The Legal 500

Legal Developments in Norway

• Banking Regulation 2012

  The banking sector is regulated by the Ministry of Finance and the Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority (the FSA). The FSA is responsible for the supervision of banks.
  - Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS

• The patent owner prevailed in Norway’s first case on virus patent

  The Supreme Court of Norway has recently turned down the appeal against the judgement of Borgarting Court of Appeal in the case Pharmaq AS v Intervet International BV et al.
  - Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS

• Doing Business in Norway

  Doing business in Norway contains a summary of the aspects of Norwegian law that are most likely to interest foreign companies or individuals that are contemplating doing business or engaging in commercial activities in Norway. A publication of this kind can obviously only provide a limited outline of certain legal areas. The information contained in the publication is not exhaustive.
  - Wiersholm

• The Commission’s approach to acquisitions by Chinese public undertakings in Europe

  The growing Chinese economy and Chinese investments is object of debate in Europe. Focus has especially been on alleged strategically-motivated takeovers by Chinese State-Owned-Enterprises (SOEs). Attorney-at-law Odd Stemsrud has written an article concerning the Commissions’ handling of acquisitions by Chinese SOEs.
  - Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS

• Dell wins landmark case on permanent establishment in the Norwegian Supreme Court

  The Norwegian Supreme Court issued its ruling in the so-called “Dell-case” on 2 December 2011. The main issue if the case was whether the Irish company Dell Products could be considered to have a taxable presence in Norway under article 5 (5) of the Tax Treaty between Ireland and Norway (permanent establishment), as a consequence of the activities of the Norwegian company Dell AS.
  - Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS

• Committee proposes significant increases to merger filing thresholds in Norway

  On 14 February 2012, a committee appointed to undertake a broad review of the Norwegian Competition Act issued a report proposing several important amendments to Norway's merger control regime, including significantly increased filing thresholds.
  - Wikborg Rein

• Alcohol brand owners might be allowed to advertise on Norwegian TV

  Norway is on the verge of involuntarily allowing the advertising of alcoholic beverages on television, contrary to the country’s strict alcohol policy. This change, which may take place as a result of pressure from the EU Commission, would have a significant impact for owners of alcohol brands.
  - Advokatfirmaet Grette DA

• Supplementary protection certificates (SPC) for combination products.

  Ruling by ECJ November 24th 2011.
  - Advokatfirmaet Grette DA

• Competition Law Update 2011

  Update 2011 - Competition law in Norway
  - Wikborg Rein

• Oslo Børs issues code of practice for reporting IR information

  On 26 October 2011 Oslo Børs issued a circular setting out new guidelines on the reporting of IR information for issuers of shares and equity certificates on Oslo Børs and Oslo Axess. This Code of Practice replaces the information symbol and the English symbol as standards for good practice in relation to reporting of IR information for companies listed on a Norwegian regulated market.
  - Wikborg Rein