Wikborg Rein

Aadne Haga

Aadne heads the firm's Gas Dispute practice. He is an expert on international agreements for transportation, sale and purchase of natural gas and other commodities, and specialises on dispute resolution, in particular international arbitration, within these industries. Aadne has advised and represented commercial and state actors within the petroleum and process industries in contract negotiations and disputes for almost 20 years. The disputes have stemmed from inter alia price reviews, joint ventures, sanctions and mergers and acquisitions. He has experience from institutional, ad-hoc and investment arbitration. Aadne reads and speaks Russian and has particular experience with disputes relating to the former Soviet Union, not least as lead counsel in Ukrainian Naftogaz's multi-billion dollar disputes with Gazprom.

Alexander Owesen

Alex assists Norwegian and foreign investment banks, banks and financial institutions, direct lenders, private equity firms and their portfolio companies, listed and unlisted companies and other market participants with the structuring, negotiation, documenting and completion of various types of financing transactions. Among his specialities are acquisition financing, various types of asset financing, project financing and corporate financing, as well as restructurings. Alex has extensive experience with different types of transaction and debt structures, such as various types of bank financing, direct lending, PIK loans and bond financing (including super senior structures, pari passu structures and senior/junior structures combining these and other types of financing). He keeps on top of all current trends for such financings and, while taking care of the legal aspects of the transaction, keeps a close eye on and understands the commercial aspects of the deal.

Anders Færden

Anders is a specialist in insurance law and marine insurance law and is the head of Wikborg Rein's global insurance team. He also has substantial experience in handling marine, contract, tort, professional liability and intermediaries disputes. Anders is admitted to the Norwegian Supreme Court and has extensive litigation experience from a vast number of cases before the Norwegian courts and in arbitration. He is appointed as arbitrator and expert in insurance matters. Anders is ranked by Legal 500 as a "leading individual" in insurance law. He is also ranked by Chambers and Partners and in the Norwegian Financial Daily's lawyers survey within the categories shipping and insurance.

Anders Myklebust

Anders mainly works with issues related to tax laws and company laws. He has previously been employed in the Central Tax Office for large-sized companies (Sentralskattekontoret for storbedrifter) and has published a book and several articles in connection with tax law. The work related to tax comprises all areas within tax, charges and duties, but primarily related to corporate taxation. This includes giving advice in tax issues related to transactions, structuring the transactions, transfer pricing etc, as well as day to day tax advice to companies. The work also includes assistance to companies in their contact with the tax authorities, appeals and court cases. In addition to corporate taxation Anders has also wide experience related to the special tax regimes for shipping company (tonnage tax), hydroelectric power plants and petroleum activities. He also works with ordinary personal taxation, including taxation of earn out related to employed shareholders' sale of companies. Within the area of charges and duties Anders has worked with both VAT and special duties. He has also experience from court cases related to these issues. In addition to tax issues, Anders has also experience from ordinary corporate work by assisting the involved parties in connection with sale and purchase of companies. This includes all aspects from negotiation of sale and purchase agreements, shareholders agreements, due diligence processes and closing of transactions. He has also extensive experience from sale and purchase of real estate companies. This work has often a connection to the work related to tax and VAT issues in the transactions. Anders is recommended by Chambers and Partners as "Leaders in their field" in the category Tax.

Andreas Fjærvoll-Larsen

Andreas has a broad international transaction practice focused on strategic advice and implementation of investments, joint ventures, bank-, bond- and project financings and restructurings within the maritime industries. He is heading the department for shipping- and offshore projects Andreas regularly assists Norwegian and international clients with negotiations of agreements for construction and conversion, sale and purchase, chartering, management and operation of ships, offshore units and ocean infrastructure. Andreas is dual qualified as a Norwegian Lawyer and a Solicitor of England & Wales.

Ane Vilnes

Ane mainly works with dispute resolution, including litigation, arbitration and mediation within various types of commercial contracts. She has broad experience from several major cases before the domestic courts and also from national and international arbitration (institutional and ad hoc), mediation and negotiations. She has particular experience within areas of law such as contract law, tort law, construction law, IT/technology and M&A. Ane has previously worked as a deputy judge in Bergen District Court. She has also been seconded as a legal adviser to Aker Solutions AS, where she prepared and negotiated a broad range of contracts, participated in several international tender preparations, and provided legal advise on ongoing projects.

Anne-Karin Nesdam

Anne-Karin is specialising in international arbitration. She works within the field of petroleum and energy law, and has acted as counsel in several international arbitrations and negotiations in the gas sector, mainly representing gas buyers. She has also assisted clients on the coming EU regulatory framework for hydrogen. She also assists clients on insurance law. Anne-Karin has a doctorate from the University of Oslo. Her doctoral theses analyses the use of policy and legal instruments in EU's secondary energy market legislation (special competition law). She previously worked at the Legislation Department of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, where she was responsible for the areas of transport, insurance, private international and company law. Anne-Karin speaks English and German.

Are Zachariassen

Are's main areas of practice are issues relating to tax law, company law and stock exchange/securities legislation. Before he joined Wikborg Rein, he worked in the Directorate of Taxes, and in other legal practices. His Are has international experience from Wikborg Rein's Singapore office, and holds a particular responsibility for international tax law.

Arild Frick

Arild has extensive experience from transaction work, both as a strategy consultant and as a lawyer. He is also an experienced compliance advisor, supporting both private and public sector clients. Prior to joining Wikborg Rein in 2022, Arild was heading up Schjødt law firm’s Transaction Department. Arild has also led complex international M&A deals as a lawyer from in house positions, including during his time as GC of Aker ASA (2014-2020), and as management consultant in McKinsey & Company (2009-2010). Arild held the position as VP Board & Executive Mngt Attorney in Aker Solutions ASA 2014 - 2020, and as attorney in BAHR law firm from 2006 - 2009. Legal 500 describes Arild as an "awesome M&A and corporate lawyer" who "takes an active role in tactics but also has in-depth knowledge and experience related to operational subjects".

Caroline Skaar Landsværk

Caroline is specialised within renewable energy and the green shift. She heads the firm's energy team in Oslo. In Wikborg Rein, Caroline has assisted in various energy related projects and transactions, within both the renewable energy and petroleum sectors, in Norway and abroad. Caroline has broad knowledge of projects, transactions and the regulatory regime relating to hydro power, onshore wind, offshore wind, power grid, solar power, district heating and power market. She provides advice on energy regulatory issues, including EU law within the energy area. Furthermore, Caroline regularly assists clients in contract negotiations and contract drafting both towards investors, partners, developers, contractors, suppliers and other stakeholders. Such contracts typically comprise power purchase agreements (PPA), cooperation agreements and shareholders agreements, transaction agreements, operation and maintenance agreements, landowner agreements and supply agreements. Caroline has a true engagement for new sustainable technology and infrastructure, and has had the pleasure of working on such projects on several occasions. Caroline has over several years been ranked as one of Norway's up and coming talents within the category energy and climate in the financial newspaper Finansavisen's annual lawyer survey, and is also recognised by the rating agency Chambers & Partners within the area "Energy: Electricity".

Cathrine B. Hetland

Cathrine has significant experience advising various players in the oil and gas industry on a broad range of matters, including legal and commercial aspects of offshore exploration, development, production and sales, as well as M&A projects. She also works extensively with carbon storage projects. Her previous experience includes several years serving as a senior legal counsel for DEA Norge AS, an NCS oil and gas operator, and as a managing associate in the law firm Thommessen. She is recognised within "Energy: Oil and Gas" in Chambers Global and Chambers Europe, and has for several years in a row been ranked as one of Norway's up and coming lawyers within oil and gas in the Norwegian financial daily Finansavisen's lawyer ranking. She is also a "Recommended Lawyer" within oil and gas in Legal 500. Cathrine is a member of the Norwegian Bar Association's panel on Hydropower, Energy and Oil and Gas law. She has also been a member of several working groups set down by the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association in order to develop model agreements for use on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, and was inter alia part of the working group producing the latest revision of the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association's standard SPA for license transactions.

Cecilie Tollefsen

Cecilie mainly works with corporate tax, VAT and corporate law issues. She has extensive experience from corporate restructurings, including mergers and acquisitions, tax free conversions of Norwegian entities and transfer of business. She advices on domestic and international tax issues, and she has substantial experience on cross border transactions. She also offers day to day advice on issues related to tax and VAT, including correspondence with the Norwegian tax authorities in relation to tax assessments and advance rulings. I addition to being a lawyer, Cecilie holds a bachelor degree in Business and Finance from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, and a Master degree in Business Administration from Handelshøyskolen BI.

Christian Backe

Christian is head of the firm's Employment law practice. He assists Norwegian and international clients with advice, dispute resolution and litigation in matters concerning employment law and pension. Christian works with a wide range of employment and pension law issues. Among other things, he has extensive experience in assisting employers in connection with reorganization, including business transfers and downsizing. He also regularly assists in matters related to temporary labor and hiring conditions, and has considerable experience in assisting employers in handling whistleblowing cases. Christian assists clients in various industries within private and public sector. Christian is recognized for his work as an employment law lawyer in, among others, Chambers, Legal 500 and Finansavisen. "He is very good at understanding exactly what we want and then making a plan together with us on how to achieve it. He is able to strategise, plan, and then provide hands-on execution." Chambers & Partners

Christian James-Olsen

Christian is head of Wikborg Rein's Renewables Energy group in Bergen. He primarily works with project development works and contract advice within the shipping, offshore and energy industry. He has particularly broad experience from structuring, planning, negotiations and management of energy, shipbuilding and offshore projects. As part of the Renewables Energy group he is involved in several industry projects regarding renewables and the shipping industry's ongoing green transition. Christian was the Managing Partner of the Shanghai office from 2016 to 2019 and has extensive experience in cross border contracts and investment matters. Christian is ranked by Legal 500 as a recommended lawyer and for 2023 he were given the following testimonial: "I have recently worked a lot with partner Christian James-Olsen and associate Jens Drageset. Both provide quick, quality feedback. They are able to convey legal perspectives in a simple, understandable and case efficient manner. They are always available. Even after working long hours, they are in a good mood, and we always find a way forward."

Dag Erik Rasmussen

Dag Erik is head of the firm's Capital Markets practice. He primarily works with transactions relating to listed companies and advises companies, investment banks and investors. He lectures on company- stock exchange- and securities law. Dag Erik has experience as a board member in listed companies and investment companies. He is a member of the board of the Oslo Stock Exchange and represents the Norwegian Society of Financial Analysts on the Norwegian Corporate Governance Board. Dag Erik is rated by Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 and IFLR.

Eivind Stage

Eivind is deputy head of the firm's competition law discipline. He is a versatile and experienced adviser in all types of competition law matters under Norwegian law and EU/EEA law. He has broad experience in handling large and complex competition cases from various industries. Since 2013 he has led the firm's assistance in several high-profile cases before both Norwegian and foreign competition authorities, in cases concerning anti-trust investigations, related damages lawsuits, and merger cases. He also advises on the legality for various forms of collaboration, abuse of dominant position and competition law compliance. Eivind also has seven years' experience from the Norwegian Competition Authority, in positions such as Head of Section and Deputy Director of Market Monitoring Department, as well as experience as a deputy judge. Eivind's background and expertise make him a versatile and sought-after competition law expert. According to the renowned rating agency Legal 500, he is described as "a true expert in this field".

Elisabeth Roscher

Elisabeth is head of the firm's ESG, Compliance and Crisis Management team. She was previously partner and head of the Fraud Investigation & Dispute Services team at EY Norway (2011-2016). Elisabeth was also senior public prosecutor with Økokrim, responsible for investigation and prosecution of various large and complex economic crime cases. She has extensive experience in both pleading and prosecuting cases before Norwegian courts, including several Økokrim cases before the Norwegian Supreme Court. Her main areas of practice include: - Corporate compliance in particular anti-corruption, anti-money-laundering, responsible business conduct and human rights and international sanctions and trade control - Private investigations and crisis management for both national and international companies - Criminal law, in particular economic crime and corporate criminal liability

Erik Enger-Mår

Erik primarily works with property development, transactions, lease agreements and general assistance to property owners. Erik advises both traditional property companies, as well as institutional and financial players, and has significant experience from assisting clients within i.a. project financing and private equity, and a number of his clients are foreign investors in the Norwegian market. Erik has extensive experience from arranging and carrying out real estate transactions, including portfolio sales, forward structures, and sale-lease-back. He also has extensive experience from negotiating lease agreements. Erik has previously worked as deputy judge at the Oslo County Court (Oslo Byfogdembete), which handles bankruptcy / insolvency cases, temporary injunctions, etc.

Geir Sviggum

Geir is our Managing Partner. He headed the firm's Shanghai office from 2008 to 2013 and was Managing Partner International with overall responsibility for Wikborg Rein's international practice from 2012 to 2016. Geir has on a number of occasions, as late as 2022, been named International Lawyer of the Year in the Norwegian Financial Daily's annual lawyers survey. Legal 500 points to Geir as a Leading Individual within the Regulatory, Compliance and Investigations category, describing him as "the rock that you need in a crisis". Geir is also ranked Band 1 by Chambers Europe within the Compliance category. Geir's specialities are threefold: - Compliance with a particular focus on anti-bribery and crisis management, hereunder criminal law consequences and civil disputes triggered by potential misconduct. Geir's experience spans from a role as public defender in Norwegian courts to crisis management on behalf of listed Norwegian companies following suspected misconduct, preventive advisory work for Norwegian companies and public authorities in their anti-bribery work and lecturing on anti-bribery legislation at universities in several countries; - Dispute resolution focusing on larger disputes of international nature. Geir has significant experience from Norwegian courts as well as arbitration- and court processes in several countries; - Advisory work to medium-sized and large Norwegian industry- and technology enterprises in their international exposure, hereunder regulatory issues, sales contracts, distribution contracts, production contracts, agent contracts and risk preventive measures. Geir further has significant experience as legal advisor to Norwegian authorities with regard to Norway's various international exposure. During Geir’s time in China he was highlighted in local and regional rankings as among China’s "15 Rising Stars" in the legal profession for "impressive achievements" and among the 100 most influential lawyers in Asia. Geir is frequently used as speaker at universities, conferences and in other fora.

Geir Ove Røberg

Geir Ove is assisting international, Nordic and Norwegian ship owners and banks with transactions within financing, sale and purchase of entities and assets. He has been leading several international contractual negotiations, and has assisted in large projects related to shipping/financing.

Grunde Bruland

Grunde is head of the firm's Fisheries and aquaculture practice. He works closely with fishery and sea farming clients. Grunde is also head of the firm's Fisheries and Fish Farming law group. In addition, he is part of the Corporate law group, and works with acquisitions and capital transactions within maritime law, as well as general corporate law.

Gry Hvidsten

Gry is a leading lawyer within data protection and digitalization. She is the Head of the firm's Data Protection practice. Her practice also includes assisting clients within IT-law/information security, e- privacy law and marketing law. Gry also works with large and complex projects in the intersection between data protection and legislation concerning the use of personal data within specific sectors such as finance and health. Gry holds a unique combination of in-depth professional knowledge and a commercial mindset. She has 20 years of experience working as a data protection specialist in the Legislation Department in the Ministry of Justice, in Norway’s largest company Equinor and as a long-standing business lawyer. She advises leading corporations within a variety of sectors, including large group companies, and public authorities on all aspects related to data protection compliance, including the procurement, implementation and development of new technology and new products and services, including necessary agreement to cover the sharing and transfer of personal data. Over the last years her focus has expanded to include larger and more complex projects related to digital business development and the use of new technologies. Gry has assisted several international corporations with the implementation of BCR (Binding Corporate Rules). She also assists clients on a regular basis in relation to handling security incidents and with handling technology transactions. She often works in close cooperation with other Wikborg Rein teams such as Commercial property, Financial regulatory, Risk and crisis management and with our firm’s office in Shanghai. With a passion for the intersection between technology, law and business development, Gry takes a particular interest in understanding the client's business and in working closely with clients to find effective and business-oriented solutions. She is a lecturer at Norwegian universities and a regular speaker at industry events. Gry is a member of the board of The Norwegian Association for Computers and Law (NFJE). She is also responsible for the Norwegian chapter in the International Comparative Legal Guide (ICLG) on Data Protection 2021. Gry received appreciation as Next Generation Partner in the latest Legal 500 ranking.

Gunnar Meyer

Gunnar specialises within intellectual property law, with a particular focus on patent, trademark and trade secrets litigation. He has in-depth knowledge within life sciences, including pharmaceuticals, and related regulatory issues. Gunnar has extensive litigation experience before all courts, including the Supreme Court. He has argued a substantial number of cases within patent and trademark law. He regularly represents businesses within the pharmaceutical industry, oil and gas, renewables, agriculture and branded consumer goods. Gunnar is recognised by Chambers and Partners as 'Senior statesperson' in the category Intellectual Property, and by Legal 500 within 'Hall of Fame' in the category Intellectual Property. He is also ranked as Patent Star and Trademark Star by Managing Intellectual Property, and in the top category in Patent Litigation by IAM Patent 1000. "He is very dedicated and service-oriented. He always works with integrity and manages to have client satisfaction firmly at the centre of his focus." Chambers Europe 2023 "Gunnar Meyer is ‘one of Norway’s most experienced patent litigators‘." The Legal 500 2023

Håkon Lagesen

Håkon primarily works commercial property transactions, including private equity and project finance, and commercial lease agreements. Håkon also works with property development and general assistance to property owners and managers. Håkon advises both financial and institutional players, as well as traditional property companies, and has significant experience from assisting clients within i.a. project financing and property M&A. A number of his clients are foreign investors in the Norwegian real estate market. Furthermore, Håkon has extensive experience with negotiations of commercial lease agreements. Håkon is regarded as a "Key lawyer" in the commercial property segment by Legal 500. "Håkon Lagesen: Hard working, high level of accuracy and efficient." Legal 500, 2022.

Hanna Beyer Olaussen

Hanna is head of the firm's specialist group for Intellectual Property law, Marketing law and IT-law practice group. As one of Norway's leading technology lawyers, she has extensive experience in these areas, and works with strategic advice, contracts, M&A, disputes and IT procurements. Hanna assists with the protection and commercialization of technology, including digital solutions. She assists in drafting and negotiating contracts, including technology transfer agreements, license agreements, collaboration agreements, research and development agreements, terms of use, service and consultancy agreements, distribution, and agent and franchise agreements. She assists clients in transactions with a focus on securing, protecting and evaluating technology investments, including assessing risk in IT solutions. Hanna also works with trademarks, domains, company names, trademarks, marketing law, know-how, trade secrets and employee inventions, where the practice also includes assistance in dispute resolution. Hanna is ranked in Legal 500 both within intellectual property law and TMT (technology, media and communication) and in Finansavisen's lawyer evaluation for "intellectual property law" and for "trade law".

Heidi Ann Vestvik-Bruknapp

Heidi Ann is specialised in fisheries and aquaculture and has special experience in assisting fishing companies and aquaculture companies with complex regulatory issues. The advice to fisheries companies especially includes application processes in relation to succession of generations, as well as legal assessments of all regulatory issues related to such processes. Within aquaculture law she has special knowledge towards the exceptions within the Norwegian traffic light system. Heidi Ann has also advised aquaculture clients on issues related to the EU Animal Health Law and has therefore experience with regulatory issues related to listed fishing diseases. Heidi Ann was in 2022 and 2023 ranked as "Rising Star" within Legal500.

Herman Steen

Marketing

Ingrid Aasa Haavaldsen

Ingrid advises clients on private and public M&A transactions as well as capital markets transactions, such as acquisitions, structured sales processes, equity investments and public tender offers. Ingrid is recommended within the areas "Commercial, corporate and M&A" and "Capital Markets" in the Legal 500.

Ingrid K. Høstmælingen

Ingrid is head of the firm's Commercial Property practice. She assists both operational and institutional players and has in the recent years also provided assistance to international investors in the Norwegian property market. She advises clients on a wide range of real estate matters, including transactions, development, and leasing. With over 17 years of experience in the field, she has developed a deep understanding of the industry and the legal frameworks that govern it. "Ingrid Høstmælingen stands out as always available, accommodating, experienced, flexible/creative and solution-oriented. She always contributes positively to a deal, irrespective of whether she represents you or your counterparty." Legal 500 (2023) Ingrid is frequently used as a lecturer, including for Norwegian Real Estate Agents/Forum for Commercial Brokers, the Norwegian Bar Association etc.

Isak Mendoza

Isak specialises in IT contracts and related regulatory fields. He works on larger and medium-sized IT projects and IT procurements, including drafting and negotiation of outsourcing contracts, cloud service agreements, various XaaS contracts, operational services agreements, and development contracts. He also provides advice in related areas such as data rights, security, AI, marketing law, e-commerce, and telecommunications. Isak also has experience with general and specific compliance projects related to GDPR and other regulatory fields, as well as tech M&A. Isak has been ranked as a Rising Star by Legal500 (2021-2024) and is described as having ‘extensive legal knowledge,’ a ‘great understanding of technology,’ and ‘excellent negotiation skills.’ He has also been highlighted as a Promising Talent in the lawyer survey conducted by the Norwegian business newspaper "Finansavisen". Isak graduated from the University of Oslo, where he worked as a research assistant at the Department of Private Law during his final year. He wrote his thesis on automated decisions, which was later published in ‘EU: Internet Law: Regulation and Enforcement’ (Springer 2017). Isak regularly serves as a supervisor and examiner for master theses. In 2019, he participated in a summer school on IT law at Cambridge.

Jan L. Backer

Jan has an extensive experience in advising companies and industry clients on a broad range of issues. He has considerable experience in international transactions. Jan has worked on employment law issues for more than 20 years. His general knowledge of and long-term relationship with management in business and industry makes him a valuable advisor with respect to contractual issues, termination and other questions relating to the management. He is frequently been used for discussing and preparing pension arrangements as well as advising on conflicts pertaining to pension issues. Jan has been much involved in reorganizations and downscaling. He is a member of the Norwegian Bar Association's Panel for employment law. He is recommended by Chambers and Partners as "Leaders in their field" in the category Employment.

Johan Rasmussen

Johan mainly works with issues relating to financing, security, documentation and restructuring. He has also conducted several cases within these areas before the Norwegian courts. Before joining Wikborg Rein he worked in the Oslo municipality with legal issues relating to real estate. Furthermore, he worked in Christiania Bank og Kreditkasse ASA. Johan is recommended by Chambers and Partners as "Leaders in their field" in the category Banking Finance.

Johan Astrup Heber

Johan has extensive experience with bankruptcies, corporate and financial restructurings, reconstruction proceedings, M&A, contract and company law, as well as banking and securities law. He was the network leader for insolvency law at JUC during 2021-2023, has written a number of articles, and has worked on secondment in Toronto at Blake, Cassels & Gaydon, Canada's biggest law firm.  Johan has been a key member of all the major restructuring and insolvency cases Wikborg Rein has worked with over the last 10 years, including as project manager. He has considerable expertise on all relevant areas of areas.

Jørgen Vangsnes

Jørgen has substantial experience in litigation and dispute resolution. Jørgen's practice encompasses dispute resolution and advisory services in complex contractual disputes, inter alia technology and IT law, in addition to tort law and real estate-related disputes. Through his background with The Attorney General for Civil Affairs and The Office of the Prime Minister, Jørgen is also experienced in public administrative law, and in advising in matters related to law and politics. Jørgen is specialised in civil procedure, a subject he has teached at the University, and within which he has written a book and several articles. Jørgen is admitted to the Supreme Court and has litigated cases before Norwegian courts at all levels, as well international courts. From Legal500: ‘Jørgen Vangsnes has an intuitive understanding of complex questions and complicated cases. He is sharp and strong on delivery, a very cherished adviser and priceless support.’ ‘Jørgen Vangsnes is an exceptionally skilled lawyer.’

Kaare Andreas Shetelig

Kaare Andreas is head of the firm's Industry, Dispute Resolution & Public Sector group. His practice encompasses dispute resolution and mediation, inter alia in tax and VAT cases, professional liability cases, company law cases as well as general contract law and tort law cases. Han is also an expert in administrative law issues and has handled various regulatory and environmental law cases, both vis a vis governmental bodies and in court proceedings. He is the former head of the Norwegian Bar Association law committee on administrative law issues, and he is currently sitting on the main board of directors of the Norwegian Bar Association. He has extensively pleaded cases before Norwegian courts at all levels, including a number of cases before the Norwegian Supreme Court, as well as ad hoc arbitration under the Norwegian Arbitration Act. In addition, he has experience as arbitrator under Norwegian law. Kaare Andreas has also extensive experience with international arbitration, including cases under the ICC Rules of Arbitration and the SCC Rules. He has successfully advised and/or represented a number of buyers of natural gas in price review disputes under Long Term Gas Sales Agreements. Kaare Andreas has also international experience in representing parties in post M&A disputes (both under share purchase agreements (SPA) and business combination agreements (BCA)) as well as parties in disputes under Shareholder Agreements. He regularly writes articles in relevant publications. He is also one of three authors of the book "Ærede rett. Kræsjkurs i sakførsel", which is a book about how court proceedings are conducted from start to end. Kaare Andreas is ranked in the category Dispute Resolution in Chambers Global and Chambers Europe as well as in Legal 500, where he also is recognised for his skills as tax litigator. "I think Kaare Andreas Shetelig is the top name in Norway" - Chambers Global 2023

Kaare Christian Tapper

Kaare Christian specialises in transactions (M&A) and restructuring of solvent and insolvent businesses. Kaare Christian also has notable experience with long term joint ventures, inter alia within renewable energy. Kaare Christian heads the firm's restructuring practice. In addition to his legal degree Kaare Christian holds a MSc in Management from HEC Paris. He is recommended in his fields of expertise in inter alia Chambers and Legal 500. Kaare Christian is also a member of Wikborg Rein's board.

Karoline Stock Evje

Karoline works with capital market transactions related to Norwegian and non-Norwegian companies across sectors, including IPOs/listings on the Oslo Stock Exchange's market places, private placements, investments and block trades. She also assists with public M&A transactions such as public tender offers. She advices issuers, investment banks and others on inquiries related to company and securities law, including regarding inside information, transactions by primary insiders and disclosure of major shareholdings (flagging). Karoline is ranked as a "Rising star" by Legal 500 within the practice area "Capital markets, Norway".

Karoline Moen Brunstad

Karoline is specialized within employment law and labour law. Karoline has broad experience assisting Norwegian and international clients within various industries in both the private and public sector. Karoline assist clients with a wide spectre of employment law related matters and processes, including downscaling, termination of employments, re-organizations, transfer of undertakings, transactions, and legal counselling related to employment contracts, working hours, holiday/holiday pay, pension, temporary employment, personnel hire, whistleblowing, harassment cases etc. She also works dispute resolution through negotiations and litigation before the courts, and has previously worked as a deputy judge.

Kristoffer Lerum

Kristoffer is highly experienced within legal issues relating to law within the construction industry, procedural law, law of torts and contracts, negotiations, real estate etc. Furthermore Kristoffer has several directorships in contracting and development companies, among others. As a lawyer Kristoffer is specialized within real estate, contract and litigation, and provides continuous advice and litigation within these areas. He has mainly assisted large and medium companies, as well as municipalities in all phases of projects within the building and construction industry, and development of real estate in general. In addition to this he has held several seminars regarding relevant issues within contract law, planning law and bankruptcy.

Lars Ulleberg Jensen

Lars Ulleberg Jensen is a Partner at Wikborg Rein's Oslo office, and is part of the firm's Commercial Property practice. He primarily works with transactions, lease agreements, property development, and other assistance to property owners. Ulleberg Jensen advises both to traditional property companies and financial players, and has significant experience in assisting clients within i.a. syndications/project financing, private equity, and foreign investors in the Norwegian market. Ulleberg Jensen previously worked as a Senior Lawyer in Advokatfirmaet Thommessen, and he is co-author of the Report on Cross Border Insolvency delivered to the Ministry of Justice. He has also been a lecturer in property law at the University of Oslo, and holds lectures for the real estate industry on a regular basis.

Lars Erik Steinkjer

Lars Erik is head of the firm's Technology and Digitalisation group. He has a degree in law from the University of Bergen in 2004 and obtained his PhD at the same place in 2010. Lars Erik has extensive experience assisting clients in intellectual property rights (IPR) matters, including advice on securing, licensing and enforcing intellectual property rights. Lars Erik assists our clients with strategic advice, drafting and negotiation of agreements. He has been involved in a number of major disputes related to the enforcement of intellectual property rights and assists both international and domestic companies before the Norwegian courts. Lars Erik is a board member and vice-chair of NIR (the Norwegian Association for the Protection of Industrial Property) and the Norwegian AIPPI board.

Lars Erik Schjeide

Lars Erik works primarily with contract matters and counselling related construction law. He assists clients in all stages of the building projects, from contract negotiations, claims handling and day-to-day counselling, managing the final settlement, as well as dispute handling and litigation. Lars Erik has also considerable experience in handling mediation and proceedings before courts.

Leif Petter Madsen

Leif Petter is a senior member of the Restructuring and Insolvency team. His areas of expertise includes Insolvency Law, Bankruptcy and Restructuring, Litigation and Dispute Resolution. Leif Petter has been appointed trustee in several major bankruptcies in Norway the past 25 years. In 2003-2008, he was appointed trustee in the Finance Credit system, one of the largest finance scandals in Norway. From 2011 until 2016 he administered the bankruptcy of Faktor Eiendom ASA with its 50 subsidiaries. In 2015 he was appointed trustee in Sydvaranger Gruve AS. Recent assignments include the waste management company Veireno AS, the jewelry chain Panorama AS and the biggest Nordic music chain, Musical Retail Holding AS "4 Sound". In 2020 he was appointed trustee in G Travel Norge AS, a major travel agency in Norway with several subsidiaries abroad. Since 2016 Leif Petter has assisted financial institutions and companies under restructuring within supply and oil service as well as shipyards and ship owners. In 2019-2021 he assisted in the restructurings of amongst others, Kleven Shipyard AS, Solstad Offshore ASA and Havyard Shiptechnology AS. He has litigated several cases regarding management and auditor liability. Leif Petter is admitted to the Supreme Court. He is also co-writer of the law commentary to the Norwegian Creditors Recovery Act and to the Norwegian Wage Guarantee Act.

Mads Magnussen

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).

Malene Reinertsen

Malene is specialised in public procurement and has extensive experience in assisting suppliers and clients in large and complex procurement processes. In addition, she has solid experience within procurement law dispute resolution. The advice to clients in the public sector includes quality assurance of tender documents, as well as legal investigations of all types of procurement law issues that arise during the procurement process, and also an assessment of any potential consequences in connection with this. In addition, Malene works on subsequent contract follow-up, as well as conducting a number of assessments of the legality of variations after the contract has been entered into. Malene has worked within a number of sectors including health, defence, ICT, transport, construction and facilities, and consumables. She is a widely used lector and holds a number of lectures and courses within procurement law annually. Malene has also written a number of articles and is co-author in the book “Offentlige kontrakter, Aktuelle tema” published in 2020. Malene was ranked as "Rising star" in the area of public procurement in Legal500. "Malene Reinertsen has extensive experience within public procurement. She provided us with solid legal advice during the procurement process mentioned above. She has great experience from providing legal advice to other contracting authorities, and had a great understanding of us as a client. She is very easy to co-operate with, efficient and thorough." Legal 500, 2022

Marie Nesvik

Marie works primarily within litigation and arbitration, with a particular focus on cross border disputes. She has extensive experience with litigation before the ordinary courts, as well as national and international arbitration (ICC, SCC, OCC, DIA and ad hoc), and her work has covered a wide range of industries and issues. Marie holds a PhD in private international law from the University of Oslo, where she continues to teach. In 2021, she was admitted to the Supreme Court, and in 2022, she topped the ranking of up and coming dispute resolution lawyers in the Norwegian Financial Daily's annual lawyers survey.

Marius Egeberg

Marius is head of the firm's Contract and Construction Law practice. His field of expertise is construction law, and he mainly works with construction related matters. This includes big and small building projects, and comprises everything for housing to offices and retail spaces to factories. In addition, he is frequently involved in several large road and railway projects. Marius is widely experienced in both litigation and day-to-day counselling in contract law matters. He has drawn up and negotiated a number of construction and manufacturing contracts. He provides counselling in running projects, but also has extensive experience in negotiations over the final account and litigation in the wake of such negotiations. Marius assists clients on both the employer and supplier side. Marius regularly lectures in construction law, and is also used as an arbitrator. Marius is ranked by Chambers within construction.

Martin Bryde

Martin is a specialist in fisheries and aquaculture law, and works with regulatory issues, contracts and transactions. Martin has an extensive experience as a Director in the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, where he has lead numerous legislative processes in the field of fisheries and aquaculture and worked closely with the political leadership. Martin's practice also includes regulatory issues and transactions related to other industries - and in particular with an emphasis on public law framework conditions, government permits and bureaucratic and political processes.

Mira Levánd Bergsland

Mira's main areas of practice relate to insolvency and bankruptcy law, mortgage law, company law and enforcement actions. She works with restructuring projects with a special focus on insolvency and provides advice within a wide range of issues related to the operations of companies in financial distress. She has broad experience from complex and comprehensive restructurings of Norwegian companies in the oil/shipping sector. Her practice also include administration of bankruptcy estates, where she has been part of the teams administrating the bankruptcy estates of Faktor Eiendom ASA, Aksjespareklubben TA-Invest, Sydvaranger Gruve AS and Veireno AS. She is from April 2022 appointed as administrator in bankruptcy cases before Oslo City Court. Mira is the author of the legal commentary to the Wage Guarantee Law, published by Universitetsforlaget (available as a book and online at www.juridika.no). She is also the author of the notes to the Wage Guarantee Law published by Karnov Group Norway at www.lovdata.no. Mira has previously worked as a deputy judge with Oslo Byfogdembete, a court in Oslo who specialises in bankruptcy-/insolvency-, legal enforcement and provisional security cases. She is also an external examiner at University of Bergen (since 2015). Mira is ranked as "up and coming" within Restructuring and bankruptcy law in Finansavisen (2022 (3rd place) and 2023 (1st place), and recommended in Legal 500 as a "key lawyer" within her field.

Morten Lund Mathisen

Morten is a maritime and offshore lawyer specialised in international maritime law, particularly related to casualty work and large wreck removals, assisting Norwegian and international clients; in particular P&I Clubs, hull underwriters and ship- and offshore unit owners. After working a few years in the Oslo office he was heading the Kobe office for six years before moving to England where he headed Wikborg Rein’s London office from 1997 to 2008. Morten is recommended by Chambers and Partners as "Leader in their field" in the category Shipping, litigation (listed last 17 years) and as "Hall of Fame" in Legal 500. He has 35 years experience in his field and has in this period handled some of the largest and most complex casualties world wide. "He is highly experienced, particularly in wet work including salvage and wreck removal." Chambers and Partners "Very seasoned and practical maritime lawyer with special expertise and experience in dealing with maritime casualties. Well-known to most other stakeholders, e.g., correspondents and opponent lawyers. Strong strategic and tactical abilities, plus high availability and accessibility. Strong collaboration skills with us as client." Legal 500

Morten Valen Eide

Morten has long experience as advisor to clients involved in the shipping, offshore and energy industry. His current practice focuses on strategic commercial advice and dispute resolution within the shipping, offshore and energy segment. His experience with dispute resolution covers major disputes before ordinary courts and arbitration, including ad hoc and institutional international arbitration. He is board member in the Norwegian Maritime Law Association, Norwegian Branch of CMI. Morten is recognized by Legal 500 within the areas Maritime Law, Offshore Construction and Shipbuilding as well as Oil and Gas. Morten is ranked as "Next Generation Partner" within Legal 500 Offshore Construction and Shipbuilding; "Morten Valen Eide is excellent in communication and strategy. His negotiation skills along with his knowledge of international business makes him a strong asset in negotiations." Legal 500

Nora Bratheim

Nora works with Intellectual Property Law (including patents, trademarks, design, trade secrets and copyright) and marketing law. Her expertise also encompasses regulatory requirements within life science and consumer goods. Nora frequently represents clients before the courts and has experience with complex international disputes. She also has experience with representing clients before other dispute resolution institutions and public authorities, including proceedings before the Industrial Property Office and the Norwegian Board of Appeal for Industrial Property Rights. Nora's field of expertise also encompasses legal regulations on confidentiality and Freedom of Information. She has previously worked in the Legislation Department of the Ministry of Justice within Intellectual Property Law, EEA/EU law and administrative law. At the Ministry of Justice, Nora worked with questions related to trade secrets, sharing of information, right to information, confidentiality obligations and non-disclosure exemption of confidential evidence. In 2023, Nora was ranked, being the only one in Norway, as an "Associate to watch" in the category "Intellectual Property" by Chambers and Partners, and she has is ranked as a "Rising star" by Legal 500 and by Managing Intellectual Property (IP Stars). Nora holds a master degree within law from the University of Oslo. Prior to graduation, she worked as a Research assistant at the Department of Private Law, University of Oslo.

Oddbjørn Slinning

Oddbjørn is part of the firm's Shipping Offshore group. He mainly assist clients within the field of maritime law and marine insurance, including litigation, casualty work and shipping/offshore transactions. Oddbjørn has assisted in numerous newbuilding and conversion projects; sale/purchase/affreightment projects; and project financing of ships, rigs and similar assets. He has extensive litigation experience and was admitted to the Norwegian Supreme Court in 2017. He also has extensive international experience, particularly from Wikborg Rein's office in Kobe, Japan, where he lived and worked as a maritime lawyer for several years, and though large projects in in East-Asia, North-Africa and Brazil. Oddbjørn is ranked by Chambers and Partners and Legal 500. Client testimonials in Legal 500 has described him as "is service-minded, available, mild-mannered but tough when needed." The Norwegian financial daily newspaper "Finansavisen" annual lawyer survey has ranked him as winner of the "Shipping" category three times.

Ola Haugen

Ola is head of the firm's Litigation and Arbitration practice. His main areas of practice include issues relating to litigation and dispute resolution, as well as contractual law, real estate and administrative law. Ola is admitted to the Norwegian Supreme Court and is recommended by Chambers and Partners as "Leaders in their field" in the category Dispute Resolution.

Ola Nisja

Ola is the firm's Head of Disputes. He has substantial experience in litigation and dispute resolution and is admitted to the Supreme Court. Ola is recommended and referred to within his practice areas by inter alia Chambers Global, Chambers Europe, Legal 500, International Financial Law Review (IFLR) and Finansavisen. He frequently sits as arbitrator, and has represented for Norway in the ICC Court of International Arbitration in addition to being the chairman of the Arbitration and Dispute Resolution institute of the Oslo Chamber of Commerce and leader of the Norwegian Bar Association's Mediation Committee.

Ole Andenæs

Ole heads the firm's Financial Regulations practice, and has comprehensive experience advising all types of regulated entities. This includes investment firms, managers of UCITS and AIFs, banks, insurance/pension, payment services/fintech, virtual currencies and investor conduct. He has led a number of processes towards the Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority, including advising in obtaining licenses etc, but also in connection with contentious cases related to administrative sanctions within the areas of AML, MAR, shareholding disclosure and short selling. He previously worked as Head of Legal in investment bank Carnegie AS, and he has in-depth and practical knowledge about the regulatory framework surrounding investment firms, asset managers, investor behaviour and adjacent regulations. Prior to this, Ole worked as a lawyer in law firm Thommessen, where he mainly worked with financial regulations, advising a wide range of regulated entities, as well as company law and disputes within these areas.

Ole Henrik Wille

Ole Henrik is head of the firm's Corporate, Finance and Tax practice. His main areas of practice relate to M&A and equity capital markets transactions. He is one of the most active lawyers in the Norwegian transaction market and has been head lawyer and responsible for a number of M&A and equity capital markets transactions the last years. Prior to the role as head of the corporate practice, he was head of the firms M&A group. From 2015-2017, Ole Henrik was in charge of the corporate division of the firm in the London market. He is a recommended lawyer in international publications such as Chambers, Legal 500 and IFLR1000. He is also top ranked M&A lawyer in the Norwegian Financial Daily's annual lawyers survey. Ole Henrik has broad experience as lecturer in company law at the University of Oslo.

Øyvind Axe

Øyvind is head of the firm's worldwide Shipping and Offshore group. His main areas of practice relate to transactions within the shipping and offshore field. He advises clients in connection with construction contracts, asset sale/purchase and equity transactions, financing matters and major restructurings. He regularly speaks at seminars and conferences. Øyvind is recognized in Chambers and Legal 500 within Shipping and Maritime Law.

Patrick Oware

Patrick works mainly with procurement law, where he assists public contracting authorities and suppliers with advice and legal assessments within all types of procurement law issues. He has assisted clients in procurements from the planning stage to contract execution. Patrick also has experience with dispute resolution in procurement processes, where he has assisted both contracting authorities and suppliers in legal processes for the Norwegian Complaints Board for Public Procurement and before the courts. Patrick also works with state aid law, where he has experience in assessing whether the public sector's dispositions constitute state aid, the rules for legal state aid, and the relationship between the procurement rules and the state aid rules. Patrick has a particular interest in procurement law dispute resolution, and has been an intern at the Office of the Attorney General.

Preben Milde Thorbjørnsen

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).

Rolf Riisnæs

Rolf's expertise are within IT-contracts and IT-procurements, data protection/privacy, information security, e-id, electronic signature, e-business and data sharing issues. Rolf has expert knowledge of the application of all Government's Standard Terms and Conditions for IT Procurement (SSA) which are the most frequently used standard IT-contracts in Norway even in the private sector. He assisted in drafting the new model cloud services agreements (SSA-sky) which were published in 2021 and in the overall update of the other SSAs in 2015. Riisnæs was appointed Dr. juris in 2006 for his thesis regarding digital certificates and certification services (PKI and electronic signatures). Rolf is credited by Chambers and Partners (Band 1) and Legal 500 (Leading Individuals) for TMT/Information Technology and is appointed among Thought Leaders – Data by Who's Who Legal.

Simen Lium

As from 1 July 2022, Simen is on long-term leave of absence from Wikborg Rein, with the aim of doing academic work and complete a ph.d. within employment law at the University of Oslo. Simen focuses on a wide range of matters related to employment law, contracts and pension. His work generally involves providing assistance to Norwegian and international clients within various industries in the private and public sector, research work and dispute resolution through negotiations and litigation before the courts. He also contributes to employment law and pensions publications, and holds seminars for clients and students at the University of Oslo. Simen is recognised for his work as an employment law lawyer in amongst others Chambers, Legal 500 and the annual lawyer rating in the Norwegian business newspaper Finansavisen.

Stian Tande Mortensen

Stian is head of Wikborg Rein's Financing team. He specialises in debt financing, with a particular focus on high yield bonds, direct lending transactions and financial restructurings, regularly acting for both borrowers, lenders and investors. Stian is top ranked within the categories of Banking and Financing, Capital Markets and Insolvency and Corporate Recovery (Legal 500 and IFLR1000). He also has several years of experience as in-house lawyer with DNB Bank ASA, both advising DNB Markets Investment Banking Division, Equity and Debt Capital Markets, and as advisor to Ocean Industries where he worked with large cross-boarder restructuring matters.

Stuart Stock

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.

Tine Elisabeth Vigmostad

Tine provides advice within a wide range of compliance related topics, both on the preventive and the responsive side. Her core areas of expertise are sanctions and trade compliance, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and responsible business including human rights and the Norwegian Transparency Act. She has worked on several international investigations related to corruption or other forms of misconduct, and headed crisis management teams established to handle the coordination between the investigators, legal advisors in several jurisdictions as well as advisors within other disciplines. Furthermore, Tine has considerable experience advising on international sanctions and trade compliance, where she provides advice from a multi-jurisdictional perspective, and is responsible for the firm's Trade Compliance & Sanctions Team. Tine works with various sectors, but particularly industry, shipping and the energy/petroleum sectors. She also has practical experience from her time working as an in-house legal advisor in the compliance department of two larger industry corporations.

Wegard Kyoo Bergli

Wegard's practice includes IT/technology and data protection. Wegard also works with marketing law and consumer rights and cyber security. Wegard's practice related to data protection includes transfers of personal data to countries outside the EU/EEA, use of customer data for purposes related to marketing and analytics and use of cookies. He also has extensive experience on M&A-related matters within data protection and technology. Wegard also works with matters related to software, including open source and end-user licence agreements. He assists clients with regulatory related to the internet, e-commerence and consumer law. He has also experience assisting clients on the relationship between Chinese data protection law (PIPL) and the GDPR. Wegard is ranked as a "Rising star" in Legal 500 within the category technology, media and telecom (TMT). Wegard also has experience as an external examiner for master theses and courses in privacy and data protection from universities.