Firm Profile > Kvale Advokatfirma DA > Oslo, Norway

Kvale Advokatfirma DA
HAAKON VIIS GATE 10
PO BOX 1752, VIKA
0122 OSLO
Norway

Email firm Visit website 47 22 47 97 00 47 21 05 85 85

Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 1

Kvale Advokatfirma DA's breadth across bankruptcy, insolvency and restructuring work benefits its financial institutions client base, which includes Danske Bank, Bank2 and DNB Bank. The group is particularly recognised for its efforts in bankruptcy work; recent work includes handling Atlantic Offshore's bankruptcy estate, advising on the bankruptcy estate of Bandak Holding and its subsidiaries, and assisting the bankruptcy estate of Norpost. Thomas Piro heads the department, which also includes the highly regarded Tom Hugo Ottesen, Stine Snertingdalen and real estate and construction restructuring specialist Espen Hamar.

Leading individuals

Tom Hugo Ottesen - Kvale Advokatfirma DA

Next Generation Partners

Stine Snertingdalen - Kvale Advokatfirma DA

Oil and gas Tier 1

Kvale Advokatfirma DA's experience spans contentious and non-contentious mandates with individual areas of expertise including practice co-head Jens Brede handling oil and gas disputes, co-head Yngve Bustnesli focusing on petroleum law and contractual work, and co-head Erik Brannsten excelling in offshore construction and subsea projects. Andreas Stang Lund is also recommended for contentious work. Recent highlights include assisting Ørsted (previously Dong Energy) with the sale of its oil and gas portfolio to Ineos Industries, representing Equinor (previously Statoil) in a dispute relating to the termination of a drilling contract with Cosl Innovator, and advising Pandion Energy on its acquisition of a 10% stake in the Valhall and Hod fields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).

Leading individuals

Jens Brede - Kvale Advokatfirma DA

Dispute resolution Tier 2

With notable expertise in the energy and offshore sectors, Kvale Advokatfirma DA also handles IP litigation and employment law disputes; it recently acted for Rockville Technologies in a dispute against Tidal relating to a terminated licensing agreement. Other work includes acting for a former Thule Drilling board member in a Supreme Court damages claim, defending TDC in a repayment claim against Telenor and representing Statoil (now Equinor) in a dispute relating to the termination of a drilling contract. Per Conradi Andersen heads the team, Kristian Lindhartsen focuses on maritime insurance disputes, Lasse Hagen handles shipping claims and Andreas Stang Lund is a key name for financial services work. IP litigator Ingvild Hanssen-Bauer joined from Wikborg Rein in 2017.

Electricity and renewable energy Tier 2

Kvale Advokatfirma DA's recent transactional expertise includes advising aventron on its acquisition of Storøy Vindpark; assisting Statnett with NordLink, an interconnector project running between Norway and Germany; and handling Øvre Eiker Energi's sale of its hydro power production and transmission assets. The group also acts in disputes and handles regulatory work; it recently assisted Hafslund with power trading issues including European Market Infrastructure Regulation compliance. Christian Poulsson heads the group and Per Conradi Andersen is also recommended.

EU and competition Tier 2

Kvale Advokatfirma DA's 'highly competent' sector-focused team excels in merger clearance work and has substantial knowledge of the TMT, energy, food, life sciences and healthcare industries with a client roster including Bunker Oil, Tine and Broadnet. In a recent highlight, group head Kristin Hjelmaas Valla advised Telia Norge on the competition elements of two separate merger filings; she receives praise for her 'efficiency, responsiveness and communication skills'. Henrik Svane recently acted for Orkla on two merger notifications and clearances and advised Beiersdorf on the competition aspects of the reorganisation of its Norwegian business, and senior lawyer Marit Aaberg, who is a state aid and public procurement expert, assisted Oslo Vognselskap with various public procurement and conflict of interest issues.

Intellectual property Tier 2

Kvale Advokatfirma DA's 'strong and incredibly skilled team' handles the full range of IP matters with notable expertise in trade marks, patents and contentious work, particularly in the life sciences, food, retail, and oil and gas sectors. Practice head Anne Marie Sejersted is 'very experienced in pharmaceutical conflicts' and provides 'to-the-point and high-quality advice'; other key names include Ingvild Hanssen-Bauer, who is 'very thorough and analytical in her work'; Marie Vaale-Hallberg, who 'stands out for her unique food expertise'; and Lars Trygve Jenssen. The group represented Mylan and Synthon in a patent dispute, and defended Accord Healthcare in patent infringement claims.

Leading individuals

Anne Marie Sejersted - Kvale Advokatfirma DA

Maritime law Tier 2

Kvale Advokatfirma DA's team of 'sector specialists, who have a creative approach to solving issues and applying the relevant law' excels in the shipping industry and handles insurance claims, restructurings, transactions and financing mandates. Insurance specialist Kristian Lindhartsen leads the practice, which also includes litigator Lasse Hagen and transactional expert Jostein Moen. Clients include Sojitz and the Norwegian Coastal Authorities; senior lawyer Snorre Nordhus is advising the latter on a project to contain and remove mercury pollution from a German U-boat wreck.

Offshore construction and shipbuilding Tier 2

Kvale Advokatfirma DA primarily assists oil companies with contentious work and projects; it recently represented a client in a dispute relating to the termination of a contract for a drilling rig and acted for a client in a dispute regarding the termination of a drilling contract. Group head and managing partner Jens Brede led both matters and focuses on contractual issues; other names to note include Erik Brannsten and senior lawyer Snorre Nordhus.

Leading individuals

Jens Brede - Kvale Advokatfirma DA

TMT Tier 2

Kvale Advokatfirma DA expanded on its traditional focus on telecoms work with increased experience in GDPR issues and digitalisation projects; recent examples include advising Pfizer on its GDPR and privacy issues. Notable telecoms highlights include acting for Broadnet in disputes relating to access to sub-loop unbundling, and assisting Telia Norge with the migration of subscribers from Telenor's network to Telia's following its acquisition of Tele2 and Network Norway. Per-Kaare Svendsen and Lars Trygve Jenssen jointly lead the department and specialise in telecoms and IT matters respectively. Telecoms expert Thomas Farhang, contract specialist Ingvild Hanssen-Bauer and newly promoted partner Jens Christian Gjesti are also recommended.

Banking and finance (including shipping finance) Tier 3

Kvale Advokatfirma DA combines transactional, banking regulatory and banking litigation expertise to advise top financial institutions including Danske Bank, Bank 2 and Arctic Securities. In a recent highlight, practice head Stine D Snertingdalen advised DNB Bank and Sparebank 1 SR-Bank on securing and recovering outstanding debts under credit facilities, swaps and guarantees. Other work includes assisting the Norwegian Export Credit Guarantee Agency, GIEK, in its role as guarantor with providing syndicated credit facilities to Farstad Shipping, and acting for Collector Bank on its interactions with the Norwegian financial services regulatory authorities. Christian Stang Våland, who counts multiple savings banks as clients, and ship finance expert Jostein Moen are also names to note.

Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 3

Kvale Advokatfirma DA has core strengths in the technology, energy and natural resources, life sciences and shipping sectors and clients include Aventron and Danske Bank. Yngve Bustnesli and Marius L Andresen assisted Dong Energy (now Ørsted) with the divestment of its oil and gas division to Ineos, Thomas S Farhang advised Telia on its NOK2.3bn acquisition of Phonero, and Bustnesli and Trygve Norum acted for Kerogen Capital on its acquisition of Norwegian Continental Shelf assets from Tullow Oil. Jostein Moen leads the group and Susanne Schneider is also a name to note.

Employment Tier 3

Kvale Advokatfirma DA's 'solution-oriented' department recently acted for Bravida in the Gulating Appeal Court in a matter pertaining to the importance of the seniority principle in downsizings, advised the Norwegian Federation of Engineers on issues relating to collective bargaining agreements and individual employment contracts as well as a variety of discrimination issues, and assisted Top Temp with issues surrounding the interpretation of collective bargaining agreements. Nicolay Skarning heads the practice and Jan-Erik Sverre focuses on contentious work.

The firm

Kvale is a business law firm that since 1985 has advised the local and international business community. Stable organic growth over a quarter of a century has led the firm past a number of important milestones. Not least growing from one to 50 employees and past that, towards 100 and beyond.

The firm’s growth has been fuelled by its dedication to legal competence and excellence and its unrelenting focus on clients’ objectives and interests. Its experience and competence covers all legal disciplines, and it is one of the leading firms within a number of these.

Kvale is especially recognised for its work on high-impact cases for a number of Norway’s most significant companies. Litigation has been a key component of the firm’s practice since it was founded. The firm has handled a number of the largest litigation matters in Norway.

Areas of practice

Intellectual property: Kvale has extensive experience advising Norwegian and international clients in relation to protection of intellectual property rights, including patents, trade marks, design rights, company names and copyright.

Corporate law: Kvale assists in all aspects of corporate matters. The firm advises on corporate form and structure, organisation of businesses and frequently acts as counsel to management and directors.

Oil, gas and renewable energy: Kvale provides regulatory and contractual advice related to the exploration, development, production and cessation of petroleum activities, and also assists in matters related to hydro power, wind power and other renewable energy sources.

Building and construction: the firm’s experienced lawyers give professional guidance to oil and gas companies of different sizes and nationalities on a day to day basis, as well as assisting with counselling, representation, negotiation and litigation.

IT and telecoms: Kvale provides comprehensive advice within the field of information technology and telecommunications.

Competition and EU: Kvale has experienced lawyers who specialise in EU and EEA law, and who also work with specialists in other areas, to provide clients with the best comprehensive advice possible.

Media and marketing: Kvale provides advice in relation to unfair competition from current and former employees, contracting parties and competitors, whether in relation to breach of confidentiality, improper solicitation of employees, suppliers or customers, misuse of intellectual property/know how and copying/counterfeiting.

Litigation and dispute resolution: Kvale’s lawyers have extensive experience in litigating very major and complex civil actions through the ordinary courts, as well as before national and international courts of arbitration.

Employment and pensions: Kvale’s comprehensive practice covers all questions related to employment laws and regulations. Its lawyers have extensive experience in court proceedings within this field.

Tax and accounting: Kvale offers a full range of services within tax and accounting.

Banking and finance: Kvale provides legal assistance in relation to all types of financial transactions. The firm assists leading banks, savings banks, and other financial institutions.

Restructuring, insolvency proceedings and credit security: Kvale represents banks, financial institutions and individual creditors in matters related to insolvency and credit security.

Corporate/M&A: Kvale offers advice within domestic and cross-border acquisitions, mergers, de-mergers, capital transactions and reorganisations.

Food law: Kvale provides comprehensive advice within food and feed law.

Public law: Kvale assists local governments, public enterprises and private parties on the entire width of administrative law and of the remaining issues within public law.

Shipping: Kvale provides regulatory and contractual advice related to financing, construction, operation and management of vessels and offshore units.

Department	Name	Email	Telephone
Employment and pensions	Nicolay Skarning
Employment and pensions	Jan-Erik Sverre
Banking and finance	Christian Stang Våland
Banking and finance	Stine D Snertingdalen
Corporate M&A	Marius L Andresen
Corporate M&A	Thomas S Farhang
Building and construction	Erik Brannsten
Building and construction	Jens Brede
Competition and the EU/EEA	Kristin Hjelmaas Valla
Competition and the EU/EEA	Henrik Svane
Intellectual property	Anne Marie Sejersted
Intellectual property	Ingrid Hanssen-Bauer
IT and telecoms	Per-Kaare Svendsen
IT and telecoms	Lars Trygve Jenssen
Media and marketing	Lars Trygve Jenssen
Media and marketing	Marie Vaale-Hallberg
Food law	Marie Vaale-Hallberg
Public law	Christian Stang Våland
Oil, gas and renewable energy	Jens Brede
Oil, gas and renewable energy	Yngve Bustnesli
Litigation and dispute resolution	Andreas Stang Lund
Litigation and dispute resolution	Per Conradi Andersen
Restructuring, insolvency and investigations	Tom Hugo Ottesen
Restructuring, insolvency and investigations	Stine D Snertingdalen
Corporate	Øystein Løken
Corporate	Thomas S Farhang
Tax	Christian Wahl
Tax	Steinar Nundal
Shipping	Lasse Hagen
Shipping	Kristian Lindhartsen

Photo	Name	Position	Profile
	Mr Per Conradi Andersen		View Profile
	Mr Marius L Andresen		View Profile
	Mr Erik Brannsten		View Profile
	Mr Jens Brede		View Profile
	Mr Yngve Bustnesli		View Profile
	Mr Thomas S Farhang		View Profile
	Mr Lasse Hagen		View Profile
	Ms Ingvild Hanssen-Bauer		View Profile
	Mr Lars Trygve Jenssen		View Profile
	Mr Øystein Løken		View Profile
	Mr Kristian Lindhartsen		View Profile
	Mr Jostein Moen		View Profile
	Mr Trygve Norum		View Profile
	Mr Steinar Nundal		View Profile
	Mr Tom Hugo Ottesen		View Profile
	Ms Kristin Ourom		View Profile
	Mr Thomas Piro		View Profile
	Mr Christian Poulsson		View Profile
	Ms Susanne Schneider		View Profile
	Mr Arne Seemann Berg		View Profile
	Ms Anne Marie Sejersted		View Profile
	Mr Nicolay Skarning		View Profile
	Ms Stine D Snertingdalen		View Profile
	Mr Gunnar Stake-Larsen		View Profile
	Mr Andreas Stang Lund		View Profile
	Mr Christian Stang Våland		View Profile
	Mr Henrik Svane		View Profile
	Mr Per-Kaare Svendsen		View Profile
	Mr Jan-Erik Sverre		View Profile
	Ms Marie Vaale-Hallberg		View Profile
	Ms Kristin Hjelmaas Valla		View Profile
	Mr Christian Wahl		View Profile