BAHR’s ‘forceful team’ is highly regarded in the market for its expertise in complex energy transactions; the group recently advised Hafslund E-CO on the combination of Hafslund’s and Eidsiva Energy’s grids to create Norway’s largest grid company, and is also assisting Fortum Oslo Varme with the Norway’s first full-scale carbon capture and storage project initiated by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. The practice is also recognised for its regulatory work. Jon Christian Thaulow leads the energy, natural resources and shipping department, which includes transactional specialist Rune Svoren, managing partner Thomas Svensen, who focuses on the hydropower sector; and tax expert Helge Olav Bugge.

With ‘leading competence in Norwegian energy law’, Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS ‘takes a constructive and trust-building role in negotiations’ and has the ‘ability to find solutions to complex problems’. The group is regularly involved in wind power and hydropower production and electricity grid projects, acting for a diverse client roster of power and grid companies including Statkraft, Statnett and Norsk Hydro. The team also recently advised Eolus Group on the Øyfjellet wind power project, which, when constructed, will be the largest standalone wind power plant in Norway. Aksel Tannum heads up the practice, Jøran Sandvik focuses on transactional work and Pål Martin Abell and Johan Fredrik Remmen have notable contentious experience. Newly promoted partner Mari Reitzel Bjerke is also a key name to note.

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS particularly stands out for its renewables department, which has strength in the hydroelectric power, wind power, district heating, waste incineration and bioenergy sectors. The team is active in infrastructure and grid operations, including regulatory matters and issues concerning land owners and public authorities; Gunnar Martinsen is a key name for regulatory work. Core segments of the practice comprise environmental law, licensing issues, concessions and public permits, expropriation and valuation work, power plant taxation and energy-sector dispute resolution. Practice head Bendik Christoffersen focuses on concession law and corporate organisational issues, while Jens Naas-Bibow is noted for his environmental and economic regulation expertise.

At Wiersholm, Inge Ekker Bartnes and Jon Rabben jointly lead the electricity practice, which acts for a high-profile roster of private and public companies including Statkraft, Statnett and TrønderEnergi. The group notably excels in energy transactions and regulatory mandates and also handles power purchase agreements, project financing issues, development work and energy disputes. Ronny Lund and Helge Morten Svarva have key expertise in energy sector litigation with notable knowledge of contractual issues, Stephan Jervell regularly handles international arbitration proceedings and Georg Abusdal Engebretsen focuses on environmental issues.

The energy department at Wikborg Rein is particularly strong for renewables and wind power, and works on a broad range mandates including advising on transactions, power purchase agreements, development work, construction contracts, financings, regulatory issues and disputes. Group head Tormod Ludvik Nilsen assists numerous international investors with interests in Norwegian electricity production and onshore wind projects. The practice also includes Bergen office managing partner Jan Erik Clausen and Birgitte Karlsen, who primarily handles project development work.

Advokatfirmaet Schjødt is highly regarded for its transactional expertise, with a client base of large energy companies and renewable sector businesses; the team has extensive experience in hydro, wind and solar M&A, including the consolidation of smaller utility companies and small-scale hydro work. Hallvard Gilje Aarseth is the department's key contact for regulatory work; he jointly heads up the team with capital markets, securities and corporate law-focused Sindre Søndenå Andersen. Sverre Bjelland is the key contact in Stavanger.

Advokatfirmaet Hjort handles a wide variety of energy transactions, and is particularly well-regarded for its regulatory expertise in issues including the expropriation of land in wind and hydroelectric power projects, concessions, decarbonisation issues, and transport and energy trading concerns. Other core areas of expertise for the practice span indigenous law issues arising from project developments, organisational requirements for energy companies and IT and digitalisation work. Team lead Kristin Bjella has broad experience in wind, hydropower and grid projects; transactional and tax expert Morten Fjermeros and technology specialist Kristin Veierød are also key names to note.

Kvale Advokatfirma DA has ‘unique insight into the utilities sector’ at a national and international level, acting for a range of utility companies and energy clients including Hafslund, E-CO Energi and TrønderEnergi. Group head Christian Poulsson regularly handles cross-border mandates with additional expertise in regulatory work, commodities issues and litigation. Other key practitioners include Per Conradi Andersen, Kristin Ourom, who acts for distribution system operators and hydropower production companies; and corporate expert Sverre Tysland, who joined the group from SANDS in 2020.

Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS stands out in the market for its expertise in the hydropower industry, advising key regional and national players and utility companies, with additional strength in the wind and solar sectors. Clients include state-owned utilities, project developers and power producers; a distinguishing strength for the team lies in handling corporate PPAs. Practice head Håkon Sandbekk advises on the full life-cycle of renewables projects, from planning, development, construction and financing issues to operational work and M&A transactions. Roy Slettvold is a go-to name for regional utilities and senior associate Maria Mikkelsen is also a key contact for project work.

Advokatfirmaet Simonsen Vogt Wiig ‘has a good overview of what is happening in the industry’ with notable expertise in the wind power sector; it recently advised Prime Capital on its acquisition of Tromsø Vind and Raudfjell Vind. The team also assists with grid projects, energy transmission issues, hydroelectric mandates, financing work, regulatory matters and energy M&A. Peter Aall Simonsen and Robin Aker Jakobsen jointly lead the group and are based in Oslo and Kristiansand respectively.

The full-service practice at Arntzen de Besche handles electricity financing mandates, projects, transactions and regulatory work, with a strong profile in handling wind projects and matters for local grid and power companies. Competition law and EU and EEA regulations are particular areas of expertise; competition and M&A specialist Espen Bakken jointly heads up the team with Odd-Harald Berg Wasenden, whose practice encompasses petroleum and environmental law issues.

Advokatfirmaet CLP DA’s renewable energy, power and transmission department is particularly strong in transactional mandates and active in energy technology deals, including clean tech and utility and infrastructure technology mandates. Notable example highlights include software and technology work related to power production, production and transmission surveillance issues, and power transmission matters. Electricity and renewables-sector divestments and acquisitions are a key area of work, in which teams co-heads Lars Gunnar Aas and Amund Erdal are both experienced.

Advokatfirmaet Grette AS' energy practice is distinguished by its strong regulatory offering, with particular experience in German law regarding wind power and grid projects. The team regularly advises on large international projects concerning oil and gas, offshore wind and onshore facilities. Practice head Thomas Borch-Nielsen focuses on M&A transactions in the infrastructure and renewable energy sectors.

Alf Øystein Skudal heads up the practice at SANDS, which utilises its cross-practice approach to assist with energy transactions, restructurings, regulatory issues, patent work and corporate governance mandates. Skudal is noted for his expertise in the hydropower and grid sectors, while Vidar Johnsen regularly handles cross-border development projects in the solar industry and is also recommended for mandates involving contractual, infrastructure and IP elements.