Firm Profile > Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS > Oslo, Norway

Banking and finance (including shipping finance) Tier 1

Ellen Teresa Heyerdahl and Tore Mydske jointly lead Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS’ banking group, heading up the debt financing and financial regulatory teams, respectively. Other key practitioners include Hans Haugstad, who is a key name for cross-border financings; debt capital markets specialists Einar Grette and Halvor Mansåker, and insolvency and restructuring expert Kristoffer Hegdahl. The practice’s expertise encompasses syndicated corporate financings, acquisition finance work, project finance issues, asset financings and real estate-related matters, alongside substantial knowledge of cross-border work, renewable and infrastructure projects, and debt restructuring issues. Jan J Greve and Bjørn Sande Urtegaard are the key contacts in the Bergen office.

Capital markets Tier 1

Fielding a ‘solid and very experienced team’, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS’ practice is jointly led by Christian Grüner Sagstad and Solveig Fagerheim Bugge and also fields M&A and ECM specialist Hans Cappelen Arnesen, ‘outstanding transaction lawyer’ Anders Arnkværn and financing expert Einar Grette. The group is notably strong in the IPO market and handles the full range of ECM, DCM and regulatory work; it recently advised Oslo Bors VPS Holding on its acquisition by Euronext and also assisted Kongsberg Gruppen with its NOK5bn acquisition of Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine. Other clients include Goldman Sachs International, DNB Markets and Arctic Securities.

Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Leveraging its notable M&A strength, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is singled out for its project management expertise and is regularly instructed on high-profile transactions involving multiple jurisdictions. The practice is also active in the energy, oil and gas, shipping, telecoms, financial services and aquaculture sectors with a client roster including Altor Equity Partners, EQT, Odfjell Drilling, Ineos and HitecVision. Group head Christian Grüner Sagstad is a key contact for private equity work, Anders Arnkværn ‘keeps the main priorities in sight’ and Hans Cappelen Arnesen regularly handles ECM work. Other key practitioners include Baard Bale, Ervin Auren, Solveig Fagerheim Bugge , managing associate Øyvind Mork Karlsen and corporate governance expert Stig Berge. The practice also notably strengthened its oil and gas focus through its new Stavanger team with the recruitment of Thomas Abrahamsen, Audun Stornes and newly promoted partner Jone Stakkestad from Kluge Advokatfirma AS in 2020.

Dispute resolution Tier 1

At Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS, the litigation practice fields specialists in the IP, M&A, tax, insurance, employment, shipping and energy sectors, who act for a client roster encompassing Telenor, Transocean, DNB and Bane Nor. In the team, Eirik W Raanes focuses on IP, contract, construction and insurance law and Henning Harborg is active in white-collar crime cases. Other key individuals include Bergen-based practitioners Trond Hatland and Svein Aage Valen, IP and technology litigator Camilla Vislie and tax and company law expert Hanne Skaarberg Holen. The team was also bolstered by the recruitment of Kristine Hyldmo Bjørnvik in 2019 from Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS, who also made partner in 2020 and is now head of the practice.

Electricity and renewable energy Tier 1

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is notably active across the renewable space and regularly acts for utility clients in the renewable energy, hydroelectric, wind, heating, waste and bioenergy sectors. The practice also stands out for its regulatory expertise and is active in infrastructure and grid operations work alongside experience in project development work, litigation, licensing issues, environmental law and restructuring matters. Practice head Jens Naas-Bibow regularly handles energy licences and energy sector regulatory work; other key practitioners include power regulation expert Gunnar Martinsen, concession law, corporate and tax specialist Bendik Christoffersen and Jacob F Bull, who advises on energy construction projects. Thomas Borch-Nielsen departed to Advokatfirmaet Grette AS.

Employment Tier 1

The practice at Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS, which ‘gives quick and clear feedback’, is led by senior management and reputational risk expert Stein Kimsås-Otterbech in Oslo, and shipping and oil and gas focused litigator Trond Hatland in Bergen. The group also recently benefited from the recruitment of the highly regarded Tron Dalheim from Arntzen de Besche; Dalheim focuses on contentious work and is active in the oil, energy and aviation sectors. The group handles a variety of contentious and transactional employment mandates and has notable expertise in international matters; the team recently advised on the transfer of 3500 employees in 34 countries from Rolls-Royce to Kongsberg Gruppen. Other clients include Microsoft Norge, Carnegie and Yara International. Managing associate Ingrid Cathrine Nielsen is also a key name to note.

EU and competition Tier 1

With expertise across all elements of competition work, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS handles antitrust investigations, mergers and joint ventures, procurement work, competition litigation and state aid mandates. Practice co-head and ‘one of Norway’s best competition lawyers’ Siri Teigum advises on merger issues and disputes, while fellow co-head Eivind J Vesterkjær focuses on the technology, telecoms, offshore, life sciences and distribution sectors. Managing associate Heidi Jorkjend is also a key contact for antitrust investigations. In a recent highlight, the group represented Telenor in the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s investigation of alleged abuse of dominance in the Norwegian mobile communications market; other clients include DNB, Kongsberg Gruppen and Veidekke.

Fishing and aquaculture Tier 1

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS’ fishery and aquaculture team handles the full spectrum of matters in the sector encompassing patent issues, contractual work, transactional matters and financings with notable expertise in regulatory mandates. The practice’s client base spans producers, transportation companies, banks and financiers; notable examples include Pelagia, Sølvtrans, DNB Bank and Biomar. Mons Alfred Paulsen, who clients praise as ‘an outstanding professional in his field’, leads the Bergen-based department and focuses on M&A, corporate and tax issues; Rune Ulriksen Steinsland handles contract law, and recently promoted senior associate Henrik Lovund has experience in contractual issues, M&A and regulatory work.

Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 1

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS excels at a domestic and international level and handles the full breadth of work including financial restructurings, insolvencies, debt negotiations and foreign procedures including Chapter 11 issues and Scheme of Arrangements. The team is particularly recognised for its sector expertise in the oil and gas, offshore and shipping industries; it has been notably active assisting banks and loan syndicates with multiple restructuring projects in the oil services sector. Kristoffer Hegdahl heads up the practice and specialises in financial restructurings; Einar Grette focuses on the bank and bond markets, Halvor Mansåker handles financial restructurings in the bond market, and Ellen Teresa Heyerdahl is an expert in debt financing work.

Insurance Tier 1

Andreas Meidell leads the department at Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS, which is a key name for marine insurance work; the group recently represented Norwegian Hull Club in a total loss matter relating to a vessel detention in Nigeria. The practice also advises on non-marine insurance, liability and recovery, and regulatory and corporate insurance work for its insurer client base. Henrik Hagberg is singled out for his oil services and shipping expertise, Tore Mydske acts for financial institutions, Trond Hatland is the key contact in Bergen.

Intellectual property Tier 1

The 'analytical and solution-oriented' practice at Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is a go-to name in the market for high-profile and complex IP disputes spanning patent, trade mark, trade secret, copyright and unfair competition claims, regularly acting in the Supreme Court. The group is also highly active in major IP transactions and stock exchange listings; the team recently advised Kongsberg Gruppen on the IP aspects of its acquisition of Rolls Royce's commercial marine business. Camilla Vislie heads up the practice, which also fields the highly regarded Eirik W Raanes and managing associate Magnus Hauge Greaker, who focuses on industrial patent law.

Maritime law Tier 1

Mads Haavardsholm heads up the department at Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS, which handles the full range of contentious and non-contentious shipping work for its client roster of ship owners, banks, rig owners and insurers. The practice also works closely with the firm’s banking and finance, insolvency, litigation and M&A teams to provide a cross-disciplinary service. The group’s core areas of expertise span charter parties and freight contracts, transactional work, vessel and rig sales and purchases, financing mandates and competition law. Stephen Knudtzon is a key name for contract law, insurance work and litigation; Olav Vikøren focuses on dry shipping matters, and Andreas Meidell and Henrik Hagberg are recommended for insurance-related mandates.

Offshore construction and shipbuilding Tier 1

With ‘excellent negotiation and analytical skills’, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS acts for offshore yards, shipyards, EPC contractors, suppliers, shipowners, rig owners and oil and gas companies on a range of contentious and non-contentious mandates including restructurings, development projects, contractual issues and disputes. Noteworthy practitioners include construction project specialist Jacob F Bull, shipping practice head Mads Haavardsholm, Henrik Hagberg, who also assists with insurance work; and Pål Lieungh, who has experience handling international projects. Litigator Kristine Hyldmo Bjørnvik, who joined from Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS in 2019, made partner in early 2020.

Oil and gas Tier 1

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS excels across the full spectrum of oil and gas mandates including M&A, financing work, development projects and litigation. ‘Rising star in the oil and gas sector’ Christian Hals leads the oil and gas team while ‘great negotiator’ Pål Lieungh heads up the oil services practice; Jacob F Bull is also singled out for his expertise in development projects, Mads Haavardsholm focuses on contract negotiations and transactions, Ståle R Kristiansen assists with tax-related matters, and Henrik Hagberg handles work in the oil services sector. Kristine Hyldmo Bjørnvik is also recommended for contentious work; she joined the firm in 2019 from Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS and made partner in 2020. The practice also notably strengthened its Stavanger offering in 2020 with the recruitment of Thomas Abrahamsen, Audun Stornes and newly promoted partner Jone Stakkestad from Kluge Advokatfirma AS.

Real estate Tier 1

With a team of ‘outstanding individuals’ who are ‘knowledgeable, accurate and well oriented in the market’, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS handles the full range of real estate issues and is noted for its transactional, development and project management expertise. The practice also has environmental law and contentious experience. Practice head Christopher Borch is praised by clients as ‘a bright lawyer who thinks outside the box’, the ‘always excellent’ Christian Müller specialises in property developments, and Even Bratsberg assists with real estate transactions and refinancing work. Vidar Havsgård is the key contact in Bergen.

Tax Tier 1

Finn Backer-Grøndahl heads up the department at Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS, which is recognised for its expertise in Norwegian corporate tax work, energy, petroleum and shipping tax regimes; indirect taxation, international work including tax treaties and transfer pricing mandates, and tax litigation. Backer-Grøndahl, Ståle R Kristiansen and Hanne Skaarberg Holen are key contacts for contentious work, Espen Ommedal handles international tax work for companies and private equity houses, Marius Holm Rynning leads the asset management group, and Bjørn Christian Lilletvedt Tovsen heads up the indirect tax practice.

TMT Tier 1

Christopher Sparre-Enger Clausen, who ‘has a talent for finding commercial solutions’, leads the department at Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS, which is singled out for its expertise handling IT and digital transformation projects. The practice is also highly active in the fintech, insurtech and medtech sectors, and is increasingly involved in GDPR and data protection matters alongside its work in the telecoms and media industries at a domestic and international level. Technology specialist Espen Werring receives praise for his ‘outstanding experience and track record’, associate partner Haakon Opperud focuses on IT projects, and Eirik W Raanes handles contentious mandates.

Construction Tier 2

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS leverages its ‘very knowledgeable and diligent’ team to advise on large development and construction projects in the renewable energy, infrastructure and transport sectors. The group is currently advising NorthConnect on the proposed establishment of a high-voltage direct-current interconnector between Norway and the UK and is assisting Mustad Eiendom with a property development project in Lilleaker. Jacob F Bull leads the practice, which also includes litigator Svein Aage Valen in the firm’s Bergen office. Asle Bjelland is now a judge.

International Capabilities

INTERNATIONAL APPROACH

A large and ever-expanding share of our activities are international in nature. We represent non-Norwegian businesses in Norway, as well as Norwegian businesses internationally, and have acted in some of the largest cross-border matters into and out of Norway in recent years. We have an office in London and an extensive network of international partners.

THE TEAM

Our lawyers have extensive international experience. This stems not only from the many international and cross-border matters that we handle, including litigation before international, courts, but also from work, secondment and studying abroad.

Our experience and recognition enables us to work well with different international players. We are familiar with cultural diversities and standards, hence we are able to find the best solutions for our clients, also abroad. Thus, we are well placed to seamlessly obtain legal advice from foreign counsel in multi-jurisdictional projects or incidents.

LONDON OFFICE

Thommessen’s London office is headed by Resident Partner Lars Eirik Gåseide Røsås, and has served as an important international market gateway for more than three decades. A large portion of our lawyers have been on secondments to our London office to gain international experience.

Our London team have comprehensive experience in cross-border transactions, and Thommessen’s lawyers have argued numerous cases before international courts and tribunals.

NETWORK

We are the Norwegian member of Lex Mundi; the world’s leading network of independent law firms. Membership provides valuable cross-border knowledge sharing, as well as direct access to leading law firms worldwide – for both us and our clients.

We also have an extensive non-exclusive personal network enabling us to use other partners depending on the case at hand and the requirements of our clients.

MAIN PRACTICE AREAS

Thommessen is perhaps best known for its handling of large and complex public and private M&A work and capital market transactions, involving multiple jurisdictions and often in combination with equity issues and debt financing of the transaction.