The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Norway > Capital markets

Richard Sjøqvist heads the group at BAHR and focuses his practice on debt capital markets (DCM) including bond issuances, regulatory issues and restructuring work. Other key practitioners include Svein Gerhard Simonnæs, who is a key name for equity capital markets (ECM) work; Rolf Johan Ringdal, who focuses on the shipping, offshore, energy and transport sectors; and ECM specialist Lars Knem Christie, who joined from Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS in 2018. Ringdal recently assisted Tanker Investments with a share-for-share merger transaction with Teekay Tankers, Christie advised Abry Partners on its takeover of listed company Link Mobility, and Geir Gustavsson handled Golden Energy Offshore's listing on the Merkur Market. Robin Bakken moved in-house in 2018.

Advokatfirmaet Schjødt AS stands out for its expertise in the offshore, energy and oil services sectors; recent mandates include advising listed company Songa Offshore on its acquisition by Transocean, assisting Fjordkraft with its listing on the Oslo Stock Exchange and acting for Nel on a private share placement. Other work includes handling Self Storage Group's listing on the Oslo Stock Exchange and advising Monobank on a private placement of shares and subsequent repair issuance. Viggo Bang-Hansen and Bjarne Rogdaberg jointly lead the group, which also includes Thomas Aanmoen, ECM specialist Audun Bondkall, Camilla Skøie Mørkve and the highly regarded Erling Christiansen.

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS provides 'excellent support' to its clients and has 'a solid mix of commercial understanding and legal knowledge combined with an efficient and proactive approach' thanks to 'a solution-oriented and client-centric team' jointly led by Ervin Auren and Solveig Fagerheim Bugge. Clients also praise the highly regarded Anders Arnkværn, who 'stands out for his outstanding knowledge and understanding of his clients'; newly promoted partner Christian Hals and ECM lawyer Hans Cappelen Arnesen. Arnesen recently advised Elkem on its IPO on the Oslo Stock Exchange, Arnkværn and Bugge assisted Shelf Drilling with its IPO, and Einar Grette acted for DNB Bank, DNB Markets and Nordic Trustee on Chembulk Holdings' €250m bond issuance.

Wiersholm handles the full spectrum of capital markets work including derivatives, structured products and regulatory issues and has notable experience in IPOs and acting for investment banks and issuers; clients include ABG Sundal Collier, DNB Markets and Carnegie. Group co-head Tone Østensen recently acted for Borr Drilling on its private placement totalling $800m to finance its acquisition of Transocean's jack-up fleet and assisted Marine Harvest with its €200m bond issuance, and fellow co-head Sverre Sandvik advised Fjordkraft Holding and Komplett Bank on their individual IPOs. Simen Mejlænder is also a name to note.

Wikborg Rein is recognised in the market for its public takeover strength with substantial expertise in the offshore and energy markets. In a recent highlight, Per Anders Sæhle acted for Transocean on its successful takeover of listed company Songa Offshore; other work for the department includes Sæhle assisting Weifa with a bid by Karo Pharma for its outstanding shares via a voluntary cash offer, department head Dag Erik Rasmussen advising Clarksons Platou Securities as manager of the listing of Star Bulk Carriers on the Oslo Stock Exchange, and Rasmussen and Sigurd Opedal handling Norsk Hydro's NOK27bn acquisition of Orkla's 50% interest in Sapa. Christoffer Bergene is deputy head of the group and newly promoted partner Stian Tande Mortensen leads the DCM practice.

The team at Arntzen de Besche is particularly active in the oil, technology, seafood, fisheries and real estate sectors. Clients include Magseis, which practice head Marianne Sahl Sveen assisted with its application for a transfer of listing from Oslo Axess to Oslo Stock Exchange; Palmarium Group, which Trond Kildal acted for on the financing of its acquisition of Lebaba Group through a bond issuance; and Storm Real Estate, which Sveen advised on a NOK28m partially guaranteed rights offering. Per A Dagslet is also noted.

The 'interested and involved' group at Advokatfirmaet CLP DA 'takes charge of situations and is highly knowledgeable about the processes while remaining solution oriented'. Edvard Cock leads the team, which also includes Jakob Villum, who focuses on transactional work and securities law; and Andreas Kildal, who has 'great commercial instincts, easily outlines the legal issues and risks involved and has a hands-on approach'. Kildal recently advised Fortum on a voluntary offer by Oslo Municipality for its shares in Hafslund, and Cock worked with Elin Mack Løvdal on Atlantic Sapphire's $70m private placement and $60m debt financing.

The 'highly professional, exceptionally hardworking and completely reliable' team at Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS 'has a real passion for its clients' and is jointly led by Bernt Olav Steinland and Robert Sveen following Lars Knem Christie's move to BAHR in 2018. Newly promoted partner Andreas Jarbø and DCM specialist Christopher Jensen are also key names to note; Jarbø advised listed company Eidesvik Offshore on its financial restructuring including an equity issue, and Jensen acted for Nordea Bank, Swedbank and ABN Amro Bank on a NOK750m green bond issuance by Scatec Solar.

Aabø-Evensen & Co Advokatfirma fields 'an eager team of down-to-earth people, who are always available and keen to help'. The team recently advised Link Mobility Group on a NOK3.4bn cash offer by Abry Partners for all issued and outstanding shares. In early 2020, Lars André Gjerdrum and Hege Dahl left to establish AGP Advokater.

With 'an up-and-coming and compact capital markets team known for delivering high-quality work', Advokatfirmaet Grette AS' department is led by Andreas Myrstad, who is 'recognised for his hands-on dedication to projects and often goes the extra mile for his clients'. Myrstad's recent work includes advising DNB Markets on the listing of Borr Drilling on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Other key practitioners include oil and gas sector expert Thomas J. Fjell, DCM specialist Børge A. Grøttjord and Karl Rosén.

Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS' 'young and very responsive team' is 'effective and visible in the market and stands out for offering more partner attention to its clients'. Group head Cornelius Sogn Ness has 'a pragmatic approach and is always a pleasure to work with'; he is experienced in public takeover issues. Recent highlights include advising Spectrum on a public takeover process to acquire MultiClient Geophysical and assisting Axactor with a NOK110m private share placement.

Atle Degré heads the Oslo-based group at Kluge Advokatfirma AS and Per Kristian Ramsland leads the team in Stavanger. The department focuses on the energy sector and also counts Kameo and Avinor as clients; Degré advised the latter on the establishment of its €1.5bn euro medium-term note programme.

Clients praise Advokatfirmaet Simonsen Vogt Wiig's 'clear and efficient communication' and recognise the team as 'effortless to work with and comprehensive in its advice and support'. The group handles the full range of ECM and DCM transactions; recent highlights include assisting Norwegian Air Shuttle with its NOK1.5bn capital raising and handling a rights issue for Jinhui Shipping and Transportation. Amund Fougner Bugge and Morten Wilhelm Winter jointly lead the group and head the firm's corporate and banking teams respectively.