Fielding a core team of seafood practitioners working alongside an interdisciplinary team, Wiersholm advises on a wide array of regulatory, strategic, and contractual matters. Department head Erik Staurset Andresen is very experienced across the fisheries and aquaculture arena, across land-based aquaculture, fjord-based aquaculture, and offshore aquaculture. Svein-Helge Hanken handles investments, purchases and sales for businesses, and Sigrid Ratvik Østvik chiefly focuses on regulatory and contractual mandates, having been particularly active in penalties for alleged violations.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'What we appreciate about Wirtsholm is the experience we have with one of their employees, whom we have worked with across several companies: Erik Staurseth Andersen.’
- ‘Erik Stauset Andresen is now the best aquaculture/salmon industry regulatory expert in Norway.’
- ‘Highly qualified within fishing and aquaculture laws and regulations. Understands and is updated within this business area at all times. Easy to collaborate with.’
- ‘Qualifications and personality make it easy to collaborate with Erik Staurset Andresen.’
- ‘The legal team stands out as a strong partner for us as a seafood industry actor. With a solid interdisciplinary background combined with quite unique experience from public administration, they possess a deep understanding of both regulatory frameworks and the industry’s practical needs.’
- ‘Erik Staurseth Andresen combines a deep understanding of public administration with exceptional knowledge of the aquaculture industry, including hands-on insight into practical operations. His ability to identify and assess different solutions makes him a trusted advisor for navigating complex challenges in the context of our company.’
Key clients
- MOWI ASA
- SalMar ASA
- SalMar Aker Ocean AS
- Cermaq Group AS
- Måsøval AS
- Hofseth Aqua AS
- Salaks AS
- Seløy Sjøfarm AS
- Kobbvåglaks AS
- Gratanglaks AS
- Northern Lights Salmon AS
- Seacalx AS
Work highlights
Advised Cermaq Norway Salmon AS on the conversion of four development licenses for the iFarm project into standard aquaculture licenses.
Assisted Averøy Seafood AS with establishing a land-based production facility in Averøy municipality.
Assisted Langøylaks with its public takeover of BioFish, a producer of high-quality smolt and post-smolt located in Ljones in Kvam municipality, Norway.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Erik Staurset Andresen
Other key lawyers
Svein-Helge Hanken; Sigrid Ratvik Østvik