Advokatfirmaet Hjort

Ailu Gaup Stadigs specializes in construction and contract law and has extensive experience with dispute resolution in these areas. Ailu assists clients in extensive and complex disputes. He provides legal advice regarding  the implementation and execution of construction contracts. He has worked with a number of the largest land-based final settlement disputes that have been in Norway recent years, where the dispute sum has often been in the billions. Ailu has significant experience with assisting in negotiations and in judicial and extrajudicial mediations. He has assisted clients in several of the largest mediations conducted in recent years, including what is referred to as the most extensive judicial mediation held in Norway. He has also been appointed as a mediator in a number of cases. Ailu is also a regular examiner at the Faculty of Law at the University of Oslo.

Aleksander Bergby Henriksen has expertise in contract law and public procurement, as well as litigation. Aleksander assists advisers, builders and contractors in relation to building and construction projects in legal advisement and dispute resolution. His experience encompasses all phases of building and construction projects, such as planning and implementation of a project and managing disputes in connection with the completion of the project. Within public procurement, Aleksander assists both clients and suppliers during the procurement process and with disputes that may arise. His experience in advisement during the procurement process is related to the planning phase, the pre-qualification phase, the offer phase, in negotiations and in the appeals process. In addition, he has experience with trial assignments both for KOFA and for the ordinary courts. Aleksander’s specialized experience is from his involvement in several different types of procurement processes, including goods and service contracts, building and construction contracts, as well as concession contracts. Additionally, he has extensive experience in procurement that complies with the supply regulations.

Partner

Anne Marie Due the managing partner at Hjort and a member of our employment law department.  She has extensive experience in this practice area. Anne Marie is experienced within employment law, including the law for government employees, pensions, privacy, administrative law and litigation. Anne Marie assists clients in both the private and public sectors and has broad experience in the particular problems that are relevant for public sector entities. Anne Marie assists clients both with legal advice and as legal counsel in connection with most issues in employment law, pensions, privacy and administrative law. Notably, she has conducted several cases before the Norwegian Supreme Court during the last few years concerning issues such as the limitations to the employer’s management prerogative when relocating or making changes in senior policy measures; the issue of whether the loss of contractual early retirement pension scheme (AFP) implies a right to vote in the transfer of a business, and whether employers are entitled to use information from waste disposal vehicles’ satellite navigation system to detect possible employment irregularities. Anne Marie has also conducted a case before the Norwegian Supreme Court in a plenary session. The case addressed whether an instruction laid down by the government was in violation of the constitution. Furthermore, Anne Marie has conducted a number of cases before the district courts and courts of appeals on a range of labour law issues, including several cases concerning the future regulation of pension rights and responsibility for costs associated with these. In addition, Anne Marie has had extensive advisory assignments, including offering ongoing advice in whistleblowing cases and . The investigative assignments have included looking into whether the Working Environment Act’s requirement to a suitable working environment had been violated, various forms of harassment, privacy law breaches, and cases of violation of employees’ individual rights.

Aslak Førde works primarily with legal issues relating to real estate and construction law, and telecommunications law. Førde has a particular focus on dispute resolution, and has conducted several cases before the district court and the court of appeal, as well as the land consolidation court and court of appraisement. Aslak has more than ten years��� experience practicing as lawyer in real estate and construction law. He assists both builders and contractors in building and construction projects and is highly experienced in the building and construction industry. Aslak advises in connection with dispute resolution cases and frequently conducts cases before the Norwegian courts, including termination agreement disputes in large construction projects. In addition, Aslak provides ongoing assistance and advice in connection with dispute resolution to a variety of large and small contractors. In addition to specialising within the practice areas of contract and construction law, Aslak also has particular expertise in land acquisition, expropriation, and judicial valuation and assists builders and landowners within these fields.

Christian B. Hjort is a partner in Hjort’s Criminal Law department. Hjort has extensive experience from a broad spectrum civil cases and financial criminal cases. Throughout the years Hjort has represented companies and private persons in various high profile financial criminal cases pertaining to corruption, insider trading, market manipulation, financial infidelity, and tax fraud. Cases that can be mentioned from recent years are:  Oslo District Court (January – April 2018)  defense attorney for stock listed seismic company prosecuted by the  Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (Økokrim) for the participation in tax fraud tied to exploration reimbursement in correlation with The Petroleum Taxation Act. Oslo District Court (November 2017) defense attorney for the CEO of Hexagon AB in a high profile insider trading in Next Biometrics ASA,  and Asker and Bærum District Court (September 2017) defense attorney for a former sales representative in Kongsberg Defence Communication AS indicted by  Økokrim for financial infidelity related to the use of intermediaries in Romania. Christian B. Hjort has pleaded several financial crime cases of principle interest before the Norwegian Supreme Court. Hjort regularly assists companies and organisations on compliance and anti-corruption measures, and in connection with external and internal investigations.

Christian Dahl Aaser has extensive experience in assisting both Norwegian and international clients.  Christian specializes in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), capital market transactions and company law. He has broad experience from various sectors and regularly advises on cross-border transactions.

Partner Christopher Hansteen specialises in employment law, trade union law, civil servant law, pension law and litigation. He also has considerable experience working with human rights law issues. Christopher Hansteen is admitted to the Supreme Court and he has comprehensive experience as a litigator. He has assisted enterprises, employers and employees in all business sectors, and is a frequent lecturer and author of books and articles on collective and individual employment law. He has been a member of the board of the Norwegian Employment Law Association and of several human rights organisations.

Claude A. Lenth is a partner in Hjort’s Employment Law department. With over twenty years of experience as a lawyer Lenth has extensive experience within the employment law practice area, data privacy law and GDPR. Lenth’s large client portfolio consists of national and international companies and businesses, and public institutions as well. He is also frequently requested by managing leaders of organizations for assistance with their legal matters. Lenth provides legal counseling within all practice areas of employment law, including pension rights. Lenth advises in various matters such as restructuring and reorganization, business transfers, employment termination and dismissals, non-compete and restrictive covenants, temporary staffing procedures, termination agreement negotiations, as well as working environment conditions. Working environment conditions include whisteblowing cases and internal investigations. Lenth also has experience from the Norwegian courts and the Court of Arbitration. Since 1997, Lenth has also worked with data privacy matters within employment law. He has comprehensive experience with all types of privacy matters within various branches and social areas, such as in the employment sector, research and health sector, investigation assignments, e-commerce and network solutions, and marketing. Lenth also advises private and public entities with all types of privacy law issues and assignments. These issues can pertain to compliance and transferring of confidential information outside of the EEA/EU area, with regards to cloud-services, the evaluation and establishment of routines for data security. Lenth’s experience with the data security for documents has been beneficial for his assistance with cases pertaining to inquiries and complaints for the Norwegian Data Protection Authority (DPA) and the Privacy Appeals Board. Lenth also assists clients with data protection within inquiries, data seizures and defense assignments. Recently, Lenth has assisted a number of private and public businesses with GDPR compliance and has been actively engaged in hearings pertaining to The Personal Data Act through his position on the Data Protection committee in the Norwegian Association of Lawyers.

As a partner with admittance to the Norwegian Supreme Court, Einar Engh specializes in both individual and collective labour law. He also has extensive litigation experience at all levels of the court system, including at the Labour Court and the Supreme Court levels.

Eivind Grimsø Moe specializes in business law, with expertise in commercial contracts. His professional portfolio is comprised of matters related to the technology, energy and general industry and trade sectors. He advises both public entities and private companies in various industries on regulatory issues and contracts related to delivery, digitization and use of new technology, privacy, information security, and the licensing of intellectual property rights. He also advises foreign companies on various aspects of Norwegian legislation and business practice. Within the technology sector, he advises both customers and suppliers in relation to contracts and regulatory issues for technology related projects. This includes various consultancy and delivery agreements, outsourcing, use of cloud services, licensing of intellectual property rights, cooperation agreements, standard terms and conditions, distribution and agent agreements. Within the energy sector, he works in particular with supply contracts and issues at the interface between energy and technology, as well as energy market law and sustainability issues. Moe has broad experience with complex delivery contracts, and assists in all phases of project implementation from design and negotiation of contracts, to execution and final settlement of contracts. Through his numerous years of experience, he has in-depth knowledge of the majority of standard Norwegian contracts. He also has significant experience with international contracts or projects with cross-border elements.   He has extensive experience with dispute resolution, both with ordinary courts and arbitration. He also regularly advises on various corporate and asset transactions (M&A).

As a partner with admittance to the Norwegian Supreme Court, Else Bugge Fougner has extensive experience of conducting proceedings at all levels of the civil and criminal justice systems. Else Bugge Fougner has participated in legislative work for many years.

Finn Magne Prydz is a partner and works with real estate and construction law. Finn Magne has comprehensive expertise in contract and construction law, as well as litigation. He has extensive experience in legal advice and dispute resolution before ordinary courts and courts of arbitration. He acts as permanent lawyer for a number of small and medium-sized contractor and supplier businesses, and also has experience in assisting large national and international players in major construction projects. Examples include infrastructure projects, complex commercial buildings and power development projects. Finn Magne also has significant experience from a wide range of the department’s other practice areas, including real estate sales, planning and building law, expropriation and judicial valuation.

Frode A. Innjord is a partner in our Real Estate and Construction law practice area. Innjord provides both the private and public sectors with advice and dispute resolution within the field of real estate law. His professional experience includes assisting the largest public and private real estate developers in cases related to hydropower development, ground pollution, property disputes, expropriation and land regulation. His professional portfolio also includes advising the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment for a number of years in matters related to compensation settlements after the establishment of nature conservation areas. Innjord is the editor of Gyldendals legal commentary on the Planning and Building Act. He has also written several articles on various topics related to real estate law, and serves as a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Property law. Innjord has extensive experience with litigation and commercial dispute resolution. He has been admitted to the Norwegian Supreme Court since 1994, and throughout the years has litigated a number of cases that raised issues on private and public matters in the ordinary courts, as well as the Courts of arbitration. The nature of the cases rang in a broad spectrum, from cooperation agreements on the shelf, via cases concerning franchise agreements, securities management and property taxes, to international indigenous rights. Innjord is a highly acclaimed lawyer within dispute resolution in national and international lawyer rankings. In addition to his own litigation activities, Innjord has also served as an arbitrator in a number of commercial disputes. In several of the cases, he has been appointed as the head of the arbitral tribunal, and he has also acted as the sole arbitrator.

Heddy Ludvigsen is partner and specializes in public procurement law. She assists contractors and private suppliers during all phases of the procurement process, including the complaint processing procedures. Her experience covers a broad spectrum of practice areas, such as construction, the technology sector, health and concession contracts. Additionally, Heddy has extensive experience within state aid, competition law and general EU/EEA law. Her combined expertise and experience within all aspects of EU/EEA law allows her to adapt her advice to our clients’ various needs and challenges. By using this insight, she provides strategic and practical advice that creates value for our clients.

Helene Eng works primarily with corporate law and transactions. She assists clients with practical and strategic advice, as well as dispute resolution before the courts. Helene has experience as an advisor in connection with acquisitions, contract negotiations and shareholder conflicts, and has assisted in extensive disputes

Henrik Boehlke  is a partner in Hjort’s Criminal Law department. Boehlke primarily advises on dispute resolution, criminal cases and inquiries. He has extensive litigation experience from both civil commercial disputes and criminal cases (including cases brought by Økokrim – the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime). Boehlke is regularly engaged as a defense attorney by Oslo District Court and the Borgarting Court of Appeals.

Partner Jens Kristian Johansen is a specialist in individual and collective employment law, discrimination law, pension law and dispute resolution. His experience is extensive and he advises both private and public companies in Norway and abroad, and also employees and employees’ unions. He works broadly within employment law issues, and has conducted one of the most comprehensive restructuring- and downscaling assignments in recent years.

Jørn A. Uggerud has over 30 years of experience with contractual, corporate and M&A related assistance to clients in Norway and abroad, both with privately and publicly owned businesses and agencies. Jørn primarily works with corporate and commercial contract issues for clients within the energy sector. His experience encompasses the renewable energy industry, including onshore and offshore wind, hydroelectric power, green and blue hydrogen and ammonia production, other Power to X projects, battery production and recirculating. He also has experience from several pivotal projects related to the carbon capture and storage industry, both related to waste energy, steel manufacturing and BECCS. Jørn also serves as the working group leader for contracts in the Norwegian Offshore Wind Cluster.

Jørn A. Uggerud  has over 30 years of experience with contractual, corporate and M&A related assistance to clients in Norway and abroad, both with privately and publicly owned businesses and agencies. Uggerud specializes in assisting executives and boards in large companies, mainly relating to issues of corporate governance. He also serves as the working group leader for Contracts in the Norwegian Offshore Wind Cluster. Relevant experience Agder Energi AS – Legal counsel for the establishment of Fosen Vind AS, one of Norways largest wind energy companies. Public Sector –Extensive experience from public agencies, such as NFD and KUD regarding legal corporate relationships, selection of business type, board structures and responsibilities, in relation to Eksportkreditt Norge, Innovation Norway and Opplysningsvesenets fond. Gassnova SF – Legal counsel since 2014. Assisted with the management of the State’s ownership of the CO2 technology center at Mongstad, in connection with contract work, legal corporate relationships, tendering and state aid issues in relation to European Economic Area (EEA) law and state aid assessments. Space Norway AS – Legal counsel in regards to the HEO-project. The Project encompasses the building and operation of two satellites in a high-elliptical orbit that will allow for broadband capabilities for airplanes and ships in the Arctic. Agder Energi AS – Legal counsel for the sale of the firms stake in the wind power company, Nordic Wind Power DA, a European investor consortium established by Credit Suisse Energy Infrastructure Partners and supported by the Swiss energy company BKW. Agder Energi AS – Legal counsel for the establishment of Statkraft Agder Energi Vind DA.

Kristian Brandt heads our industry and trade practice area. Brandt has comprehensive experience within administrative law, environmental law, inquiries and compliance. Brandt provides assistance for both private and public entities with strategic advice, departmental contact and dispute cases within a broad spectrum of practice areas, including regulatory matters, public framework conditions and public sector agreements. Brandt also has extensive experience from a number of inquiry assignments.

Kristian Korsrud has 20 years of experience with real estate development and transformation projects, and has gained broad industry insight and knowledge from assisting several of Norway’s largest private and public real estate entities with commercial legal advice. Kristian’s expertise and experience are linked to both residential and commercial properties. He has in-depth knowledge of zoning plans and development agreements, and the drafting, negotiation and evaluation of real estate contracts. He has vast knowledge of sale and purchase agreements, option agreements, leases, rights of first refusals, easement and tenancy agreements. Kristians expertise also includes the structuring and ownership organisation of real estate projects. Kristian has experience from several complex disputes in the field of ground pollution. He also has experience with contractor, where he has assisted both builders and contractors / suppliers in several disputes. Kristian has many years of litigation and arbitration experience before the courts and the arbitration courts. He was admitted to the Norwegian Supreme Court in 2012.

Kristin Bjella is head of Hjort’s Energy and Environmental Law department. Bjella works with litigation, dispute resolution and negotiations, as well as M&A, and within the industries of energy and natural resources, and real estate. Her expertise includes administrative law, contract law, company law, expropriation law, as well as regulatory law within the energy field. Bjella is admitted to the Supreme Court and litigates regularly before the Norwegian courts. She was member of the commission for the Norwegian Civil Procedure Act and the Arbitration Act. She is experienced in arbitration, both as an arbitrator and counsel. In 2018, she acted as counsel for Finnmarkseiendommen before the Supreme Court in plenum, regarding right to land and natural resources in Finnmark.

Kristin Veierød is head of the Technology, Media and Telecommunications and Public sector departments at Hjort. Veierød assists clients within a broad spectrum of corporate law situations, such as those connected with entering into contracts, clarification of lawful guidelines, board and management responsibility and dispute resolution. Veierød not only has extensive litigation experience, she also has experience as an arbitration judge and with various investigative inquiry assignments. Most notably, in 2016, she led Hjort’s investigation for DNB ASA’s assignment in the so-called Panama-Papers case. Veierød specialises within technology, media and communication practice areas, and has in-depth knowledge of the eco-sector, where she has provided ongoing counseling, assisted in complaints and litigated a number of principal litigation cases. Veierød has many years of experiences related to public procurement due to her assistance to government agencies and other public enterprises. As well as private actors that are subject to the regulation of public law. She has also assisted a number of private businesses for the purpose of clarifying regulatory guidelines, including issues regarding inspection and sanctions, as well as public business with various types of legal and regulatory work. Veierød has experience as a lecturer through seminars at Hjort and with clients. Her lectures have covered a broad spectrum topics, including digitalization and new corporate models, the use of cloud services and regulatory guidelines, as well as administrative law issues related to legal impartiality, confidentiality, and complaints.  

Liv Zimmermann heads Hjort’s real estate and construction law department, specialising in planning and construction law. Liv has practised real estate law since 2005. Before that, she spent over 15 years working with development and construction cases in the public sector, including as head of department and assistant director at Oslo Planning and Building Authority. Liv has been appointed to several legislative committees, contributing proposals for amendments to the construction portion of the current Planning and Building Act and the Ownership of Property Units Act. She currently chairs the Norwegian Bar Association’s building and zoning law committee. Liv advises construction clients and contractors on a wide range of planning and construction issues, including the implementation of planning processes, negotiation of development agreements, land acquisition, reimbursement claims, building permits, completion certificates and post-sale issues. She frequently collaborates with architects, engineers, real estate agents and other consultants to secure the best possible client outcome. Her in-depth knowledge of the public administration and political decision processes enable Liv to contribute both professionally and strategically to planning and construction processes. She advises municipalities and other public-sector clients on a broad range of property law matters, including ongoing consultancy, quality assurance of administrative decisions, investigation of complicated issues and litigation. She also assists private clients. Liv is regularly invited to lecture on planning and building law. Together with fellow Hjort partner Frode A. Innjord, Liv has co-edited and co-authored Gyldendal’s commentary on the Planning and Building Act (2nd edition).

Mariann Andersen is a managing associate and works within the practice areas of corporate law, primarily company law, contract law, stock exchange and securities law. She has extensive experience with transactions and reorganizations.

Monica Syrdal works with a combination of EEA/competition law and intellectual property rights, including copyright, trademark, marketing law and GDPR. Monica has in-depth knowledge of communication, technology, media and retail sectors and practical experience with many of the legal matters that are relevant to these sectors including intellectual property rights and competition law. Within competition law, she specializes in issues relating to the prohibitions on anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant positions. She has particular experience in handling alleged infringement cases before the Norwegian Competition Authority, the Competition Appeals Board (“Konkurranseklagenemnda”) and the EFTA Surveillance Authority. She has also practical competition litigation experience before the ordinary court in respect of private competition law enforcement. Within the media sector, Monica has extensive experience with respect to copyright issues pertaining to audio-visual content, including films, sports and other content licensing and questions in the nexus of competition law and intellectual property rights. Monica has hereunder experience with copyright and other IPR litigation before the courts and various alternative dispute resolution bodies, including but not limited to the Appeals Board for Industrial Rights and the Remuneration Board (“Vederlagsnemnda”). She also advices on regulatory issues involving broadcasting and audiovisual on-demand services. She has for a number of years worked extensively with adoption of new legislation within the copyright and broadcasting field both on a national and EU/EEA -level. Another part of her practice involves consumer marketing legislation, unfair marketing in relation to other businesses and privacy/GDPR. In addition to English, Monica also speaks German.

Nils Christian Langtvedt is a partner in Hjort’s industry and trade department, with in-depth experience with corporate litigation. Nils Christian represents companies and individuals in civil dispute resolution and acts as legal counsel in white-collar prosecutions. Nils Christian works mainly with disputes arising from commercial contracts and investments. He provides strategic advice at every stage of the process, from negotiation to, if applicable, litigation or arbitration. Nils Christian represents domestic and international companies within a wide range of industries including technology, energy, telecom, automobile, finance, real estate etc. He has special expertise on securing evidence and the misappropriation of trade secrets.

Øivind K. Foss has many years of experience within dispute resolution, litigation and contract law, especially within the areas of intellectual property rights (trademarks, patents and copyright), marketing law and privacy law. He has previously worked as a lawyer at the law firm Schjødt and as a research assistant at the University of Oslo. Øivind specializes in international disputes, and has litigated several high profile cases before Norwegian courts on behalf of foreign rights owners. His portfolio experience also includes alternative dispute resolution, such as arbitration, and before committees and other bodies such as the Norwegian Industrial Property Office, the Norwegian Board of Appeal for Industrial Property Rights, the Committee for the Control of Unfair Competition and the Norwegian Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (domain names). Within contract law, Øivind has worked extensively with research and development, licensing, distribution and IT. Øivind regularly holds lectures and has written and contributed to articles, legal commentaries and books about intellectual property rights, domain names, media rights, arbitration, international private law, e-commerce and employment law.

Pål Sverre Hernæs is a partner in Hjort’s Criminal Law department and works with litigation and dispute resolution in both civil and ciriminal cases. Hernæs has specialised experience in cases pertaining to financial crimes and compensation of negligent investment advice. He has experience in temporarily securing values and requirements, as well as proof of evidence both before and during the trial. Hernæs has extensive experience with cases pertaining to inheritance law, family law, contract law and real estate.

As a partner, with admittance to the Norwegian Supreme Court, Rolf Chr. Trolle Andersen advises in the fields of corporate law, intellectual property law, accounting law, stock exchange and securities law, banking and finance, insurance and professional liability, and contract law.

Sigve Braaten is a partner in Hjort’s real estate and construction law department. Sigve has professional work experience with transactions, reorganisations and fiscal law, with a particular focus on assistance to players involved in start-up and growth companies, players in commercial real estate and renewable energy, as well as disputes in these areas. Sigve has experience as a business lawyer, as well as a professional background from the courts as a deputy judge and district court judge and the Ministry of Finance’s tax law department.

Sjur Obrestad Garbrielsen is a managing associate and specializes in energy and environmental law. Sjur primarily assists clients within the field of renewable energy, providing a wide range of business legal advice and assistance with dispute resolution. He is also affiliated with our Employment Law practice area. His expertise includes sports-related law, including association law, contract law and labor law matters. Across disciplines, Sjur regularly assists clients with the collection of monetary claims. He also takes criminal cases.

Svein Holden is a partner in Hjort’s Criminal Law department. Holden primarily works as a defense attorney in criminal cases and as an advisor pertaining to criminal law issues for businesses. In addition to criminal law, Holden also assists the firm with investigation assignments. Holden has comprehensive experience and expertise from the Prosecutor’s Office. From 2005 to 2013, Holden was a prosecutor and responsible for several major criminal cases, most notably the July 22nd case. He also appeared as prosecutor for several criminal cases before the Norwegian Supreme Court. Holden is regularly appointed as defense attorney for the Oslo District Court and the Borgarting Court of Appeal.

As a partner with admittance to The Norwegian Supreme Court, Sveinung O. Flaaten advises primarily on commercial law issues, including real estate matters and contract negotiations. He also conducts litigation in a wide range of areas.

Thomas Alnæs leads the corporate and M&A practice area at Hjort. He specializes in M&A, corporate and tax structuring, commercial negotiations and private equity and investment fund structures. Thomas has more than 15 years of experience guiding multinational companies, financial institutions and private equity firms through every stage of technically complex issues, including buy structures, exit strategies, share and incentive schemes, corporate and commercial issues as well as tax structures. Thomas has a special focus on technology and research-driven industries.

Vegard André Fiskerstrand is a partner and specialises in capital markets transactions, securities law, M&A and financial services, with a focus on public and international transactions. Vegard has participated as a legal advisor in several larger capital market transactions in the Norwegian market, both on the issuer and the manager side. He also has experience from larger M&A transactions, finance transactions with debt capital, regulatory matters and corporate law and securities law advise.