Wikborg Rein

Ligitation and Arbitration, Corporate Compliance and Crisis Management, Trade Law

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.

2016 – Partner (Managing Partner 2023- and Chairman of the Board 2018-2023), Wikborg Rein, Oslo 2012 – 2016 Managing Partner International, Wikborg Rein, Shanghai/Oslo 2010 – Partner, Wikborg Rein, Shanghai 2008 Resident Lawyer, Wikborg Rein, Shanghai 2007 – 2008 Senior Associate, Wikborg Rein, Bergen 2003 – 2006 Associate, Wikborg Rein, Bergen 1997 – 1998 Officer and Second in Command, His Majesty The King's Guard 1996 – 1997 Reserve Officer and Second in Command, His Majesty The King's Guard

2015 "Leadership in law firms", research program, Harvard Law School 2005 Practising certificate 2003 Cand.jur., University of Bergen 2002 Optional subject, International civil law, Bond University, Australia 1996 Officer's Training School for the Infantry Regiment of Trøndelag County