The Legal 500

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

‘Outstanding in every respect’, Wikborg Rein’s seven-partner team in Oslo and Bergen gives ‘high-quality’ advice and has a longstanding pedigree in the shipping and offshore sectors; it frequently works with lawyers from its Asian offices on cross-border deals. The ‘very efficient’ Bernhard Haukali advised DNB on the NOK800m export financing of several ferries. The ‘efficient and experienced’ Alexander Oweson focuses on acquisition finance and recently advised Nordea and DNB Bank on the financing of Altor’s NOK1.9bn acquisition of Veolia Group’s Norwegian business.

Within Corporate and M&A, Wikborg Rein is a second tier firm,

Ketil Bøe heads Wikborg Rein’s 20-partner practice, which adopts a ‘very service-minded’ approach to advising companies on domestic and cross-border M&A, often within the shipping, oil and gas, and offshore sectors. The team recently represented Transocean during its $2.2bn acquisition of Aker Drilling and advised Seajacks International on its $850m sale to Marubeni Corporation and INJC. Arne Didrik Kjørnæs, Marius Gisvold and Susanne Munch Thore are recommended. Public M&A specialist Dag Erik Rasmussen joined from Selmer.

Within Dispute resolution, Wikborg Rein is a first tier firm,

Displaying ‘very good business knowledge’, Wikborg Rein represents clients in competition, corporate, employment, IP and shipping disputes. Ola Haugen heads the team. Sven Eriksrud has ‘the uncanny knack of making other people listen to him and trust him’, and one client describes him as ‘without doubt the best in Norway for disputes’. Morten Goller is expert in public procurement disputes and recently won NOK58.5m for Skanska Norge after successfully arguing that its tender for a road works contract had been unfairly dismissed. Trond Eilertsen, Gaute Gjelsten and Lars Inge Ørstavik are recommended for maritime disputes.

Within EU and competition, Wikborg Rein is a first tier firm,

Now headed by the ‘highly commercial’ Jonn Ola Sørensen following Mads Magnussen’s recent appointment as a judge, Wikborg Rein’s three-partner team provides ‘professional and highly skilled advice’ in merger clearance and compliance matters, as well as litigation. Sørensen recently successfully defended Norway’s largest newspaper group, A-pressen, in a phase two investigation into its acquisition of Edda Media, Norway’s third largest newspaper group, from Mecom Europe. Morten Goller is ‘outstanding at public procurement’, and ‘able to combine political aspects with the best commercial solution’.

Within Electricity, nuclear and renewable, Wikborg Rein is a second tier firm,

Wikborg Rein is instructed by six of the top ten power producers in Norway including Agder Energi and NTE Energi, and is best known for its ‘excellent’ electricity transactional practice, where ‘efficient’ team head Jon Rabben has handled numerous deals for Troms Kraft including advising it on the NOK1.15bn sale of a minority interest in Troms Kraftforsyning og Energi to Swedish utility Jamtkraft. The group is also regularly involved in international mandates where it is able to leverage expertise in its Singapore and Shanghai offices. Jarle Erik Sandvik is recommended for electricity regulatory work.

Within Employment, Wikborg Rein is a second tier firm,

Wikborg Rein is regularly involved in international transactions for clients including Gard, Nike and Bloomberg. Bergen-based Dag Steinfeld recently successfully defended Odfjell Drilling Management in a Court of Appeal case brought by an employee who alleged he had suffered unfair treatment because of whistleblowing. Team head Jan Backer is recommended.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Wikborg Rein is a first tier firm,

Wikborg Rein’s ‘strong team’ handles both court-appointed bankruptcies and restructuring assignments, most notably for clients in the shipping and offshore industries. The team also recently advised various companies in the Eitzen Group on matters including the sale of assets and restructuring of debt. Practice head Leiff Petter Madsen is ‘a pillar of traditional insolvency work’, and Marius Gisvold is ‘an excellent negotiator’.

Within Intellectual property and TMT, Wikborg Rein is a first tier firm,

Wikborg Rein has ‘attorneys with extensive knowledge and experience in the field of patent litigation’, and is particularly excellent for pharmaceuticals matters. ‘Highly ethical’ patent litigator Gunnar Meyer is ‘truly a team player who puts the interests of the client at the very forefront of his considerations’. Meyer continues to handle a raft of litigation on behalf of leading generics manufacturer, Actavis. Patent litigator Ingvild Hanssen-Bauer is ‘accurate and detailed’. Torleif Dahl handles IT and telecoms transactions, and Rolf Riisnæs is recommended for ICT contracts.

Within Maritime law (including insurance), Wikborg Rein is a first tier firm,

Wikborg Rein has excellent ‘industry knowledge’ across its Norwegian and international offices. The ‘solid, calm and trustworthy’ Anders Færden is ‘excellent at handling insurance matters involving technical aspects’, and is representing North of England P&I Club and its member in a precedent-shaping coverage dispute. Praised for his ‘excellent interpersonal skills’, Morten Lund Mathisen heads the firm’s wet shipping team, which also includes Gaute Gjelsten, who is recognised as ‘a leader at handling claims relating to pollution and wreck removal’. Trond Eilertsen is recommended for shipping transactions.

Within Offshore construction and shipbuilding, Wikborg Rein is a first tier firm,

Wikborg Rein provides an ‘outstanding service’ to shipowners, offshore companies, shipyards and shipbrokers. ‘Contracts specialist’ Geir Ove Røberg is advising Farstad Shipping on its $300m, eight-vessel shipbuilding project. Trond Eilertsen handles corporate and commercial work in the sector, and practice head Øystein Meland is ‘superb’.

Within Oil and gas, Wikborg Rein is a second tier firm,

Wikborg Rein provides ‘good value for money’ across a raft of M&A, regulatory matters and litigation. Team head Jon Rabben, who provides ‘very good and to-the-point advice’, recently represented North Energy on its strategic co-operation and asset transaction with Lime Petroleum.

Within Real estate and construction, Wikborg Rein is a first tier firm,

‘One of the best and most competent real estate law firms in the market’, Wikborg Rein has a transactional and financing focus to its workload. ‘Very impressive’ team head Line Ravlo-Losvik is ‘bright and energetic’, and has ‘total control of major projects’. Ravlo-Losvik led on the restructuring of Aberdeen Eiendomsfond Norge I, Norway’s largest property fund. ‘Without doubt the best lawyer in Norway for litigation’, Sven Eriksrud represented Tractebel in a long-running construction dispute with Statoil regarding the delivery of a huge LNG plant. Other clients include Niam, Peab and Rom Eiendom.

Within Tax, Wikborg Rein is a third tier firm,

The ‘commercial and knowledgeable’ Anders Myklebust leads Wikborg Rein’s four-partner team, which is expert in shipping, offshore and international tax matters. Clients include BW Offshore and Petrus.