BAHR > Oslo, Norway > Firm Profile

BAHR > The Legal 500 Rankings

Norway > Banking and finance (including shipping finance) Tier 1

At BAHR, restructuring mandates and covered bond matters form key pillars of strength for the practice, and the department has a solid track record in acting for borrower and lender clients on large-scale transactions. The ‘extremely efficient‘ Ida Marie Windrup attracts praise, and clients claim her ‘knowledge of the industry is very impressive‘; she specialises in debt capital matters. Practice head Richard Sjøqvist is ‘very commercial and resourceful‘, and Markus Nilssen regularly acts for large Norwegian covered bond issuers. Peter Hammerich is sought out for his financial regulatory expertise, Magnus Tønseth‘s ‘proactiveness is very valuable‘, and Audun Nedrelid acts for international and domestic banks and funds on a range of financing transactions.

Norway > Capital markets Tier 1

BAHR‘s team garners praise for its ‘legal and strategic understanding, coupled with commercial acumen‘. The practice has an excellent track record in handling equity capital markets mandates; the team recently advised DNB Bank on all the Norwegian legal aspects of its public takeover of Sbanken ASA. Large-scale restructurings, refinancings and EMTN programme matters have also been key drivers of work for the group. Lars Knem Christie advises on IPOs and public M&A; he shares leadership of the practice with DCM expert Richard Sjøqvist. Other key practitioners are Audun Nedrelid, who acts for issuer-side clients; financial regulatory expert Markus Nilssen; Arne Tjaum, who is well versed in securities law; and managing associate Camilla Iversen.

Norway > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

The ‘strong‘ team at BAHR continues to handle a steady workflow of large-scale transactions, and reports an increase in instructions in the technology, aquaculture, energy and oil and gas sectors. Practice head Øystein Guvåg stands out for his expertise in assisting Nordic and international private equity clients with M&A matters, and deputy head Lars Kristian Sande has experience in assisting TMT clients and industrial investors. Svein Gerhard Simonnæs is a key name for private and public M&A, while Morten Smørdal and Stig Engelhart regularly advise oil and gas companies. Jon Christian Thaulow has a solid track record in assisting infrastructure and renewable energy entities.

Norway > Dispute resolution Tier 1

BAHR is home to ‘a dedicated and utterly professional dispute resolution team, with a fantastic ability to transform complex factual and legal issues into a understandable language‘. Led by contractual litigation expert Atle Skaldebø-Rød, who is also highly regarded for his experience in arbitration proceedings, the group counts commercial litigation as a key driver of work, with insolvency disputes, post-M&A issues and contentious shareholder mandates prominent in the team’s workload. The practice has a strong focus on the oil, insurance, pharmaceuticals and onshore and offshore construction sectors. Managing partner Thomas K. Svensen focuses on energy sector arbitration and litigation, while Jan Jansen is well known for his expertise in tax litigation, and Sam E. Harris regularly advises on mediation, onshore construction disputes and post-merger litigation.

Norway > Employment Tier 1

Tarjei Thorkildsen heads up the employment practice at BAHR, which is particularly well known for representing its established employer-side client base in mandates. In a recent highlight, Tor Olav Carlsen led the advice to life sciences company Aleris Røntgen in a dispute arising from the interpretation of a collective agreement concerning a working time arrangement. Peter Hammerich is sought out for his expertise in pensions law, Børre Sofus Arnet is a key contact for private equity issues, and of counsel Geir Mikalsen assists with the employment aspects of transactions. Senior associates Hannah Osberg Andresen and Agnes Inora Marie Strøm Olsen are also key contacts.

Norway > Energy

With ‘commercial and efficient advice’ and ‘deep knowledge that never stops impressing’, BAHR is a key name in the market for transactional work across all elements of the energy sector and is also highly regarded for its knowledge of regulatory challenges, development projects, financings, litigation and commercial agreements. In the renewable energy space, the group acts for a high-profile client roster of public and private entities in the carbon capture, offshore wind and hydropower production industries, and the team is also a go-to contact for leading oil and gas E&P companies and oil services businesses. Jon Christian Thaulow leads the energy and environmental law group, while Stig Klausen Engelhart heads up the petroleum division and managing partner Thomas K. Svensen excels in oil and gas projects. Other key practitioners include transactional specialists Rune Svoren and Trond Lingaas, Morten Smørdal, who handles electricity production and wind farm developments, and Jan B. Jansen, who focuses on contentious work.

Norway > EU and competition Tier 1

Led by Helge Stemshaug, the department at BAHR has an excellent track record in handling antitrust and cartel investigations, damages claims and merger control matters, and reports an increase in public procurement and state aid instructions. The client roster includes names in the oil and gas, renewable energy, offshore and media sectors. In recent work, Beret Sundet led the advice to Norwegian financial services group DNB on the competition law aspects of its acquisition of digital bank Sbanken via a public offer. Arne Torsten Andersen is well known for handling litigation before the EFTA Court, and managing associate Ylva Kolsrud Lønvik handles state aid and merger control work.

Norway > Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 1

BAHR‘s restructuring group is highly regarded for its ‘legal and strategic understanding, coupled with commercial acumen‘. The department has a solid track record in acting for bondholders and banks, with cross-border restructuring work and prominent insolvency matters acting as core areas of instruction for the team. Richard Sjøqvist is highly regarded for his expertise in handling high-profile restructurings, and the ‘outstanding‘ Magnus Tønseth advises on international restructuring mandates. Managing associates Steffen Rogstad and Daniel Jovanovic are also key names to note.

Norway > Insurance Tier 1

BAHR is renowned for its work with major international and domestic insurance groups in the marine and offshore insurance fields and is highly regarded for its knowledge of regulatory matters and disputes. The firm has niche expertise in marine insurance, personal injury claims and issues relating to real estate insurance and property damage claims. Jan Jansen heads up the team and is a leading authority on insurance litigation. Marine insurance litigation specialists Atle Skaldebø-Rød and Tarjei Thorkildsen are well reputed in the industry, and regulatory and transactional expert Markus Heistad also contributes to the practice. Mads Schjølberg is the key name at managing associate level.

Norway > Maritime law Tier 1

Praised as an ‘extremely strong team’ and a ‘go-to’ firm for many in the maritime space, BAHR fields a leading shipping practice, working with elite Norwegian blue-chip businesses operating in Norway and abroad. Shipping banks, marine insurers, brokers, ship-owners and ship operators all trust the broad ranging, full-service expertise of the group. The team also has a prominent dry shipping practice, which handles a wide range of equity capital market transactions in the maritime space, and leverages the firm's strong litigation practice. Geir Gustavsson and Anne Dahl Frisak co-lead the group; Gustavsson is praised for his ‘excellent commercial mindset while still delivering impeccable legal advice’, and the ‘reliable’ Frisak focuses on high-value shipping and offshore transactions, including sale and leaseback projects, shipbuilding contracts, vessel purchases and charterparties. Robin Bakken is a M&A and equity capital market expert, and Ida Marie Windrup focuses on sustainable financing within the maritime sector. Øystein Meland joined the firm’s Bergen office from Wikborg Rein, bolstering the firm’s dry shipping practice.

Norway > Offshore construction and shipbuilding Tier 1

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.

Norway > Real estate Tier 1

The ‘highly competent’ BAHR team handles high-value real estate transactions and undertakes projects that require broad expertise across various practice areas, including project developments, real estate tax issues and corporate finance work; the practice is also a preferred adviser for large property developments and urbanisation projects. The firm has a notable client list, including large institutional investors, life insurance companies, private equity funds and asset managers, and recently advised Aker on the acquisition of several sites for a large industry hub in Narvik. The team is led by the excellent Anne Sofie Bjørkholt, who primarily focuses on complex real estate transactions, development work and the structuring of real estate portfolios. Andreas Rørvik is a key name for transactions and development projects, and regularly works alongside transactional specialist Ole Andreas Dimmen.

Norway > Regulatory, compliance and investigations Tier 1

BAHR has a ‘sophisticated’ compliance and risk management team, which is a ‘go-to for complex matters‘ and also benefits from the notable experience and expertise in the firm’s banking and asset management regulatory and compliance teams when handling a variety of anti-corruption and international trade compliance matters. The group advises a number of financial service organisations, asset managers and investment funds in the Nordic region, as well as companies in the energy and offshore services sectors. The ‘incredibly responsive and knowledgeable’ Morten Smørdal focuses on providing a wide range of advice to clients within the energy and industry sectors, and senior associate Annina Luterbacher is particularly experienced in compliance and risk management matters which leverage her environment and energy knowledge. Jon Christian Thaulow, who leads the firm’s environment and energy department, and Peter Hammerich, who is head of the firm’s asset management and private equity industry group, also contribute to the practice.

Norway > Tax Tier 1

BAHR‘s tax team is ‘highly competent and experienced‘, and garners praise as ‘excellent to work with, always welcoming, and assists in an outstanding way‘. Real estate tax is a key driver of work for the group, alongside assisting a solid client roster of oil and gas and petroleum companies with tax litigation, structuring matters and transfer pricing work. The department is also well known for its capabilities in handling the tax aspects of M&A transactions, an area ‘very analytical‘ practice head Joachim Bjerke has expertise in. ‘Excellent lawyer‘ Jan Jansen is well known for his strength in tax litigation, and Anne Sofie Bjørkholt primarily focuses on real estate tax. Peter Hammerich and Camilla Jøtun are key contacts for asset management and private equity work, and specialist partner Marius Pilgaard is sought after for his expertise in oil and gas matters.

Norway > Construction Tier 2

BAHR is well versed at handling both infrastructure development projects and complex contractual disputes related to construction projects. Particularly strong at advising on infrastructure projects, the team handles some of Norway’s high-profile public projects, including the high-speed railway Follo Line Project, and various water projects for Oslo municipality. The practice is co-led by onshore construction specialists Sam E. Harris and senior associate Sofie Komissar; the latter has extensive experience in design and engineering contracts. Jan Einar Barbo is also a key figure in the team for contracts and dispute relating to complex projects.

Norway > Fishing and aquaculture Tier 2

Lisa Marie Opdahl leads BAHR‘s fishing and aquaculture practice, which maintains a strong track record in advising on high-value mergers and transactions. Recent highlights for the team include advising on several large offshore fishery construction projects. Opdahl is trusted by many high-profile seafood industry players on contractual and regulatory mandates, and Stig Engelhart is also noted within the team, particularly for regulatory work.

Norway > Intellectual property Tier 2

Are Stenvik and managing associate Eirik Basmo Ellingsen jointly head up the intellectual property practice at BAHR, which is highly regarded for its established expertise in patent litigation. Life sciences and pharmaceuticals companies are prominent in the group’s client base, which also acts for retail, aquaculture and technology sector entities. Of counsel Gunnar Sørlie is regularly sought after by pharmaceuticals clients for his excellent track record in assisting with complex patent litigation, as is senior associate Anja Stensrud Elverum, while Lars Norheim is a key name for assisting media clients with the IP aspects of transactions.

Norway > Public procurement Tier 3

The team at BAHR is singled out for advising large private sector companies on the whole life-cycle of public procurement contracts. The group has notable strength in the pharmaceuticals, healthcare, construction, technology, media and energy sectors, and regularly assists government entities. Practice co-head Arne Torsten Andersen is acting for gambling company Norsk Tipping in long-running litigation arising from a claim brought by Maltese-based gaming company EveryMatrix, contesting the client’s award of a NOK1.5bn ID and payment platform contract to Norwegian company BuyPass. Practice co-head Beret Sundet is a key name for competition work, and managing associate Daniel Sipos is also a noteworthy practitioner.

Norway > TMT Tier 3

At BAHR, the team continues to act as counsel to Norwegian supermarket chain REMA 1000 on all aspects of the development of Æ, an app-based customer loyalty program and discount scheme, including advising on domestic and international marketing and data protection compliance issues. TMT disputes are another core area of expertise for the group. Lars Kristian Sande, who is highly regarded for his strength in M&A, shares leadership of the practice with managing associate Eirik Basmo Ellingsen, who assists a client roster of life sciences, energy, aquaculture, and telecoms sector entities with contractual issues, litigation and transactions. Lars Norheim is sought after for his expertise in franchising and licensing law.