Wikborg Rein offers a wide-ranging employment department to a broad roster of clients from the oil, gas, renewable energy, and retail sectors. Department head Christian Backe engages closely with Norwegian and international clients on litigation, with expertise in reorganisations. Fredrik Gisholt leads the practice in the Bergen office and chiefly focuses on downsizing and individual termination cases. With a background as counsel and as a deputy judge, Ine Osland Søvik acts for clients on dismissals, conflict resolution, and trade secrets. Karoline Moen Brunstad left the department in September 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘We use them for all our employment practice. We have also driven some bigger and longer processes and could not get better help. Most important is that someone can always help us or put us in touch with the right person.’
- ‘There is a good leverage of advice, so the rest of the system and the court can trust our processes. We always have good cases and very good arguments, which have led to only positive cases so far.’
- ‘The team consists of individuals who complement each other and communicate in a clear and easily understandable manner, even when addressing complex legal matters.'
- ‘I am struck by the clear impression that these individuals are consummate professionals who possess deep expertise and, importantly, have the ability to communicate complex concepts in a way that is accessible to non-experts.’
- The team has great expertise within all aspects of employment law, they are easy to cooperate with and give sound and practical advice that is usable for the relevant business. ’
- Christian Backe always takes the time to respond in an efficient manner, and his advice is always very useful, even in situations where there are no clear answers.’
Key clients
- Humana
- Stiftelsen Christian Radich
- Solstad Offshore ASA
- Human Care Bo AS
- Human Care Ung AS
- Multivac AS
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Vygruppen
- Avanova
- Norsk Gjenvinning
- Aschehoug
- Transocean
Work highlights
Successfully represented Transocean on complex litigation concerning dismissals and preferential rights.
Successfully represented Vy Buss AS on a high-profile employment dispute.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Christian Backe
Other key lawyers
Fredrik Gisholt; Ine Osland Søvik