The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Norway > Offshore construction and shipbuilding

BAHR has 'a practical and knowledgeable approach to the sector and is able to tie in the legal and commercial issues into discussions that are unique and a testament to its in-depth knowledge of the shipping industry'. The Aker Group is a key client for the team; it recently assisted Aker BP with two separate alliance agreements for jackup rigs and semi-submersibles. The group also advised Golden Energy Offshore on acquiring the right to two new-build platform supply vessels and acted for Premier Maritime Fund II on its equity investment in a new-build project involving Hafnia Tankers. Geir Gustavsson leads the department, which also includes Haakon Flaatten and Jan Einar Barbo, who handle transactions and disputes respectively.

Key names in Advokatfirmaet Schjødt AS' practice include team head Amund Bjøranger Tørum, Henrik Aadnesen, who handles transactions, finance matters, project management issues and advisory work, and litigator Trond Sollund. Clients include shipping companies, yards, brokers, contractors, lenders and merchant banks. The team has experience in shipbuilding contracts, offshore developments and rig sales and purchases.

Advokatfirmaet Simonsen Vogt Wiig's client base encompasses shipowners, ship financiers, yards, investors and oil companies, including Seatankers Management Company, Offshore Merchant Partners and DVB Bank. In a recent highlight, Christian Bjørtuft Ellingsen advised Yara Norge on the development of an autonomous cargo solution system including the world's first autonomous vessel. Other work includes Gunnar Espeland assisting Aker BP with its involvement in the Snadd subsea field development. Erlend Lous leads the group, which also includes Jan Vablum and Christine Rødsæther; Rødæther's 'experience, practical approach and timely responses are highly valuable'.

The 'experienced, responsive and solution-oriented' team at Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS has 'deep-rooted experience in the industry thanks to a group of very dedicated partners who have excellent legal and commercial skills'. Key practitioners include Mads Haavardsholm, Jacob F Bull, who is 'a top pick for the most difficult legal issues', and the 'extremely gifted and very thorough' Pål Lieungh. Haavardsholm recently advised Nymo on the fabrication and construction of 18 subsea structures relating to the Eni Offshore Cape Three Points field off the coast of Ghana, and Bull assisted Dong E&P (now part of Ineos) with the execution of the Hejre field development in the North Sea. Asle Bjelland is now a judge. Managing associate Kristine Hyldmo Bjørnvik joined from Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS in 2019.

Wikborg Rein's shipping and offshore practice is 'highly skilled, business oriented and very pleasant to work with' and is 'always to the point' and 'has an excellent understanding of its clients' needs'. Gaute Gjelsten and Øyvind Axe, who has 'substantial experience in the field', jointly lead the group, which also includes Finn Bjørnstad and Trond Eilertsen on the transactional side and litigators Øystein Meland and Ola Nisja. Recent mandates include assisting Awilco Drilling with a construction contract for a semi-submersible drilling rig, acting for Cosl Offshore Management in a dispute resulting from an alleged design error on drilling rigs, and representing Brødrene Aa in a dispute regarding a yacht structure. Morten Valen Eide made partner in 2019.

Arntzen de Besche's team of 'practical and professional dealmakers' is 'always very helpful' and 'highly knowledgeable about this specific industry'. The group is noted for its offshore construction project expertise including oil field developments and fish farm construction. Lundin Norway, Teekay Petrojarl and Reinertsen are clients. Karl Erik Navestad leads the department, which also includes Ole Skeidsvoll Moe and Stian Fagervold, who joined from Wiersholm in 2017.

Geir-Arne Borgestrand heads the practice at Advokatfirmaet Glittertind AS, which 'works closely with its clients' and is 'excellent at resolving disputes'. The group is notably active in contentious matters; it recently represented Sub-Seatech Contracting in a dispute relating to the termination of a contract relating to a cable-laying vessel.

Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS' 'unique' practice 'consistently performs at its best and develops great trust between itself and its clients' with notable emphasis on contractors and oil services companies; Aibel, CGG and Kværner are among its clients. Litigator Mikal Brøndmo, who is 'a great professional with excellent experience in the field', and Christopher L. Sveen, who handles transactional work and has 'an extensive background in the field that places him well in the industry', jointly head the team. Brøndmo and associate partner Kristine Hyldmo represented Westcon Yards in a dispute relating to delays surrounding a ship conversion into a tender support vessel.

Kvale Advokatfirma DA primarily assists oil companies with contentious work and projects; it recently represented a client in a dispute relating to the termination of a contract for a drilling rig and acted for a client in a dispute regarding the termination of a drilling contract. Group head and managing partner Jens Brede led both matters and focuses on contractual issues; other names to note include Erik Brannsten and senior lawyer Snorre Nordhus.

Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS provides 'quality advice on time, anytime' and excels in shipbuilding and offshore construction contracts; department head Nils Bugge recently advised Acta Marine on the negotiation of a shipbuilding contract. Other highlights include assisting Kleven Yard with a financial restructuring and acting for Kleven on an agreement with De Beers Marine Namibia for the construction of a specialised vessel to support seabed diamond mining operations. Norman Hansen Meyer joined from an in-house position and Øyvind Olimstad was promoted to the partnership. The group also benefitted from the firm's 2019 merger with Kyllingstad Kleveland Advokatfirma DA, which added Eirik Høiby, Per Kyllingstad, Christian Steen Eriksen and Gro Løge to the team.

Wiersholm excels in the offshore construction space, particularly contentious mandates; it recently defended DNV in a claim brought by Grieg relating to defective rudders for new-build ships. Hurtigruten, Avance Gas and Golden Ocean Group are also clients. Litigator Helge Morten Svarva leads the department, which also counts Christian Hauge, contract specialist Ronny Lund and Karl Even Rygh, who joined from an in-house position in 2018, as key practitioners. Erling Lind and Lynne Skajaa joined Ro Sommernes Advokatfirma DA in 2018.