Mr Oddbjørn Slinning > Wikborg Rein > Oslo, Norway > Lawyer Profile

Wikborg Rein’s ‘high standard team of lawyers’ in the maritime field is praised for its ‘excellent coverage of both wet and dry shipping disputes’, where the group excels. The team also has strong ranks of commercial practitioners, advising on construction and conversion projects, equity and debt financings, chartering issues, and restructurings. Øyvind Axe focuses his practice on shipping and offshore transactions and is based in the Bergen office, while Oslo-based Andreas Fjærvoll-Larsen has a broad international practice with ‘solid transaction and negotiating experience’. Herman Steen is the go-to person for international maritime disputes, specifically casualty claims and marine insurance issues, and of counsel Morten Lund Mathisen leads the firm’s global maritime and offshore emergency response team. Former SANDS practice head Oddbjørn Slinning joined the team in 2022, and Gaute Gjelsten left to establish his own firm.

Wikborg Rein’s offshore construction and shipping practice is praised for being ‘always available, with broad experience and support from its international branches and legal network’. Dispute resolution advice is a key pillar of the practice, and co-head Herman Steen is highly regarded for his contentious experience. Co-head Øyvind Axe’s main areas of expertise include transactional mandates, including asset sale and purchase deals, financings and restructurings. Andreas Fjærvoll-Larsen completes the group head trio, and has extensive expertise in international transactions, leveraging his dual Norway and England and Wales qualifications. Former SANDS maritime law practice head Oddbjørn Slinning joined in 2022, bolstering the litigation, newbuild and ship conversion project capabilities. Offshore energy is within the purview of Morten Valen Eide, and Christian James-Olsen is also recommended.

Wikborg Rein‘s full-service practice offers both Norwegian and English law insurance advice spanning disputes, transactions and regulatory issues; it acts for a roster of high-profile clients including insurance and reinsurance companies, captives and mutuals, policyholders, and insurance intermediaries. Marine and offshore insurance issues are a key focus of the firm. Practice head Anders Færden specialises in insurance law and has extensive experience in litigation and arbitration proceedings regarding insurance coverage disputes, recovery issues and professional liability claims. Other key names that contribute to the practice include litigators and maritime experts Oddbjørn Slinning and Herman Steen, and regulatory specialist Ole Andenæs.

The team at Wikborg Rein stands out as ‘very strong in arbitration‘, and is highly regarded for its strength in advising on a broad range of complex disputes; contractual disputes have been prominent in the group’s recent caseload. Ola Nisja, the firm’s global head of disputes, is ‘an exceptional lawyer‘ with an excellent track record in handling arbitration proceedings, contractual litigation and contentious construction matters; he jointly heads up the team with Marie Nesvik, who joined from Advokatfirmaet Schjødt in May 2022. Kaare Andreas Shetelig is ‘very strong‘ in public sector disputes, post-M&A and transfer pricing litigation, and Ola Haugen is admitted to appear before the Supreme Court. Jørgen Vangsnes ‘brings authority and experience‘ to contentious technology and administrative work, while senior lawyer Ane Vilnes is praised as ‘an up and coming litigation star‘. Oddbjørn Slinning joined from SANDS in July 2022.