The Legal 500

BA-HR provides ‘very high service levels’ and has additional expertise as a result of having recfruited former Wikborg Rein head of real estate, Anne Sofie Bjørkholt. Stig Bech, who is noted for his consistently high-quality service, led in advising Oslo Kommune through the renegotiation of the remaining NOK1.5bn part of Norway’s largest land sale, involving the former airport at Fornebu. Sam Harris is highly rated for litigation expertise in the construction field. Haakon Flaaten is recommended for complex transactions, and Jan Einar Barbo for construction law. Clients include Pangea Securities, Pareto Private Equity and Reitan Gruppen.

Føyen Advokatfirma DA provides ‘prompt responses and commercial understanding in addition to legal competence – a well-functioning team of specialised legal counsellors’. The 12 fee-earner group is very strong in construction and development law and has attracted major clients such as Backe Group, Selvaagbygg, and OKK Entreprenør. Heikki Giverholt is ‘a pragmatic and results-oriented negotiator’ in construction disputes, while Ottar Egset is recommended for complex development projects. Johan Henrik Vister is an excellent choice for transactions and reconstructions.

Kluge Advokatfirma DA, with a real estate and construction team numbering 45 fee-earners, has ‘one of the strongest professional teams in Norway’. Oslo-based Christian Galtung heads the real estate practice. Espen Nyland ‘is a brilliant specialist in construction law, with a true commercial instinct’, while Knut Prestvik ‘is at least equal to the very best of the people I have met from other law firms’, according to one client. Stavanger’s Gro Amdal and Bergen’s Harald Kobbe are recommended. Clients include Rema Eiendom Vest and Statoil, which Øystein Henriksen is assisting with a major relocation.

Advokatfirmaet Schjødt DA works as ‘a true team; hard working, analytical and creative in their approach to difficult issues’. The 25 lawyers are divided between a construction group, headed by Hallgeir Østrem, and a real estate group led by Geir Sand. Clients have ‘great confidence’ in Pål Grønnæss and senior lawyer Camilla Kristiansen. Advokatfirmaet Schjødt DA represents the five largest Norwegian contractors, including Skanska, PEAB and Veidekke, and is acting as main legal counsel to Oslo S Utvikling on the redevelopment of Oslo’s former main railway station area.

Selmer’s real estate and construction team has been rejoined by Mikkel Vislie after five years at Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS. Individual lawyers who ‘have impressive knowledge of the law relating to real estate and consistently deliver a high-quality service’ include Even Berg, and Alexander With. Andreas Rørvik assisted IT Fornebu Eiendom in negotiations with Statoil regarding new headquarters; one of the largest lease agreements in Norway in recent years. Clients include Norconsult, Profier and Briskeby Einendom.

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS offers ‘excellent legal skills and service in real estate matters’. Christian Müller heads the department and brings extensive experience to the commercial property side of the practice. Christopher Borch has established a good reputation in the same area and acts for clients including Kenmore Property and Sjælsø Group. Anders Pind is recommended for construction disputes.

Torkildsen, Tennøe & Co ‘delivers consistently top-level service – its lawyers have superior business knowledge within real estate, and expertise at all levels’. Tom Torkildsen is widely recognised as a commercial property expert. Børge Nygårdshaug ‘gets to the point quickly and is able to find creative solutions’. Christian Hartmann, ‘who continues to improve’, and Andreas Iversen are also commended. Kjell-André Honerud is an expert in major construction projects, and Harald Christensen has a large following of architects’ firms. Clients include Aberdeen Property Investors and Eiendomsspar.

Arntzen de Besche advises in real estate transactions and all aspects of development and construction. The firm is preferred legal advisor to the Norwegian Real Estate Broker Association. Hans Henrik Kværne ‘has commercial insight and the ability to swing negotiations in the client’s favour’. Erling Høyte is recommended for construction sector restructuring. Arntzen de Besche acts for Fearnley Finans and NRP Realkapital.

DLA Piper’s group provides ‘very good levels of service’. Hans Christian Brodtkorb is ‘energetic and very good at taking in the whole picture’, while Martine Finbak ‘digs into the details and has an understanding of the main issues’. Bjørn Slaatta heads the team and is recommended, as is Espen Moe, the regional managing partner for Norway, who assists Mesta in civil engineering disputes. Clients include Skanska Bolig and PEAB.

Deloitte Advokatfirma AS ‘has built up a very strong team of lawyers in real estate’. Head of team Thorvald Nyquist is ‘a dealmaker – he finds the solutions even when most others give up’. Christoffer Nicolaisen is ‘highly professional, and works with speed and accuracy’. Torill Hasle Aamelfot, and Ina Wikborg Todal are also well considered. The group is advising Hellerud Gård Samele through a complex, multi-property, ground lease negotiation.

Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS has lost former team leader Mikkel Vislie to Selmer. The department is divided into construction and real estate teams. Construction specialist Johnny Johansen ‘is highly skilled, and a superb team-builder and motivator’, while Henning Nordtvedt ‘gives focused, high-quality advice’. Senior associates Erling Marcussen Timm and Mikal Brøndmo are both rated highly. Clients include Orkla Eiendom and Scandinavian Property Group.

Wiersholm’s ‘service level is generally very good, with swift response times’. Arne Engesæth has ‘in-depth industry knowledge combined with very strong strategic skills’. The ‘skilled and constructive’ Tom Rune Lian handled the sale and leaseback of Norske Skog’s headquarters in a deal worth NOK425m. Clients include Nordisk Renting and Hafslund.

At Wikborg Rein, the loss of real estate partner Anne Sofie Bjørkholt to BA-HR is significant, though Bergen-based Haakon Blaauw is ‘excellent, but sometimes rather busy’, and Per Magne Strandborg is ‘a good lawyer for difficult disputes’. Erlend Holstrøm is recommended for construction disputes. Clients include Tide and Vital Forsikring.

Brækhus Dege Advokatfirma ANS’ long experienced Ivar Barstad and Embret Støeng are recommended. Clients include Ruuki and construction industry association TBF.

Advokatfirmaet CLP DA is ‘very good on general real estate law’. Tore Økseter is recommended for both transactions and disputes. Clients include AF Gruppen.

Advokatfirmaet Grette DA ‘offers an excellent service, delivered by highly qualified and skilled professionals’. Torgeir Myrstad has ‘extensive experience in construction’, the firm’s strong suit, with clients such as Jernbaneverket and Olav Thon Gruppen.

Advokatfirmaet Hjort, folowing some successful lateral hires, has moved from a strong litigation bias to a more balanced real estate and construction offering. Frode Innjord has ‘business understanding, legal acumen and the persuasive personality which makes an outstanding counsel’. Liv Aandal ‘personally commits to the transaction, and gives valuable advice’. Senior associate, Kristian Korsrud is ‘the best lawyer we have ever used’. Halvard Leirvik and Jarl Borgin Dørre are strong lawyers. Clients include Skanska and Krystallen Eiendom.

Advokatfirmaet Hodneland & Co ‘is among the best in the real estate development, much better than other law firms we have worked with’. Arne Sørsdahl has ‘highly developed writing and oral skills’, and Paal Haugaard has ‘extraordinarily good knowledge of construction legislation and practice’.

Bull & Co Advokatfirma AS offers ‘very good and reliable support on real estate matters’. Knut Bachke is a sound real estate practitioner, with a good following of real estate companies.

Kyllingstad Kleveland Advokatfirma DA’s Anders Myhre is recommended for property and construction matters associated with the firm’s key competences in the offshore sector; he has also handled development projects and civil engineering disputes. Clients include Veidekke.

Advokatfirmaet Lund & Co DA’s Stein Erik Stinnessen is recommended for expropriation and public planning matters, while Caroline Lund is an expert in land law.

Simonsen Advokatfirma DA’s team provided ‘an excellent overall standard of service’ and Peter Simonsen is ‘very good and responds quickly’. Clients include Swiss Real Estate and Norwegian Outlet.

Vogt & Wiig AS ‘s Bjørn Kise is highly recommended for complex transactions. Clients include Linstow and Oslo S Utvikling.