About

Statkraft is Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy, the largest producer of power in Norway and the third largest power producer in the Nordic region. The company has carved its market-share through specialisation in hydropower, wind power, district heating, gas-fired power and energy market operations. Statkraft boasts one of the most renowned legal departments in Europe, and they are known across the continent for their excellence. The team’s lawyers are heavily involved with all M&A ventures, construction contracts, energy regulatory issues, financing agreements, trading, customer contracts and various other operational matters that support the success of the energy company. The legal team comprises of 40 employees across 11 countries; the department has substantially increased in size as a result of acquisitions in South America and internal reorganisation. In order to maintain the concept of a single legal department throughout the Statkraft group, all lawyers, irrespective of their geographical locations and areas of expertise, act as a single integrated legal department, ultimately all reporting to chief legal officer Frode Rottingen . The rapid internationalisation of the Statkraft group has required the legal department to adapt in order to keep up with growing demands across a range of geographies. Demonstrating the team’s excellence, senior legal counsel Håkon Sandbekk, was ranked as number five in the “Top 100 wind lawyers” worldwide by “A Word About Wind”, beating many prominent partners of law firms and general counsel. An increased focus on compliance and corporate responsibility matters has led to the establishment of a compliance unit within the department, giving them an even wider remit. As the legal department is established in all key Statkraft locations, it is well placed to provide both legal advice to the business and to follow up the compliance program throughout the organisation, thereby identifying and contributing to mitigating legal and compliance risks.