Norway > TMT > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

Advokatfirmaet Føyen Torkildsen AS stands out for its IT strength handling General Data Protection Regime (GDPR) compliance work, IT procurements, privacy issues and telecoms matters. In a recent highlight, the group advised Aera Payment and Identification on the launch of its new payment infrastructure to the retailer market including contract agreements and cloud services; other work includes assisting Strex with updating its contract portfolio for GDPR compliance, and handling the implementation of Yara International's new IT strategy. Google, Nortura and Questback are also clients. Lars Folkvard Giske leads the group, Arve Føyen is highly regarded in the field and Jostein Ramse assists with software licensing agreements and IT outsourcing issues. Knut Fiane and Knut Glad are also noteworthy.

Held 'in high regard' by clients, Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS fields 'dedicated partners with international experience and detailed knowledge' in the IT, technology, digitalisation and media space, alongside privacy and data protection expertise. Team leader Leif Eirik Thrane focuses on the technology sector and recently advised Sporveiein Oslo on a technology procurement relating to a new train signalling system. Clients also praise Andreas Bernt as 'excellent and prompt'; he is particularly active in media work. The group's client roster also includes Telenor and Santander Consumer Bank; Kari Gimmingsrud acted for the latter on its GDPR compliance efforts. Technology transaction specialist Arne Byberg joined from an in-house position, and Espen Werring joined Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS in 2018.

As 'the best telecoms firm in Norway', Advokatfirmaet Simonsen Vogt Wiig fields the 'always service-minded' Espen Tøndel, who has 'a unique telecoms background'; he recently acted for Telia Norge in frequency auctions in the 700MHz and microwave bands and assisted the same client with a national roaming agreement with Ice Communications Norway. Other work for the practice includes advising the Central Norway Health Region on a new common Electronic Health Record system, and representing TV2 in a dispute relating to broadcasting rights. Tor Stokke leads the practice and is a key name for transactional work, Karin Fløistad focuses on the competition aspects of TMT work and newly promoted equity partner Nicolai Halbo handles IT contracts.

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS' 'well-aligned and coordinated' practice 'combines legal insight with project expertise' to 'consistently look for solutions instead of identifying theoretical problems'. Department head Christopher Sparre-Enger Clausen is singled out as 'highly experienced and able to cut through irrelevant information and see the core issues'; he advised Telenor on its global GDPR programme and acted for Vipps on its merger with BankAxept and BankID. The group was also bolstered by the recruitment of Espen Werring from Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS in 2018; he is highly regarded for his technology expertise and regularly handles digitalisation strategies. Associate partner and IT expert Haakon Opperud and litigator Eirik W Raanes are also names to note.

Recent highlights for Wiersholm's TMT group include acting for Telenor in a Supreme Court dispute relating to subscriber data and illegal file sharing, representing IBM in an IT contract dispute against the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, and advising MBL (the organisation for media enterprises) on issues relating to Norwegian media houses and their ad-tech and data privacy discussions with Google and the Norwegian Data Protection Authority. Key practitioners include Hans Erik Johnsen, Rune Opdahl, who specialises in IT, data protection, media and ecommerce work for clients in the media and technology sectors, Kai Thøgersen and litigator Magnus Hellesylt. IT and technology contract specialist and senior associate Theresa Schumacher Walberg is also a name to note.

Kvale Advokatfirma DA expanded on its traditional focus on telecoms work with increased experience in GDPR issues and digitalisation projects; recent examples include advising Pfizer on its GDPR and privacy issues. Notable telecoms highlights include acting for Broadnet in disputes relating to access to sub-loop unbundling, and assisting Telia Norge with the migration of subscribers from Telenor's network to Telia's following its acquisition of Tele2 and Network Norway. Per-Kaare Svendsen and Lars Trygve Jenssen jointly lead the department and specialise in telecoms and IT matters respectively. Telecoms expert Thomas Farhang, contract specialist Ingvild Hanssen-Bauer and newly promoted partner Jens Christian Gjesti are also recommended.

At Advokatfirmaet Schjødt AS, Kaare Risung heads the digital innovation and TMT team and Halvor Manshaus is a key name for contentious issues. Tord Fondevik is recommended for technology transactions, Eva Jarbekk (who joined from Advokatfirmaet Føyen Torkildsen AS) handles privacy and GDPR work, Hugo Berg Otterlei focuses on contracts, and Jeppe Songe-Møller is experienced in cyber security and data protection mandates. Recent highlights include representing Andritz in litigation relating to hydro technology and advising Steam Systems and SpaceX on the launch of its satellite system.

Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS' 'very service-minded' team 'always responds quickly with high-quality feedback' and excels in the technology industry with clients including Itelligence, Canon and CGI. Department leader Ståle Hagen advised Obos on the contract negotiations for its move from on-premise software to a cloud-based strategy and assisted Norsk Medisinaldepot with its acquisition of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) and point of sale system. Nils Kristian Einstabland acted for EQT Infrastructure on its acquisition of Broadnet and advised Fotball Media on media rights to the Norwegian elite football leagues.

Wikborg Rein's 'combination of experience and deep knowledge across legal, commercial and technical issues' is evident in the work of Rolf Riisnæs, who is a key name for IT contracts and IT procurements; he recently advised Orkla on its procurement of an ERP system and assisted Sykehuspartner HF with outsourcing telecoms networks and data centres. Line Coll leads the practice and joined the team in 2018 from an in-house position at Equinor (formerly Statoil) with specialist counsel Gry Hvidsten; the pair advised NorgesGruppen on data protection and privacy issues. Hanna Beyer Olaussen also joined from Advokatfirmaet Ræder AS in 2018.

The technology and innovation group at Arntzen de Besche includes litigator Andreas Nordby. The team excels in the oil service, offshore, automotive, retail and life sciences sectors with a client roster including Merck & Co, Petroleum Geo-Services and Shell. In a recent highlight, the practice advised Helse Midt-Norge RHF on its implementation of a software solution; other work includes representing Tono in a claim against Tidal relating to the alleged manipulation of figures, and assisting Steeper Energy with contracts for the use of its technology in a biofuel plant. Espen Sandvik left the firm to take up a judicial position and Tommy Dahlen moved in-house.

BAHR is recognised for its expertise in advertising and marketing law, TMT transactions, licensing and franchising issues, and TMT disputes. It's recent work includes advising Reitan Group on its master license and licensing arrangements, handling Sport1 Gruppen and Anton Sport's app- and internet-based customer loyalty schemes, and assisting Triton Partner with its sale of Infratek to Vinci Energies Group. Key practitioners include Are Stenvik, Lars Kristian Sande and Lars Norheim.

The 'responsive, solution-oriented and effective' team at Bull & Co Advokatfirma AS 'impresses' clients with its 'deep software and IT capabilities'; the group is also a key name in the market for media and entertainment work, and handles telecoms issues. Kristin Haram Førde leads the practice and Kristian Foss focuses on technology work; Foss' recent work includes advising Crystallize on its customer and partnering terms, and representing Mysoft and Byggdata in litigation relating to the delay in developments of a customer portal and related software. Telecoms expert Christopher W Husebye and privacy specialist Stian Sørensen Schilvold are also recommended.

Advokatfirmaet Hjort focuses on contentious TMT work, particularly in the telecoms and media spaces. Clients include Kabel Norge, which it assisted following revisions to Norwegian copyright legislation; M-Brain, which it acted for in a dispute relating to the use of newspaper articles for media surveillance services; and Telenor Norge, which it acted for in a case against the state following an order forcing it to repay allegedly illegally high network access prices to TDC. Kristin Veierød leads the practice, Monica Syrdal acts for international broadcasters and content distributors and Claude Lenth handles data protection and privacy matters.

Advokatfirmaet Ræder AS's clients have 'rarely worked with lawyers with such market knowledge' and who 'feel like a safe pair of hands for both urgent and day-to-day matters'. Team leader Vebjørn Søndersrød is singled out for his 'unique way of engaging clients and his commitment to the cause', and Jan Morten Evertsen (who joined from Zacco in 2018) is highly regarded for his media and entertainment sector expertise; he assisted Paradox with the contract work relating to the production of two feature films and a documentary. Nordic Choice Hotels, BankID and Tinder are also clients.

Brækhus Advokatfirma DA 'delivers on quality, efficiency and availability' and 'shows solid legal competence paired with an ability to convey assessments and advice in a clear way'. Christian Bendiksen leads the group, which excels in IT contract work and also acts on data protection, cloud computing and big data issues. Clients include Capgemini Norge, Flytoget and Focus Software.

Advokatfirmaet CLP DA focuses its efforts on software and internet companies and acts for clients including Signicat, Aveva and Encap. The team also advised Hafslund Marked on its GDPR compliance and assisted Agder Energi Kraftforvaltning with the development of AI software for resource management issues; Stephan Brodschöll led both matters. Kyrre Eggen handles contentious work and Jakob Villum specialises in transactional work.

Petter Bjerke heads the department at DLA Piper, which leverages its global network to assist international clients with GDPR compliance issues and cross-border transactions. The group also fields technology specialist Jan Sandtrø; his recent highlights include advising Nordic Semiconductor on its GDPR compliance, and acting for Epic Systems on its procurement of a new electric health record system. Fredny Bade joined LIGL Advokater AS in 2018.