Event information
Legal 500 is pleased to announce the GC Summit Norway 2026, taking place on Wednesday, 11th March at the Hotel Continental, Oslo. As Norway continues to navigate a complex legal and commercial landscape, the summit will provide a timely forum for the country’s leading in-house counsel. With heightened expectations around sustainability, governance, and regulatory compliance, the role of the general counsel is expanding rapidly—requiring both strategic insight and operational agility.
In partnership with our event sponsors, the agenda will feature forward-looking and practical discussions on topics including:
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- Key regulatory and enforcement developments across Norway, the EU, and the EEA
- Governance, risk, and compliance challenges in an evolving regulatory environment
- Managing transactions and investments amid economic volatility and geopolitical change
- ESG, sustainability reporting, and the legal implications of the energy transition
- Cybersecurity, data protection, and crisis management under increased scrutiny
The GC Summit Norway 2026 will bring together senior in-house lawyers, leading practitioners, and industry experts for a day of insight-driven discussion and practical knowledge sharing. Sessions will explore how legal leaders can support business growth while managing regulatory risk, reputational exposure, and operational complexity in highly regulated sectors such as energy, shipping, finance, and technology.
As with all Legal 500 GC Summits, the event will place a strong emphasis on dialogue, collaboration, and peer exchange. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with fellow GCs across industries, share experiences, and gain actionable strategies to strengthen the strategic impact of their legal teams.
In a period of significant legal and regulatory change, the Legal 500 Norway GC Summit 2026 is an essential gathering for in-house leaders seeking to stay ahead of developments and lead with confidence.
Agenda
8.30am – 9.00am: Registration
9.00am – 9.10am: Opening Remarks
9.10am – 10.00am: Navigating M&A and capital markets projects: how to manage large teams while maintaining control, oversight and efficiency, in association with AGP Advokater
Complex M&A and capital markets transactions often require large, multi-disciplinary teams operating under significant time pressure. This panel brings together senior counsel to share practical insights on how to lead and coordinate internal stakeholders, external advisers, and cross-border teams while maintaining control, oversight, and efficiency. Panellists will discuss governance structures, delegation, communication strategies, and decision-making frameworks that help GCs keep transactions on track, manage risk, and deliver successful outcomes without losing strategic or operational clarity.
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- Gard A. Skogstrøm, partner/co-founder, AGP
- Lars André Gjerdrum, partner/co-founder, AGP
- Henrik S Fronth, general counsel, ODA
- Sara Habberstad, VP legal and compliance, LINK Mobility Group AS
10.00am – 10.50am: AI in the due diligence process: how technology is shaping transactions, in association with Datasite
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize M&A, significantly reshaping dealmaking and due diligence. This evolving technology is already bringing about greater efficiencies and productivity gains, including improving the accuracy and speed of due diligence, identifying partners, and recognizing risks. What more is in store? What challenges remain? And how do dealmakers achieve a balance between AI and human expertise? Gain insights from industry leaders on how AI is transforming the process and what this means for the future of M&A.
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- Frederik van’t Hooft, sales director, Datasite
- Joachim Røberg-Larsen, general counsel, Møller Mobility Group
- Walter Salicath, head of legal, aera.id
- Laiz Batista Tellefsen, chief legal and compliance officer, Comrod Communication Group
10.50am – 11.05am: Coffee break
11.05am – 11.55am: Bridging the gap: effective communication between in-house counsel, external counsel and senior management
As in-house counsel become increasingly integrated as key business partners within their organisations, the ability to communicate effectively, both internally and externally, is critical. In-house lawyers often act as ‘translators’ between different business teams, external counsel and senior leadership, conveying both complex legal matters and key commercial objectives. This panel will consider how to manage communication between different stakeholders, balance competing priorities and ‘speak the language’ of these various functions – all while remaining compliant and driving business forward.
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- Isabel Caine, event content editor, Legal 500
- Christine Stousland, group general counsel, Sector Alarm Holding AS
- Camilla Tellefsdal Robstad, general counsel, Orkla ASA
- Uzma Sadaf Bhatti, general counsel, GK Group AS
11.55am-12.45pm: The employer handbook: minimising risk and maintaining compliance when navigating labour laws, in association with Deloitte
Following a presentation from Deloitte Advokatfirma partner Gro Forsdal Helvik on the current employment landscape in Norway and globally, this panel will explore how in-house counsel can manage this ever-evolving regulatory environment. Speakers will discuss practical approaches to compliant hiring and firing, staying ahead of and incorporating legislative changes and managing complex workforce matters, such as post-merger employee integration. Attendees will take away strategies to support their organisations through regulatory developments, while reducing risk and ensuring compliance.
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- Gro Forsdal Helvik, partner, Deloitte Advokatfirma
- Bjørn Ofstad, partner, Deloitte Advokatfirma
- Kjersti Bergsåker‑Aspøy, EVP legal, commercial and compliance, Petoro AS
- Helene Skatvedt, associate general counsel, CEPI
- Kristin Tingberg, VP general counsel, Adecco Group Nordics
12.45pm – 12.55pm: Closing remarks
1.00pm – 2.00pm: Lunch reception
Speakers
Gard A. Skogstrøm, partner/co-founder, AGP
Gard is partner/co-founder at AGP. He has substantial experience advising on M&A and capital markets projects, both as in-house counsel and since 2010 in private practice. Gard primarily advise on M&A transactions concerning unlisted companies, equity capital financing and shareholder matters/corporate law, and is counsel to a number of foreign corporates in connection with their investments in Norway.
Lars André Gjerdrum, partner/co-founder, AGP
Lars André is partner/co-founder at AGP. His focus is primarily on advising listed companies on capital markets and M&A projects, including buy and build strategies across multiple jurisdictions, and has been partner in charge of several of the most high profile and complex public markets transactions in the Norwegian market.
Henrik S Fronth, general counsel, ODA
Henrik S. Fronth is General Counsel of online grocer and retail technology group ODA. Since joining Oda in 2020, he has managed external legal and financial advisory teams in relation to numerous large projects, including several major equity rounds, merger with Mathem (SE) and expansion projects in several European countries.
Frederik van’t Hooft, sales director, Datasite
Frederik van’t Hooft is a Sales Director at Datasite, working closely with corporates and private equity firms across Sweden and Norway. He supports deal teams on M&A processes and transaction execution, partnering with legal, finance and corporate development stakeholders throughout the deal lifecycle. He has a background in investor relations across the Nordic markets and holds a business degree from Stockholm University.
Sara Habberstad, VP legal and compliance, LINK Mobility Group AS
Sara is an experienced in‑house legal professional with expertise in the technology sector and a long track record from international technology companies where business, technology, and law intersect. As VP Legal & Compliance and Company Secretary at the Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) provider LINK Mobility Group, she manages the legal function supporting business, as well as the company’s governance frameworks and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions. Over the last seven years, the company’s listing and more than 20 acquisitions in and outside Europe have made transactional work and integration of new entities part of daily business.
Laiz Batista Tellefsen, chief legal and compliance officer, Comrod Communication Group
Laiz Batista Tellefsen serves as Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Comrod Communication Group, where she leads the legal, compliance and governance functions for the global technology-driven communications business. She plays a key role in enabling the company to navigate complex regulatory and commercial environments while supporting innovation and sustainable business growth.
Prior to joining Comrod, Laiz built extensive international in-house and advisory experience at PwC, where she held senior leadership positions including Director and Global Legal Business Solutions Network Driver, leading cross-border initiatives, and strategic transformation projects.
Laiz is recognized for her thought leadership on emerging regulatory frameworks and for advancing legal practice through technology and innovation.
She is also highly skilled in legal prompt engineering and an accomplished negotiator, with a proven track record of leading complex, multi-jurisdictional, high-stakes negotiations to successful outcomes.
Christine Stousland, group general counsel, Sector Alarm Holding AS
Christine Stousland is Group General Counsel at Sector Alarm, one of Europe’s leading providers of residential and small‑business security services. She joined the group in January 2026 and is responsible for shaping group‑wide legal strategy, governance and risk management across multiple markets.
Christine has extensive experience working at the intersection of business, technology and law, and is known for her pragmatic approach to complex legal and regulatory matters. In her role, she works closely with senior management with a focus on building scalable legal frameworks and positioning legal as a trusted business partner in a growing international organisation.
She brings particular insight into communication across functions and stakeholders, and into how legal teams can create clarity, trust and momentum during periods of change.
Joachim Røberg-Larsen, general counsel, Møller Mobility Group
Joachim Røberg‑Larsen is the General Counsel at Møller Mobility Group, where he leads the group-wide legal and compliance function in Norway and across the Baltics, also overseeing procurement and insurance functions. He has more than 20 years of experience from both private practice and senior in‑house legal roles, including extensive international experience from Europe and North America.
Before joining Møller Mobility Group, Joachim spent more than a decade in regional and global leadership roles at Alimentation Couche‑Tard/Circle K, serving as Head of Legal Europe, Assistant Global General Counsel, and also acted as Global General Counsel during an expat assignment in Montreal. In these roles, he led multi‑jurisdictional legal teams and advised the executive leadership and board on major M&A transactions, complex commercial matters, regulatory strategy, and global compliance frameworks.
Joachim began his career as a lawyer with the law firms Grette and Thommessen, working primarily on M&A, restructuring, technology and privacy, and large-scale commercial mandates.
Walter Salicath, head of legal, aera.id
Walter Salicath is Head of Legal at Aera Payment & Identification AS, a Nordic fintech company developing payment and identity infrastructure for the retail sector. He advises on financial regulation, technology law, privacy, and governance in highly regulated digital markets.
Walter has extensive experience working at the intersection of law, technology, and regulation, including payments regulation, data protection, IT law, and compliance frameworks for financial services and digital platforms. In his role at Aera, he supports the company’s expansion across European markets and leads legal work related to regulatory compliance, corporate transactions, and technology-driven payment services.
He holds a law degree from the University of Oslo.
Gro Forsdal Helvik, partner, Deloitte Advokatfirma
Gro is the head of the people law practice in Deloitte Legal. She specializes in national and international employment law, workplace investigations and large-scale restructuring, and has served multinational clients for more than 25 years by supporting their global workforce operations.
Gro’s experience with international clients makes her one of the leading lawyers in Norway regarding structuring a global workforce, international employment law compliance and employment law issues for national and international employees.
Bjørn Ofstad, partner, Deloitte Advokatfirma
Bjørn Ofstad is a Partner at Deloitte Advokatfirma AS, with over 24 years of experience in employment law.
Bjørn has a particular focus on AI implementation in HR, regularly conducting courses and workshops on compliance with the Norwegian Working Environment Act when using AI in recruitment and career guidance.
Bjørn leads Deloitte’s whistleblowing services, managing approximately 20 whistleblowing channels across various sectors, and heads Deloitte’s privacy team in Norway. His dual expertise in employment law and privacy law / AI positions him uniquely to address the complex intersection of these fields in modern HR practices.
Previously employed by the Norwegian Data Protection Authority (Datatilsynet), Bjørn advises Norwegian and international clients across private and public sectors on all aspects of employment law, including terminations, workforce reductions, transfer of undertakings, collective agreements, whistleblowing, diversity and inclusion, privacy, and anti-social dumping.
Since 2017, Bjørn’s team has assisted over 200 companies with data protection compliance. He has been consistently ranked by Finansavisen as one of Norway’s leading privacy lawyers from 2019 to 2026.
Helene Skatvedt, associate general counsel, CEPI
Helene H. Skatvedt has 20 years of experience as a lawyer working both within private, public and non-profit sector in Norway. The last ten years of which she has worked as in-house counsel, first with the large pharmaceutical company Novartis and currently with the global health organisation CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations). At CEPI she is leading a team of lawyers and providing people management to ensure CEPI’s activities are legally supported and carried out with an appropriate balance of risk and benefit in line with CEPI’s mission, values, and strategy. Earlier in her career Helene worked at BAHR law firm and with the Norwegian ministries.
Kjersti Bergsåker‑Aspøy, EVP legal, commercial and compliance, Petoro AS
Kjersti Bergsåker-Aspøy has more than 20 years of experience from the oil and gas industry and joined Petoro from the position as Head of Legal and Compliance at DEA Norge AS, a role she had held since January 2017. From 2011 to 2016, she was Head of Legal and Compliance at GDF Suez/Engie. She has also worked as a lawyer in the legal department of Statoil. Prior to joining Statoil in 2005, she worked both as a lawyer and as a deputy judge. Bergsåker-Aspøy has also served as Chair of the Legal Committee of Offshore Norge.
Kristin Tingberg, VP general counsel, Adecco Group Nordics
Kristin Tingberg is an experienced legal leader specializing in employment law, commercial law, corporate governance, and legal change management. As General Counsel Nordics at the Adecco Group, she provides practical legal support to Adecco’s Nordic business divisions while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and Group requirements. Known for her business-oriented and proactive approach, Kristin has spent 15 years navigating the complex and evolving regulatory landscape affecting Adecco’s core businesses across the Nordics. Her focus is maintaining the Nordic Legal & Compliance function highly visible and a trusted partner across all internal functions and countries.
Before joining Adecco, Kristin spent a decade as an attorney at a leading Norwegian law firm, advising clients through complex restructuring and litigation matters.
Uzma Sadaf Bhatti, general counsel, GK Group AS
Uzma Sadaf Bhatti is the General Counsel of GK Group AS, where she leads the legal and governance function across Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. She is a seasoned in‑house legal leader with over 20 years expertise in construction law, public procurement, and contract strategy, developed through her work on some of Norway’s most complex and high‑profile infrastructure projects.
Uzma is known for her strong strategic presence and her ability to operate confidently in executive decision‑making arenas. She combines legal depth, governance insight, and practical project experience to help organisations build frameworks that are not only compliant, but resilient. Her work focuses on designing ownership and governance structures that remain robust in the face of geopolitical, commercial, and technological change—making her a trusted advisor to both executive management and project leadership teams.
She is equally recognised for her ability to translate technical and engineering‑driven realities into strategic considerations. With significant experience bridging communication between engineering disciplines and senior management, Uzma enables organisations to make aligned, informed decisions across legal, commercial, and technical domains.
Driven, analytical, and grounded in practical experience, Uzma is committed to supporting organisations in delivering infrastructure that is future‑proof and responsibly governed.
Camilla Tellefsdal Robstad, general counsel, Orkla ASA
Camilla is Head of Legal and Compliance at Orkla and a member of Orkla ASA’s Management Team. Camilla is an experienced legal leader. She joined Orkla as a lawyer in 2010, with responsibility for competition law, and has since then taken up different roles and areas of responsibilities. She supports Orkla ASA and Orkla’s portfolio companies with strategic legal advice and her areas of responsibilities include governance, risk and compliance, cybersecurity, corporate affairs and crisis management. Orkla ASA in an industrial investment company focusing on brands and consumer-oriented businesses, with a presence in over 100 markets globally. In Norway, Orkla is represented in Norway with beloved and well-known brands such as Grandiosa, Stabburet, Toro, Nidar, Kims, Jordan and Möller’s.
Dr. Matthias Geiger, general counsel, Nordics Siemens Energy
Steering Committee
Dr. Matthias Geiger is an experienced senior lawyer and business leader with a strong track record of providing strategic legal guidance in complex, multinational environments. As General Counsel Nordics at Siemens Energy, he leads legal operations across the Nordic and Baltic regions and serves on both the Norwegian management team and the European legal leadership team. Here, he played a key role in the successful carve-out of Siemens Energy and the establishment of a standalone legal function. Dr Geiger also served as interim Managing Director Norway, overseeing governance, people leadership and stakeholder relations, and brings extensive board and international legal experience across the energy, industrial and healthcare sectors.
Line Kornmo Fjellheim, head of legal Norway & Iceland, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
Steering Committee
Line Kornmo Fjellheim is an experienced legal leader with extensive expertise in commercial law, EU law and corporate governance. As Head of Legal Norway & Iceland at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, she drives legal strategy that enable business growth across two jurisdictions. She also serves as Chair of the Board of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Norge AS and as a board member of CCEP Holdings Norge AS and CEP Iceland ehf., contributing strong governance and commercial insight. Her MSc in Business Psychology adds a unique perspective in aligning legal strategy with business objectives and organizational performance. Prior to moving in-house, Line spent more than a decade as an attorney at Advokatfirmaet Grette, advising clients across a broad range of complex legal and regulatory matters.
Ingvill Mari Saunes, general counsel, Ulstein Group
Steering Committee
Ingvill Mari Saunes is an experienced in-house legal leader with long-standing expertise in the maritime and shipping industry. She has served as General Counsel and Company Secretary at Ulstein for more than 18 years, supporting one of Norway’s most innovative maritime groups. In her role, she provides strategic legal advice across the group’s global operations, with responsibility for corporate governance, commercial contracts and risk management. Ingvill works closely with executive leadership and the board, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance while enabling Ulstein’s continued innovation.
In association with
Deloitte Advokatfirma is a full-service law firm providing tax and legal advisory services across most areas of law, with a particular strength in employment law to multinational clients. Our delivery model has global reach and local touch, underpinned by technology. Deloitte delivers employment law compliance insight and solutions to clients with global presence through a combination of technology, AI, and a scalable global delivery model.
Deloitte Legal is known for providing high-end advisory services with practical solutions. Deloitte Advokatfirma is one of the leading law firms in Norway on international employment and pension law, corporate and M&A, IDT (Intangibles, Data and Technology) real estate, construction law, regulatory compliance, and litigation.