The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance (including shipping finance), Haavind AS, Advokatfirmaet is a second tier firm,

Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS’ three-partner team gives ‘excellent advice’ to banks and corporates. Recent highlights include advising Nordea and DNB on the financing of the NOK2.7bn acquisition of Edda Media. Trond Kildal heads the practice.

Within Corporate and M&A, Haavind AS, Advokatfirmaet is a third tier firm,

Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS’ six-partner practice provides ‘responsive and business-oriented’ advice to clients such as FSN Capital Partners, Atea and ISS. The team is traditionally known for mid-market deals, but its representation of Alimentation Couche-Tard on its $2.4bn public takeover of Statoil Fuel & Retail shows its ability to act on larger deals. Headed by the ‘personable and enthusiastic’ Kjetil Hardeng, the team also includes the ‘friendly and accommodating’ Bjørn Olav Torpp and private equity expert Preben Brecke.

Within Dispute resolution, Haavind AS, Advokatfirmaet is a second tier firm,

Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS‘ ‘professional and solution-oriented’ team is 30-strong and has the experience and skill to represent clients in disputes across a broad range of law including real estate, construction, employment and IP. Numerous lawyers are qualified to practise before the Supreme Court, and many team members have prior experience at the Office of the Attorney General or as judges. The practice recently successfully represented supermarket chain ICA before the Court of Appeal in a case brought by a group of franchisees alleging that ICA had withheld bonus payments, rebates and marketing funds. As well as strong general litigators, among them the ‘first-class’ Rasmus Asbjørnsen and Arve Martin Bjørnvik, the team also includes numerous specialists such as construction expert Johnny Johansen and IP lawyer Håkon Bleken.

Within EU and competition, Haavind AS, Advokatfirmaet is a third tier firm,

Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS has a strong reputation for competition law and public procurement, and is praised for its ‘very business-oriented approach’. Team head Nina Melandsø and Ian Anders Tobiassen are ‘technically very good’, and are representing Kollektivtransportproduksjon in two significant state aid matters. The firm regularly works alongside its corporate practice and in that context is providing competition law advice on Alimentation Couche-Tard’s acquisition of Statoil’s retail division.

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

Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS’ four-partner team has a ‘strong track record’, and advises a wide array of clients including power producers, grid companies, the Norwegian TSO and energy brokers. Johan Remmen is advising Statnett on establishing a new central grid in northern Norway. Aksel Tannum heads the team.

Within Employment, Haavind AS, Advokatfirmaet is a first tier firm,

‘Excellent in all areas’, Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS’ seven-partner team is well equipped to advise companies across the spectrum of contentious and non-contentious matters. The team recently represented regular client Proffice in a Court of Appeal case alleging breach of contract. ‘Likeable’ and ‘commercial’ team head Pål Kvernaas regularly advises large corporates on restructuring and pensions. The ‘competent and professional’ Lars Kokkvold, Erik Davidsen and Sten Foyn are recommended.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Haavind AS, Advokatfirmaet is a third tier firm,

Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS’ Inger Marit Borch is a prominent figure in the market and in 2011 handled approximately 40 bankruptcies in her capacity as court-appointed trustee.

Within Intellectual property and TMT, Haavind AS, Advokatfirmaet is a second tier firm,

Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS provides an ‘impressive service’ and ‘fresh and modern approach’ to IP and IT work. Helge Olav Bergan has ‘in-depth knowledge of media and broadcast matters’, and advised Get Group on the rights to distribute TV2 channels. The ‘very brainy’ Anne Marie Sejersted and Håkon Bleken continue to represent Actavis in patent infringement and validity cases. The ‘focused’ Jørgen Monn and ‘very good’ Espen Werring are experts in IT outsourcing.

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

Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS provides an ‘energetic and commercial approach’ to real estate and construction matters. The ‘commercial’ and ‘experienced’ Christian Bjørn-Hansen recently advised Enata Eiendom on the acquisition of an industrial property. Jarle Holstrøm provides ‘good solutions’ on development matters, and is ‘one of the best up-and-coming real estate lawyers in Norway’. The ‘knowledgeable’ Erling Timm also advises on development projects. The ‘massively experienced’ Johnny Johansen heads the ‘superb’ construction group, which also includes the ‘very thorough and sincere’ Olav Bergsaker and ‘rising star’ Mikal Brøndmo.

Within Tax, Haavind AS, Advokatfirmaet is a third tier firm,

Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS’ four-partner team provides an ‘excellent service’ across the gamut of contentious and non-contentious tax matters. Nils Flesland Bull is ‘very good’ for indirect taxation, and team head Espen Nordbø has excellent credentials for international tax.