Career Biography

Helge Olav Bergan is a senior general counsel with more than three decades of legal practice and leadership across private practice and in-house roles. As Chief Legal Officer of Allente Group, with Nordic responsibility, he has played a key role in shaping the company’s legal and governance framework within a regulated and fast-evolving media environment, and serves as a trusted adviser to executive management, shareholders and the board.

As a member of the executive management team, Bergan has been closely involved in strategic decision-making, major contract negotiations, rights clearances, regulatory processes and corporate governance across the Nordics. He has contributed to significant structural and ownership developments, including the transition of Allente into a fully-owned subsidiary of Viaplay Group. He has also acted as board secretary for a substantial number of board meetings, supporting effective governance and decision-making at board level.

Alongside his strategic role, Bergan maintains a hands-on approach to legal work, with continued involvement in key negotiations, complex matters and day-to-day advisory work. He is known for being accessible and closely connected to the business, working directly with commercial teams and other stakeholders to find practical and balanced solutions.

Prior to this, Bergan was Head of Legal at Telenor Broadcast, where he led the legal team and worked closely with senior management on business development and strategic initiatives across the Nordics. He began his career at Advokatfirmaet Haavind, where he spent 20 years, including as partner, advising on media and entertainment law, intellectual property, contract negotiations, M&A and dispute resolution.

Bergan is recognised for combining legal expertise with a strong commercial perspective, and for providing clear, solution-oriented advice in complex settings. He has built and led legal teams across the Nordics, with a focus on positioning the legal function as a business partner aligned with strategic priorities.

Alongside his executive responsibilities, Bergan has contributed to the development of the legal framework for the media sector. He chaired the Media Liability Committee appointed by the Norwegian Ministry of Culture (2010–2011) and serves as a board member of the Norwegian Copyright Association. On an occasional basis, he is also engaged as an external examiner at the Faculty of Law, University of Oslo.

Bergan was also included in the Legal 500 GC Powerlist Norway 2025.