Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS > Oslo, Norway > Firm Profile

Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS > The Legal 500 Rankings

Norway > Offshore construction and shipbuilding Tier 1

Jointly led by Nicolai Myren and Norman Hansen Meyer, the practice at Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS is well known for its specific focus on, and expertise in, the full range of offshore construction and shipbuilding matters. Myren is well versed in advising oil and gas companies on contractual work, transactional mandates and disputes, and Meyer assists shipowners and shipyards with newbuild projects and litigation, while Christian Steen Eriksen is very experienced in arbitration and litigation proceedings. At senior associate level, Cecilie Hjorth and Andreas Kyllingstad are names to note. In 2020, Odd-Arne Kleveland and Gro Løge left to take up in-house positions, and Eirik Høiby moved to BAHR.

Norway > Real estate Tier 1

Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS has a ‘very well-rounded team that covers all aspects of the real estate market‘. Mikkel Vislie, who heads up the practice, is highly regarded for his expertise in acting for real estate developers, managers and investors in commercial and residential property transactions, financings and developments. Thomas Reppe Wetting is ‘results-oriented and pragmatic‘, and specialises in advising on complex transactions and development projects. Sverre Nordlie has ‘a very good reputation in the market and an excellent understanding of real estate economics‘. At senior associate level, Helene Hem Halum and Helene Flølo are names to note. Andreas Rørvik moved to BAHR in January 2021.

Norway > Banking and finance (including shipping finance) Tier 2

Bernt Olav Steinland heads up Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS‘ banking and finance practice, which has a notable reputation for handling bond and bank restructurings for clients in the shipping and shipbuilding sector, as well as real estate finance matters. Per Morten Christiansen advises on a broad range of transactional work, including domestic and cross-border loans, acquisitions and project financings, and assists banks, securities businesses and financial institutions with regulatory issues. Tor Herdlevær focuses on restructurings, and Christopher Jensen specialises in bank and bond financing matters.

Norway > Capital markets Tier 2

The capital markets practice at Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS has an established track record in acting for Norwegian financial institutions, Nordic investment banks and high-profile issuers on a range of high-value transactions. Practice co-head Jon Fredrik Johansen is a key name for equity transactional work, IPOs and private placements, while co-head Andreas Jarbø specialises in securities law and also advises on public takeovers. Bernt Olav Steinland concentrates on regulatory work, and senior associate Milja Lønne Mørkhagen is ‘always very well prepared‘.

Norway > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Led by private equity expert Camilla Magnus, Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS‘ corporate and M&A department has ‘unique expertise when it comes to acquisitions between two different countries‘, according to clients. Robert Sveen is a key contact for cross-border transactions, and regularly acts for a range of investment banks and private equity funds. Are Herrem has established expertise in advising domestic and global private equity funds on investments into Norway, often for clients in the media, oil and gas and fishing industries. Other key names include corporate finance expert Ingar Solheim and Remi Dramstad, who focuses on venture capital work.

Norway > Construction Tier 2

Onshore construction and infrastructure projects are a core pillar of strength for the team at Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS. The group is singled out for its expertise in contentious work, an area in which Mads Fuglesang excels. Deputy head Johannes Meyer-Myklestad is ‘an excellent lawyer‘ who is ‘strategic in his mind set and has a practical approach‘. The client roster includes developers and large and medium-scale subcontractors. Svein Sulland is a key name for construction contracts and regularly acts as an arbitrator in the space.

Norway > Dispute resolution Tier 2

Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS‘ ‘very focused and easy to communicate with‘ team reports an increase in both contractual disputes and technology litigation, and continues to advise on, among other areas, real estate and construction mandates, shipbuilding disputes, arbitration work and mediation proceedings. Mads Fuglesang focuses on offshore and construction dispute resolution; he jointly heads up the practice with Fredrik Lilleaas Ellingsen, who is very experienced in handling corporate investigations and inquiries. Christian Steen Eriksen specialises in advising Norwegian and international corporate and financial institutions on major oil and gas disputes, and Carl Roberts is ‘technically superb, all over the detail, very easy to deal with and always has one eye on the big picture‘.

Norway > Electricity and renewable energy Tier 2

The energy department at Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS is particularly strong for hydro, wind and solar power matters, and works on a broad range of mandates for a client base of domestic and international utility companies, power producers and project developers. The team also reports an increase in work from the offshore sector. Håkon Sandbekk, who heads up the department, is highly regarded for his expertise in wind power projects, and assists with all stages of renewables projects, as well as advising on contractual matters and regulatory issues. Tax expert Einar Bakko and Liv Monica Stubholt, who is very experienced in acting for electricity sector clients, are also key names to note. Roy Slettvold moved in-house in December 2021.

Norway > Employment Tier 2

Pensions law expert André Istad Johansen heads up Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS‘ employment team, which is noted for its ‘deep knowledge within the area combined with strong commercial orientation‘. Cross-border work is a core pillar of strength for the group, and restructurings, employment-related M&A matters, transfers of undertakings and whistleblowing claims are key areas of instruction. Hans Jørgen Bender is ‘a clever, pragmatic and to-the-point lawyer and adviser’, and Are Fagerhaug regularly handles restructuring and downsizing mandates.

Norway > EU and competition Tier 2

Under the leadership of Ole-Andreas Torgersen, the team at Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS is recognised for its track record in appearing before the Norwegian Competition Authority and the European Commission in complex merger control cases. Clients are drawn from the retail, telecoms, construction, media and energy sectors. Torgersen is very experienced in handling international merger control mandates, as well as distribution-related disputes. Other key practitioners include Karen Anne Rekkedal, who stands out for her expertise across the whole range of public procurement work, and associate Håkon Christoffersen.

Norway > Maritime law Tier 2

At Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS, recent instructions for the team include shipping transactions, contractual issues, disputes work, and chartering matters. Norman Hansen Meyer regularly assists a client base of charterers, shipowners and operators within the shipping, offshore and oil sectors. Other key lawyers include Christian Steen Eriksen, who advises on shipping projects, and Nicolai Myren, who has noted expertise in cross-border offshore oil and gas projects.

Norway > Oil and gas Tier 2

Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS‘ oil and gas team is ‘very competent and experienced with very good knowledge of their client’s business, and provide good and proactive solutions.’ Led by Thomas G. Michelet, the group assists a client base which includes prominent industry leaders and investment banks with high-value acquisitions, project development, financing matters and litigation, to name a few areas of expertise. Øyvind Olimstad has a solid track record in advising on transactional mandates and regulatory matters, while Nicolai Myren is sought out for his expertise in offshore issues. Eirik Høiby moved to BAHR in 2020.

Norway > Regulatory, compliance and investigations Tier 2

Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS‘ practice stands out for its ‘top compliance knowledge and experience‘. The team works in tandem with the firm’s corporate practice, advising on the full range of corporate compliance matters, including trade restrictions and sanctions issues. Practice head Thomas Steen Brandi is ‘an outstanding lawyer‘. Ole Christian Borge is sought out by investment companies and banks for his expertise in handling anti-money laundering and compliance matters, while Liv Monica Stubholt advises corporations, NGOs and foundations on anti-corruption issues. Senior associate Ingvild Tjong has experience in assisting with sanctions matters.

Norway > Tax Tier 2

At Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS, the tax team provides ‘on-point advice‘ across the full range of tax work. Practice head Sverre Hveding specialises in tax planning and structuring issues, including cross-border work, and is regularly instructed by a client base of venture capital, banking, technology and private equity companies. Einar Bakko assists domestic and international clients with corporate tax issues, restructurings and transactional work, and Are Fagerhaug focuses on indirect tax work. Other key practitioners include real estate sector expert Bård Ivar Koppang; Daniel Løken Høgtun, who counts cross-border issues as a core area of strength; and senior associate Elisabeth Hansen, who is noted for her expertise in handling VAT matters.

Norway > TMT Tier 2

Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS‘ ‘very professional and strong‘ team garners praise for its strength in technology contractual matters, and is equally adept at handling TMT disputes, high-value transactions, and procurement matters, to name a few other areas of expertise. ERP mandates have been prominent in the group’s recent workload. Department head Ståle L. Hagen has expertise in technology contracts, transactions and disputes, and Nils Kristian Einstabland is sought after for his experience in advising a client base of telecoms, media and technology clients on regulatory issues.

Norway > Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 3

Tor Herdlevær heads up the restructuring and insolvency group at Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS, which works in tandem with the firm’s shipping and offshore practice to provide advice on oil, offshore and shipping financial restructurings. Per Morten Christiansen assists Norwegian and international lenders with loan restructuring issues, and Christopher Jensen handles financing work. Senior associate Erica Blakstad advises shipping and offshore clients on debt refinancing matters.

Norway > Intellectual property Tier 4

Led by Nils Kristian Einstabland, the team at Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS is noted for its expertise in advising clients from the technology, retail, media, energy and fintech sectors on a range of contentious IP work. Trade mark infringement and enforcement cases have been prominent in the group’s recent workload. Marketing law and big data matters are other areas of expertise for the department.