The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance (including shipping finance), Simonsen VogtWiig is a second tier firm,

Simonsen VogtWiig handles a wide range of transactions and a growing number of regulatory mandates, and has been acting on numerous restructurings, including representing Nordea Bank as lender on the $1.4bn restructuring of Frontline. Per Morten Christiansen has ‘superior industry and legal knowledge’, and has made a strong impact since joining from Advokatfirmaet Steenstrup Stordrange DA. Sindre Walderhaug is recommended for shipping finance. Peter Aall Simonsen heads the team. The merger with Vogt & Wiig AS in January 2013 enhanced the team’s shipping finance expertise, with the ‘responsive’ Thomas Dale and ‘excellent’ Christine Rødsæther being particularly accomplished in this area.

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Within Corporate and M&A, tier 4

Simonsen VogtWiig provides ‘exceptional service’ to an impressive roster of private equity firms and blue-chip corporates, including Herkules Capital, Verdane Capital, TeliaSonera, Akzo Nobel and DuPont. The ‘responsive and knowledgeable’ Pål Brudvik advised Hybridtech Consulting on selling to Nordisk Vindkraft the majority of shares in five wind farm subsidiaries. Henning Øvrebø heads the practice.

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Within Dispute resolution, Simonsen VogtWiig is a second tier firm,

Simonsen VogtWiig’s merger in January 2013 enlarged its dispute team. The ‘business-oriented’ Frithjof Herlofsen successfully represented Fokus Bank in the first case to appear before the Court of Appeal regarding the Norwegian application of MiFiD regulations and claims arising from currency trading. Financial services expert Kristin Farstad is a former in-house counsel at a major domestic bank. Karin Fløistad successfully represented TV2 in litigation brought against the leading cable companies. Peter Simonsen has ‘an impressive ability to present clear and simple arguments’.

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Within EU and competition, Simonsen VogtWiig is a third tier firm,

Simonsen VogtWiig represents numerous clients in the TMT sector including Hewlett-Packard, TeliaSonera Norge and TV2. Anders Thue is advising the Ministry of Justice and Public Security on procurement laws affecting its planned procurement of new rescue helicopters. Practice head Mona Søyland is highly regarded, which is reflected in her appointment to the expert committee on changes to the Norwegian Competition Act.

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Within Electricity, nuclear and renewable, Simonsen VogtWiig is a second tier firm,

Simonsen VogtWiig’s ‘knowledgeable and responsive’ five-partner practice handles transactional, regulatory and litigation matters relating to onshore and offshore energy sources. Team head Peter Aall Simonsen has ‘expert knowledge of business and energy law’; along with Pål Brudvik, he advised wind energy developer Hybridtech Holding on selling to Nordisk Vindkraft the majority of its shares in five wind farm subsidiaries. Catherine Banet is ‘an expert in EU law, state aid and tradeable green certificates’.

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Within Employment, Simonsen VogtWiig is a second tier firm,

Simonsen VogtWiig has an excellent reputation in the IT and telecoms space, where clients include Hewlett-Packard and TeliaSonera. Team head Per Arne Damm regularly represents employees in high-profile disputes. Senior lawyer Lill Egeland has ‘the knack for explaining complex cases in a manner that’s easy to understand’, and is particularly accomplished at advising on compliance issues. The ‘excellent’ Per Chr Eriksen formerlly headed the team at Vogt & Wiig AS.

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Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Simonsen VogtWiig is a third tier firm,

Simonsen VogtWiig’s ‘solution- oriented’ team handles court bankruptcy appointments in addition to restructurings and distressed M&A. The ‘responsive and hardworking’ Peter Aall Simonsen and practice head Claus Flinder are recommended.

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Within Intellectual property and TMT, Simonsen VogtWiig is a first tier firm,

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’.

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Within Maritime law (including insurance), Simonsen VogtWiig is a first tier firm,

‘One of the top law firms for shipping and offshore law’, Simonsen VogtWiig comprehensively spans wet and dry matters. ‘One of the leaders in the shipping community’, Frithjof Herlofsen is frequently involved in the group’s highest-profile litigation matters such as a recent Court of Appeal success for Norsk Hydro. Ingar Fuglevåg is also well regarded for litigation, and Bergen-based Adrian Moylan excels at transactions. ‘Very professional’ senior lawyer Lars Musæus has ‘excellent knowledge of the maritime industry’.

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Within Offshore construction and shipbuilding, Simonsen VogtWiig is a first tier firm,

Simonsen VogtWiig is ‘one of the leading law firms for shipping and offshore law’. Christian Bjørtuft Ellingsen and practice head Christine Rødsæther, who is ‘first class’, are advising Olympic Shipping on its offshore supply shipbuilding programme. Knut Erik Westad has ‘an excellent track record’ in shipping matters including sale-and-leasebacks, and Erlend Lous is recommended for newbuilds. Clients include Norshore Holding, Ulstein Group and Statoil.

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Within Oil and gas, Simonsen VogtWiig is a second tier firm,

Simonsen VogtWiig is particularly well regarded for international advice to foreign governments and institutions. For example, Bjorn-Erik Leerberg recently advised the Ugandan government on upstream and midstream legislation. ‘Very well connected’ team head Per Seime has ‘vast experience on petroleum legislation’.

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Within Real estate and construction, Simonsen VogtWiig is a third tier firm,

Simonsen VogtWiig’s ‘responsive and knowledgeable’ Pål Brudvik and the ‘highly impressive’ Peter Simonsen act for Fazenda Group on various regulatory and corporate matters. Bjørn Kise and Frode Berg regularly handle large development projects.

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Within Tax, Simonsen VogtWiig is a third tier firm,

Simonsen VogtWiig’s Jan Syversen is noted for his petroleum tax expertise and is advising Talisman Energy on various norm price questions. Trond Erik Andersen’s clients include TeliaSonera and Global Blue.

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