Mr Gaute Gjelsten > Wikborg Rein > Oslo, Norway > Lawyer Profile

Wikborg Rein has ‘an impressive group of lawyers working on maritime law matters‘. The ‘excellent‘ team is highly regarded for its capabilities in handling contentious work; practice head Gaute Gjelsten is well known for being ‘very experienced in marine and offshore insurance related issues and complex claims‘. Deputy head Øyvind Axe, who is based in the Bergen office, is sought out for his expertise in restructurings, financings and transactional matters. Additionally, the group has noted strength in offshore and maritime emergencies – this sub-team is led by Morten Lund Mathisen, who garners praise as ‘one of the most experienced casualty response lawyers globally‘. The ‘very able‘ Herman Steen advises on international maritime disputes pertaining to maritime casualties, and, in Oslo, Andreas Fjærvoll-Larsen is the key contact for shipping offshore transactional work.

Wikborg Rein‘s team ‘has a solid understanding of insurance‘ and provides ‘excellent advice‘ on a broad range of marine and non-marine insurance work, with portfolio transfers and acquisitions, coverage issues and marine insurance litigation included in the group’s recent workload. Department head Anders Færden is ‘a skilled negotiator and particularly strong in insurance contract law,’ and litigator Gaute Gjelsten is the main name for shipping and offshore work. Specialist counsel Anne-Karin Nesdam‘s practice focuses on gas sector matters, while Herman Steen is very experienced in handling disputes relating to marine P&I, war and cargo insurance.

The practice at Wikborg Rein is distinguished by its ‘incredible knowledge of the industry‘. Jointly led by the firm’s deputy head of the global shipping and offshore group Øyvind Axe and Gaute Gjelsten, who is highly regarded for his litigation and arbitration expertise, the team has been kept busy handling shipbuilding contracts, transactional mandates and contentious matters. Andreas Fjærvoll-Larsen is the key contact for shipping and offshore projects, and Bergen-based Morten Valen Eide advises on the construction, operation, financing and sale/purchase of ships and rigs. Christian James-Olsen is another name to note in Bergen. Øystein Meland moved to BAHR in 2021.