assisted long term client Kleven Maritime conclude the construction contract for two new generation LNG platform service vessels. The firm also acts for Master Marine.

Wiersholm has ‘a good understanding of the technical issues involved in offshore construction and with a creative approach to the legal issues’. Erik Blaker heads the practice, in which Eystein Eriksrud, is also highly recommended. For disputes in the sector, Helge Morten Svarva ‘provides excellent well thought through advice with a good commercial basis’. The firm provides comprehensive legal services to leading ship owners and offshore operators including Siem, Seadrill and Star Reefers.