Fielding ‘a very experienced team’ with ‘excellent communication and advisory skills’, the offshore construction and shipbuilding practice at BAHR sits within the firm’s wider Ocean and Energy group. Noted for its premier advice on innovative development projects and high-value transactions, the team is trusted by high-profile Norwegian and international clients in the construction and shipbuilding sectors. The broad-based practice also advises on carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities, shore power projects and offshore wind farm developments. Geir Gustavsson and Morten Smørdal co-lead the ‘competent and capable’ team; Gustavsson ‘combines excellent legal skills and business acumen’ particularly on shipbuilding contract negotiations and disputes, and Smørdal is the go-to individual for floating, production, storage and offloading contracts. Oil and gas field development projects are the purview of both Jan Einar Barbo and Thomas K. Svensen, Øystein Meland is a shipbuilding expert, and Haakon Flaatten and Anne Dahl Frisak are also recommended.

Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS’ offshore and shipbuilding group is praised for its ‘highly competent’ and ‘specialised’ team. Acting for large high-profile and smaller scale contractors, the group is a key adviser for a large proportion of companies operating on the Norwegian continental shelf. Core areas of expertise include handling shipbuilding mandates, utility and energy development projects, including new offshore wind projects, and fishery and aquaculture developments; the team is also involved in disputes within the offshore and shipbuilding industry. ‘Trusted adviser’ Christopher Sveen spearheads the practice and is noted for his deep expertise, particularly in oil and gas projects. Mikal Brøndmo and senior lawyer Silje Helene Bakkevig Dagsland excel in contentious work, and senior lawyer Sarah-Ann Kvam focuses on shipbuilding contracts and offshore construction projects domestically and internationally, particularly in Asia. Martine Linge Johnsen is also recommended.

Nicolai Myren leads the ‘skilled and efficient’ group at Selmer, which covers the full range of shipbuilding and offshore construction projects. Regularly advising on transactional, contractual, contentious and regulatory matters, the team utilises a cross-practice model for its clients. Myren is an oil services specialist, handling contractual matters, transactional mandates and disputes, while Christian Steen Eriksen is also a shipping, energy and natural resources expert, with extensive experience negotiating and executing engineering, procurement construction and installation contracts in the shipping, oil and offshore industries. Senior associates Martin Tandstad Ege and Andreas Kyllingstad are also recommended. Norman Hansen Meyer  departed to Advokatfirmaet Schjødt in mid-2023.

Advokatfirmaet Simonsen Vogt Wiig’s shipping and offshore department continues to be one of the key names for clients operating on the Norwegian continental shelf,  and is notable for its ‘exceptional execution and experience on shipping transactions’. With offices in Oslo and Bergen, the group regularly advises international yards , shipowners, and domestic and international banks on newbuild vessel and rig financing issues, oil and gas offshore construction projects, and insolvency and restructuring mandates. Erlend Lous is a paragon in shipbuilding and offshore construction contracts, and Gunnar Espeland is a go-to individual for green and brownfield oil and gas projects. Lars Inge Ørstavik is trusted by shipowners, underwriters, yards and suppliers and regularly handles non-contentious mandates, while Jan Vablum is a dispute resolution expert.

The offshore construction and shipbuilding practice as Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS has both contentious and non-contentious expertise, advising offshore yards, shipyards, ship and rig owners, E&P companies, suppliers and infrastructure owners in the sector. Recent highlights for the practice include handling an increase in green shift instructions, as well as new large-scale, complex transactions and restructurings. The team is led by Pål Lieungh, Mads Haavardsholm  and Henrik Hagberg; Lieungh focuses primarily on the offshore, oil and gas, and shipbuilding sectors, Haavardsholm excels in corporate shipping work and Hagberg has notable oil services and shipping expertise. Jacob F Bull is trusted by oil and renewables companies alike, particularly for his international development project expertise.

Wikborg Rein’s offshore construction and shipping practice is praised for being ‘always available, with broad experience and support from its international branches and legal network’. Dispute resolution advice is a key pillar of the practice, and co-head Herman Steen is highly regarded for his contentious experience. Co-head Øyvind Axe’s main areas of expertise include transactional mandates, including asset sale and purchase deals, financings and restructurings. Andreas Fjærvoll-Larsen completes the group head trio, and has extensive expertise in international transactions, leveraging his dual Norway and England and Wales qualifications. Former SANDS maritime law practice head Oddbjørn Slinning joined in 2022, bolstering the litigation, newbuild and ship conversion project capabilities. Offshore energy is within the purview of Morten Valen Eide, and Christian James-Olsen is also recommended.

‘Competence, information, and availability’ are key attributes of the offshore group at Arntzen de Besche according to clients. Advising a wide range of companies on contentious and non-contentious shipping matters, core areas of expertise for the group also include oil and gas mandates, leveraging the firm’s expertise in the sector and advising on some of the industry’s significant developments on the Norwegian continental shelf. The offshore construction group also has a strong track record in aquaculture and fishery projects. Karl Erik Navestad spearheads the practice and is noted for his expertise in oil and gas industry projects. Ole Skeidsvoll Moe and Anders Rødland also have extensive expertise in the industry.

‘Outstanding in her competence, communication, and thoroughness’, Gry Bratvold and oil and gas offshore construction expert Yngve Bustnesli lead the offshore group at Kvale Advokatfirma DA. Advising on high-profile projects nationally and overseas, other core expertise of the team include advising oil and gas industry players on all stages of the offshore project life cycle, from tender processes to developments to disputes; the group has also recently been active in the burgeoning offshore wind industry. Andreas Stang Lund has substantial experience in oil and gas-related disputes and Lilly Kathrin Relling is a contract specialist. Senior associate Marte Roen is also recommended.

Covering the full spectrum of shipping and offshore services work, Advokatfirmaet Schjødt advises on shipbuilding issues, construction projects, modifications, charterparties, ownership issues and management structures. Henrik Aadnesen advises shipping companies, yards and contractors on financings, transactions and other projects in the shipping, offshore and oilfield services sectors. Litigation and arbitration proceedings are the purview of Trond Sollund, who is trusted by both domestic and international oil and oil services companies. Based in the Ålesund office, Stian Tennfjord is the go-to name for contractual and corporate issues, particularly in relation to shipyards, while Sverre Bjelland is the key name in Stavanger. At the non-partner level, senior lawyer Rebecca Lund Nakkim is also recommended. Norman Hansen Meyer joined the practice in mid-2023.

The offshore construction and shipbuilding practice at Wiersholm is multi-disciplinary in nature, covering a variety of shipping mandates, including work relating to cruise and expedition vessels, tankers, LNG and container vessels, car carriers, and fish farming industry vessels, acting for domestic and international companies. Areas of strength for the group include litigation and arbitration proceedings, bolstered by the firm’s well-recognised dispute resolution team. Karl Even Rygh is a newbuild and conversion project expert, and Kristine Hasle excels in financing mandates. Christian Hauge and Helge Morten Svarva are both dispute resolution specialists, focusing on shipping insurance and offshore construction claims respectively. Debt financing and restructuring matters are the purview of Atle Gabrielsen, and oil and gas offshore construction projects are Sondre Dyrland’s area of expertise. Managing associate Mattias Grieg is also recommended.