The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance (including shipping finance), Kluge Advokatfirma DA is a third tier firm,

Kluge Advokatfirma DA ‘compares well with our other main adviser, one of the large top-tier firms’. Stavanger-based managing partner Snorre Haukali and his team ‘dispense great advice and have a strong competence in law as well as industry knowledge’. Sverre A Holm and Viggo Lange are senior partners of long experience but clients increasingly mention promising associates, and note a greater depth on offer. The firm acted as lead counsel for global seafood leader Marine Harvest in connection with a refinancing facility agreement of €600m.

Within Corporate and M&A, Kluge Advokatfirma DA is a third tier firm,

Kluge Advokatfirma DA’s recent partner appointments, Thomas Naalsund from the Attorney General’s office and Atle Degrè, who was head of legal at the Oslo Børs, give more Oslo weight to a team previously concentrated in Norway’s ‘petro-capital’ Stavanger. Thomas Abrahamsen is ‘calm and collected, a wise counsel in difficult situations’ and Snorre Haukali ‘a highly experienced and skilled generalist’. The firm’s clients include Lyse, Scana Industrier and PipeFlex.

Within Dispute resolution, Kluge Advokatfirma DA is a second tier firm,

Kluge Advokatfirma DA has a strong litigation offering, with seven partners dedicating more than 50% of their time to dispute resolution. The firm is regularly instructed by the Norwegian State; the most recent partner recruit Thomas Naalsund acts for both the Tax Administration and the Ministry of Defence in heavyweight litigation and other partners have represented the Ministry of Agriculture. Senior lawyer Lars Ivar Nyland acts for Mesta in high value litigation over ‘staff poaching’, and Harald Kobbe represented long-term client AF Gruppen through a lengthy contractual dispute which settled out of court at appellate level. Christian Galtung is also recommended.

Within Electricity, nuclear and renewable, tier 4

Kluge Advokatfirma DA senior lawyer Frode Støle, who completed a time constrained assignment in ‘a very satisfactory way’, is briefed to expand the firm’s energy sector practice, building on foundations laid by partners including Marco Lilli. Clients include EDF Trading and GDF Suez E&P.

Within Employment, Kluge Advokatfirma DA is a second tier firm,

Kluge Advokatfirma DA’s employment team is ‘excellent across the board’. Johan Krabbe-Knudsen, in Stavanger, has ‘the talent to challenge presumptions tactfully, and is able to give guidance in a very professional manner’; Krabbe-Knudsen acted as adviser to Acona Wellpro in various employment and pension issues after its merger with Wellpro. Other recommended members of the group include Marco Lilli, Marianne Higson, and senior lawyer Nina Gundersen Sandnes. Clients include Avinor and Baker Hughes.

Within Intellectual property and TMT, Kluge Advokatfirma DA is a third tier firm,

Kluge Advokatfirma DA’s group is ‘knowledgeable and responsive’. Torstein Arendt has ‘combined technical and legal knowledge to become an expert in public procurement’, and Ingvild Mestad is ‘knowledgeable and responsive’. Steffen Asmundsson specialise in IP, technology and communication. The firm has established framework agreements with several State departments including the Norwegian Tax Administration.

Within Oil and gas, Kluge Advokatfirma DA is a first tier firm,

Kluge Advokatfirma DA ‘provides excellent service with well-trained and likeable lawyers’. Stavanger-based Preben Falck gives ‘high-quality, relevant advice’ and Jane Wesenberg ‘has continually impressed’. Thomas Abrahamsen advised Faroe Petroleum Norge in a complex cross-border swap agreement with Dong involving licenses on both the UK and the Norwegian continental shelves. Clients include Eni Norge and Wintershall Norge.

Within Real estate and construction, Kluge Advokatfirma DA is a first tier firm,

Kluge Advokatfirma DA’s 50-fee-earner practice ‘delivers excellent service with very short response times’. Espen Nyland is ‘a brilliant specialist in construction law as well as a splendid all-rounder’, and in real estate Øystein Henriksen has ‘extensive knowledge, is very accurate and catches the details, but is also interested in solving issues’. Other recommended members of the excellent group include, for construction matters, Odd Tvedt and Steffen Asmundsson, and for real estate Knut Prestvik. Clients include Oslo lufthavn and Aspelin Ramm Eiendom.

Within Tax, Kluge Advokatfirma DA is a second tier firm,

Kluge Advokatfirma DA is ‘probably now the strongest firm for petroleum tax advice’ in which Eirik Jensen is a leader. Jensen represented ConocoPhillips in complex transfer pricing litigation before the Court of Appeal. Other recommended lawyers in a strong group include Geir Even Asplin and Bergen-based Irene Søreide. Clients include Norse Oilfield Services, Remora and Noble Energy Norge.