The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance (including shipping finance), Selmer is a first tier firm,

Selmer, has ‘a good set up’ and provides ‘excellent service and deep knowledge of the financial industry and its regulations’. Einar Grette who is ‘precise, consistent, trustworthy, and communicates well’, has established a strong debt finance team. Grette and Katriina Kekkonen assisted Metallkraft in connection with a NOK140m convertible bond loan and restructuring of the company’s existing multicurrency term loan facility of NOK250m. Knut Endre is ‘knowledgeable and has excellent relations with the authorities’ in public finance. Bernt Olav Steinland is recommended for regulatory matters.

Within Corporate and M&A, Selmer is a first tier firm,

Selmer ‘offers unparalleled client service in relation to corporate advice’. Marius Juul Møller, highly rated for his ‘transactional advice and general legal judgement’, joined from DLA Piper. The corporate practice is led jointly by Dag Erik Rasmussen, who is ‘as good as anybody else in town’, and Are Herrem, who is ‘proactive and commercial’. The ‘smart, hard-working and commercial’ Thomas Michelet led the team which assisted Njord Gas Infrastructure to acquire a 9.5% interest in the Gassled Transportation System joint venture. Anne Kjølseth Ekerholt has responsibility for the Russian desk. Selmer’s clients include Morpol and Polaris Media.

Within Dispute resolution, tier 4

Selmer’s Asbjørn Berg heads the litigation and disputes group which is particularly recommended for arbitration work in the real estate and construction sectors, or where IP issues are to point. Katinka Mahieu, head of competition, is also an effective litigator. Tax expert Jon Vinje is admitted to the Supreme Court. Clients include Ventelo and Rom Eiendom.

Within EU and competition, Selmer is a second tier firm,

Selmer’s ‘level of partner attention is attractive’. Katinka Mahieu, who ‘grasps complex material quickly’, now heads a department which is strong in state aid, procurement and competition matters, and an important contributor to the firm’s transactions work. Harald Evensen ‘stands out, not only within the firm, but as one of the absolutely top competition lawyers in Norway’: Evensen is leading the work for Octapharma in connection with complaints against the central procurement body for Norwegian Hospitals HINAS.

Within Electricity, nuclear and renewable, Selmer is a second tier firm,

Selmer has ‘a well developed network, proven industry knowledge, and renders good advice in a timely manner’. Roy Slettvold has ‘deep knowledge of the power sector’ and is well supported by the ‘unique experience of sector business models and legal frameworks’ provided by the strategy and finance department. Einar Bakko ‘combines high academic skills with commercial intelligence’. Clients include Sjøfossen Energi and Vesterålskraft.

Within Employment, Selmer is a third tier firm,

Selmer’s two-partner employment team’s ‘ability to rapidly understand cases is excellent, and response is fast’. Highly rated André Istad Johansen17164 is ‘able to quickly clarify the issues’ and frequently works with corporate and banking groups on the employment aspects of major mergers. Clients include Accenture and Rolls-Royce Marine.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Selmer is a first tier firm,

Selmer’s head of insolvency, Thomas Steen Brandi is ‘efficient and effective, focussed on the right things, and has a modern approach’. Brandi worked with Jeppe Normann on the bankruptcy of the Ekko Eiendom /NOTAR international estate agency group. Jon Skjørshammer, who is leading the work on the Terra Securities bankrupt estate, is also recommended in a department which has ‘an outstanding capability for managing complex restructuring situations with international elements’.

Within Intellectual property and TMT, Selmer is a third tier firm,

Selmer’s Nils Kristian Einstabland is highly rated for his IT/TMT expertise, and leads a small team which offers ‘a broad range of services’ including liigation and support for the firm’s strong transactional practice. Clients include Freebit and Infosys BPO.

Within Legal market overview,

BA-HR, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS, Wiersholm, and Wikborg Rein are generally consider to be the elite firms, although the quartet occasionally appear to be complacent about competition, not only from effective and ambitious Advokatfirmaet Schjødt DA and Selmer but also from the stronger mid-tier firms, which are frequently noted as providing better value for money.

Within Offshore construction and shipbuilding, Selmer is a second tier firm,

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.

Within Oil and gas, Selmer is a second tier firm,

Selmer’s sector clients remain ‘positive about its good quality work’. The group’s highlight transaction of the year was the representation Det norske oljeselskap through the lengthy due diligence and ultimate contractual arrangements for the merger with Aker Exploration. Sverre Tysland has a ‘pragmatic and balanced approach’, and senior lawyer Øyvind Olimstad is ‘very good on all criteria’. Per Harg is expert in framework regulations for petroleum activities. Thomas Michelet has established a near dominant share of the Russian market. Clients include Grenland Group and Alstom Norway.

Within Real estate and construction, Selmer is a first tier firm,

Selmer’s team ‘is so fast in response that I get the impression I am their only client’. Practice head Even Berg is ‘very competent and stays on top of the case’, and Mikkel Vislie is ‘easy to collaborate with, has a good business attitude, and is highly qualified’. Andreas Rørvik is highly recommended for real estate transactions. Clients include Norconsult, Profier and Entra Eiendom.

Within Tax, Selmer is a second tier firm,

Selmer provides ‘a good level of service with quick response time and good industry knowledge, especially in real estate’. Jon Vinje is recommended for advisory matters and tax litigation, and Einar Bakko for complex corporate tax advice. Are Lian has taken over VAT matters following the departure of Alexander With, and has ‘never disappointed with the quality of his work’. Clients include General Electric and Scatec Group.