![Olav Kolstad](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2022/11/Olav-Kolstad.jpg)
EU and competition
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
![Olav Kolstad](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2022/11/Olav-Kolstad.jpg)
![Stein Ove Solberg](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/11/Stein-Ove-Solberg.jpg)
Hall of fameArntzen de Besche
Partner. Solberg is recognised as one of Norway’s leading experts on competition law. He has extensive experience of assisting Norwegian and international companies in a number of different markets with complex cases both in Norway and at the EU/EEA level.
In recent years, Solberg has been responsible for many large and important mergers which have been subject to review by the Norwegian Competition Authority. He assists both Norwegian and international clients in cases relating to anti-competitive collusion and abuse of a dominant market position. He also assists companies wishing to perform internal inquiries.
In addition, he works on other types of sector-specific regulatory issues, particularly in the food processing and pharmaceutical industries, and assists clients in cases relating to export controls, sanctions and foreign direct investment control.
Advising on strategic issues is one of Solberg’s key strengths. He strives to gain an in-depth understanding of his clients, their businesses and the markets in which they operate. He has extensive experience of numerous business sectors, such as the food processing, pharmaceuticals, defence, finance and transport industries.
![Beret Sundet](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/07/Beret-Sundet-768x768-1.png)
![Siri Teigum](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/07/10616_1195952.jpg)
Hall of fameAdvokatfirmaet Thommessen AS
Mrs Teigum acts as an advisor and litigator in procurement matters, and is top ranked within these areas. She also has won major cases before Norwegian courts as well as the EFTA and CJEU courts, and also acts as an arbitrator. She is member of the Complaints Board for Public Procurement (KOFA). Teigum heads Thommessen practice area of EU/EEA and Competition Law.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
![Bjørnar Alterskjær](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2022/04/Bjornar-Alterskjaer-CMS-Norway-1.jpg)
CMS Kluge
Expertise in public procurement and state aid matters. EU law, EEA law, State aid law, Competition law, Public procurement law, free movement of goods, services, labour and capital, business law.
Bjørnar has been Deputy Director of the legal department in the EFTA Surveillance Authority and was also for an extended period Acting Director of the department. He has outstanding experience in litigation before the EFTA and the EU Courts, having represented the EFTA Surveillance Authority in over 20 cases in almost all fields of law covered by the EEA Agreement and the EU treaties. Several of the cases concerned questions within the field of state aid and public procurement. He has also worked extensively with questions pertaining to the free movement of goods, services, labour and capital, in addition to the rules on establishment, competition law, labour law and financial services. Further he has acted as Hearing Officer for competition cases in the EFTA Surveillance Authority.
Alterskjær has been Manging Partner in Kluge since 2018.
![Håkon Cosma Størdal](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/10/Hakon-Cosma-Stordal.jpg)
Wiersholm
Partner Håkon Cosma Størdal advises on EU/EEA law and is a specialist in competition law. He also handles questions related to public and administrative law. From his period as legal director with the Norwegian Competition Authority, Størdal has gained significant experience in handling complex competition cases. He has also been a national expert with the EFTA surveillance authority in Brussels, working with state aid and competition cases.
![Jan Magne Langseth](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2022/09/Jan-Magne-Langseth.jpg)
![Mads Magnussen](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2018/03/Mads_Magnussen_WRA_07451_1920_Foto_Sten_E._Eriksen-e1694519906339.jpg)
Wikborg Rein
Mads is a team leader in Wikborg Rein and he advises Norwegian and foreign companies within areas of business law, in their contact with public authorities and in negotiations and dispute resolution. He also has legal assignments for and advices public entities and authorities. Mads has been a judge for many years, during which he mediated and presided in several hundred cases within a broad spectre of legal areas, and he has an expertise within civil litigation and dispute resolution. Mads' main area of expertise is EU/EEA and competition law and he is also team leader for our legal practice group for Competition and Procurement. Mads has previously worked as Legal Director of the Norwegian Competition Authority, and in his years as a judge also been appointed Acting Director General of the Competition Authority in infringement cases. Mads is experienced in handling large and complex competition cases and has advised in many cases before Norwegian and international competition authorities and courts within different business areas. He also has experience from investigations and compliance work, advising in the establishment of various forms of cooperation between companies, conducting legal review of companies' agreements and business conduct and handling competition notifications of mergers and acquisitions. Wikborg Rein's Competition and Procurement team is top ranked in Legal 500 (2023) and Global Competition Review's GCR 100 (2023). Mads is also ranked as one of the leading EU and competition lawyers in Norway in Legal 500 (2023) and Chambers (2023).
![Thomas Sando](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/sando-thomas_mork-7.jpg)
![Helge Stemshaug](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/07/Helge-Stemshaug-1-768x768-1.png)
![Ole-Andreas Torgersen](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/04/Ole-Andreas-Torgersen.jpg)
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
![Elisabeth Lian Haugsdal](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2022/03/elha.jpg)
Wiersholm
Elisabeth works with competition law, EU/EEA law, state aid law, administrative law and dispute resolution.
![Heidi Jorkjend](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/07/10616_1212154.jpg)
Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS
Partner Heidi works with competition law and marketing law. She has broad experience assisting corporations under investigation by national and international competition law authorities, as well as merger control and general compliance counselling. In addition, she is experienced in marketing law.
![Simen Klevstrand](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2022/03/Simen-Klevstrand.jpg)
![Henrik Nordling](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2021/04/Henrik-Nordling-CMS-Norway-1.jpg)
![Preben Milde Thorbjørnsen](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/04/Preben_Milde_Thorbjornsen_WRA_07546_1920_Foto_Sten_E._Eriksen-e1694591211959.jpg)
Wikborg Rein
Preben is specialized within competition law, and has extensive experience in handling large and complex competition cases within a wide range of industries, both as a lawyer and as a public servant. Preben advises Norwegian and international clients on all aspects of competition law, with a particular focus on merger control. He has also been lead lawyer on some of the biggest infringement cases in Norway in the recent years. Preben is ranked as "Next Generation Partner" in Legal 500 and "Rising Star" in Chambers & Partners. Preben Milde Thorbjørnsen "is able to see the case from different perspectives and find solutions. He shares his views and gives good advice. He is very dedicated, thorough and a pleasant lawyer to work with, in addition to cost efficient." (Chambers & Partners Europe Guide 2022).
![Svein Terje Tveit](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/11/Svein-Terje-Tveit.jpg)
Arntzen de Besche
Partner. Tveit is ranked as one of the leading lawyers in Norway for competition law and state aid. He is also recognised as an expert on public procurement and general EU/EEA law. He is particularly experienced on matters relating to the sale and distribution of goods, as well as the energy and transport sectors.
Tveit is known for his close follow-up of clients, with the mutual exchange of expertise as a premise for finding good solutions. He is passionate about his work, has a proactive approach and a long-term perspective. Good communication is important for Tveit, who is highly valued as a strategic advisor by his clients.
Tveit is a sought-after public speaker and contributor to books and articles in well-reputed journals on competition law, state aid and public procurement.
Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
![Frida May Behrens](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/01/8.png)
Arntzen de Besche
Senior Lawyer. Behrens works mainly with public procurement and competition law, as well as general EU/EEA law.
She assists national and international clients, as well as Norwegian public authorities, in participating in or carrying out procurement processes. The bulk of Behrens’ clients are on the supplier side. She assists with quality review of bids, review of tender documents, and in negotiations and tender evaluations, in addition to assistance in complaints and access to file processes before the public authorities, the Norwegian Complaints Board for Public Procurement (KOFA) and Norwegian courts.
Behrens assists national and international clients across the whole range of competition law issues, including notification of concentrations to the Norwegian Competition Authority. Her particular area of focus is anti-competitive collusions and abuses of dominance. In addition to examinations and assessments of potential anti-competitive conduct, she has assisted in several competition law cases brought before the Norwegian courts.
Behrens is a dedicated advisor with a commercial understanding who is keen to give her clients concise and practical advices.
![Ylva Kolsrud Lønvik](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/02/Ylva-Kolsrud-Lonvik.png)
![Elsa Brandt Stensrud](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/Elsa-Brandt-Stensrud-Legal-500.jpg)
![Stuart Stock](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2022/09/Stuart_Stock_WRA_07558_1920_Foto_Sten_E._Eriksen-e1694525475163.jpg)
Wikborg Rein
Stuart is an experienced competition lawyer, used to handling large and complex competition law matters. Stuart advises on all aspects of EU, UK and Norwegian competition law, with a particular focus on multi-jurisdictional merger control and investigations where he has significant experience and expertise. Stuart is a qualified solicitor of England and Wales as well as a Norwegian qualified lawyer, and has previously worked in the competition law team at a major international law firm in London as well as for the UK competition regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority. He has also spent time working in Brussels during his 10 + years of experience in working exclusively with competition law. Stuart is recognised as one of Norway's leading competition lawyers, and has been ranked as a "Rising Star" in the field by Legal 500 since 2021. He speaks at conferences and has written several articles on topical competition law issues, in particular on the application of competition law to the energy sector.