The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance (including shipping finance), Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is a first tier firm,

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS’ clients include Nordea Bank Norge, DnB NOR Bank and RBS. Hans Haugstad is ‘commercially oriented and up to date on all matters that arise in connection with financing and refinancing matters’; he advised several banks on the NOK4.5bn loan facility to Salmar. Siri Wennevik specialises in ship financing and recently advised Havila Shipping on its NOK225m and NOK300m senior secured bond loan facilities. Bergen-based Jan Greve, who ‘knows how the banks are thinking’, and Jan Brudvik handle a variety of financing work.

Within Corporate and M&A, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is a first tier firm,

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS provides a ‘tier one service’ to corporates and private equity sponsors including Statoil, Telenor, Altor and Norvestor. Anders Arnkværn is ‘extremely knowledgeable, experienced and timely’, and Kim Dobrowen is recommended as an M&A and capital markets expert. Along with Kjersti Ringdal, Dobrowen advised Orkla on the $2bn sale of Elkem to China National BlueStar.

Within Dispute resolution, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is a first tier firm,

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS provides ‘consistently good advice’ to clients across a range of disputes, often involving ‘bet the company’ litigation, and fields 28 Supreme Court lawyers. Borgar Høgetveit Berg is representing IF Skade-forsikring in a NOK100m breach of contract dispute. Trond Hatland is regularly involved in major domestic and international arbitration, and successfully defended the sellers of Florvaag Bruk from a NOK130m claim by purchaser, Optimera. Frode Elgesem heads a team that includes recommended partners Erik Samuelsen and Anders Pind.

Within EU and competition, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is a first tier firm,

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS provides ‘service-minded advice’ across a broad swathe of EU and competition law issues for clients such as Telenor, AtB and BAMA. Practice head Siri Teigum is regarded as one of the top names in the market with a practice spanning merger control, cartels, state aid, and public procurement issues. Teigum and Frode Elgesem continue to defend Norway Post in the EFTA Surveillance Authority case concerning Norway Post’s ‘Post in Shop’ agreements with certain retail chains. The ‘excellent’ Eivind Vesterkjaer is also recommended, and the whole team shows ‘insight combined with a quick understanding of the business issues involved’.

Within Electricity, nuclear and renewable, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is a first tier firm,

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is praised for its detailed understanding and knowledge of the energy market, and handles a broad array of transactional, litigation and regulatory work for prominent players including Troms Kraft, Nordkraft, NorGer and Vestavind Offshore. Jens Naas-Bibow is acting for the trade association Energy Norway in a Supreme Court action regarding the valuation of waterfall rights. The team also includes specialists such as Gunnar Martinsen, a well-regarded expert in power production and grid regulation framework conditions. Bendik Christoffersen and Jacob Bull are also recommended.

Within Employment, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is a second tier firm,

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is increasingly focusing on employment law. Practice head Håvard Sandnes specialises in employment law as it pertains to company law and is involved in the restructuring and downsizing of Oras’ Norwegian operations. Bergen-based Trond Hatland handles employment litigation for corporates and government bodies.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is a first tier firm,

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS provides ‘top service’ to creditors and debtors. ‘The best in insolvency matters’, team head Jo Rodin is advising Fokus Bank on several matters, including the restructuring of Norwegian waterpipe company Røine Gruppen. Reidar Myhre is recommended for property sector instructions.

Within Intellectual property and TMT, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is a first tier firm,

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS’ comprehensive IP practice provides ‘terrific service’. ‘Very analytical and extremely intelligent’ team head Arne Ringnes is ‘an absolute star for IP litigation’, and worked alongside ‘superb litigator’ Harald Irgens-Jensen to persuade the Court of Appeal of the validity of Mundipharma’s patents on controlled-release formulations of the analgesic oxycodone. Haakon Opperud recently represented Yara International in negotiating a large master services agreement for global IT services supplied by IBM.

Within Legal market overview,

The market is dominated by the full-service firms BA-HR, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS, Wiersholm and, to a slightly lesser extent, Wikborg Rein. Advokatfirmaet Schjødt AS and Selmer provide compelling competition in the majority of practice areas.

Within Maritime law (including insurance), Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is a first tier firm,

The ‘responsive and efficient’ Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS advises underwriters and shipowners on wet and dry matters. Team head Stephen Knudtzon is representing Gard/Teekay Shipping in litigation regarding a collision. The ‘very commercial’ Andreas Meidell heads the insurance and reinsurance practice.

Within Offshore construction and shipbuilding, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is a first tier firm,

At Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS, the ‘highly commercial’ Jacob Bull is advising DONG on a $1.2bn development in the Danish North Sea. Bergen-based Jan Brudvik advised Viken Shuttle on negotiations with Samsung Heavy Industries for five Suezmax vessels. Pål Lieungh is also recommended.

Within Oil and gas, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is a second tier firm,

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS’ core strength lies in advising oil and gas clients on big-ticket corporate transactions, such as its representation of Statoil on the NOK17.5bn sale of a 25% stake in Gassled. Rune Solberg led that matter and heads the team, which also represents DONG, Centrica Energy, Odfjell Drilling and Songa Offshore.

Within Real estate and construction, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is a first tier firm,

Particularly accomplished at big-ticket real estate transactions, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS provides ‘high-quality advice’ to clients including Norwegian Property, Braathen Eiendom Holding and Yara International. Team head Christopher Borch has ‘excellent industry knowledge’, and recently represented Søylen Næringseiendom AS / High Street Shopping on the NOK1.1bn purchase of the Steen & Strøm shopping centre. Christian Müller advised Statskog on its NOK1.73bn acquisition from Orkla of three large landowning companies.

Within Tax, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is a first tier firm,

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS provides ‘a technically very strong service’ to blue-chip clients across a range of contentious and non-contentious advice. The team attracts a steady flow of tax structuring work on domestic and cross-border M&A mandates, and has been involved in restructuring work for a number of banks including SEB Privatbanken. Sverre Koch, Ståle Kristiansen and Morten Fjermos ‘all have technically strong competence, economic understanding and are pleasant to work with’. Finn Backer-Grøndahl is well regarded for concomitant tax structuring advice on M&A.