Nordics - Norway

1

Commercial, corporate and M&A

Wikborg Rein

More informationMore information

Wikborg Rein has a full-service practice with ‘unique industry skills’, which assists with M&A transactions in a variety of sectors, including the oil and gas, renewables, shipping, offshore and technology industries. The practice is jointly led by Ole Henrik Wille, who is ‘an exceptional lawyer’ and highly active in M&A and equity capital markets transactions; Sigurd Opedal, who regularly assists private equity and industrial clients; and ‘highly valued adviser’ Arild Frick. The group also includes Ketil E. Bøe, who advises investors, securities clients, banks and companies on a wide range of issues relating to M&A, and Kaare Christian Tapper, who is highly experienced in a variety of M&A and other equity transactions. Therese Trulsen, who advises industrial and technology clients on greenfield projects and cross-border transactions, is also a key practitioner.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Excellent client service and very pragmatic advice. Number one Norwegian law firm in my mind.’

  • 'Pragmatic advice that is delivered clearly and quickly.'

  • ‘Wikborg Rein's team composition differs from others by having more focused partner engagement, rather than broad and shallow, while also giving their high-quality associates room to engage directly with clients.’

  • ‘Service oriented juniors.’

  • ‘Ole Henrik Wille is an exceptional lawyer with unparalleled negotiation skills and the ability to get deals signed.’

  • ‘Ole Henrik Wille has the ability to communicate complex legal frameworks to clients in an understandable manner. Through his solid knowledge of the law and impressive transaction track record, he give clients the comfort needed in high stress situations when negotiations are tough. Expectation management with respect to final outcome is spot-on and stellar.’

  • ‘Arild Frick is probably the best M&A individual we have ever worked with in Norway.’

  • ‘Arild Frick is a highly valued adviser. He combines his strong understanding for corporate law with strong commercial acumen. That makes him able to favourably and quickly move processes forward finding pragmatic while acceptable solutions.'

Key clients

  • KKR
  • Summa Equity
  • Nordic Capital
  • FSN Capital
  • Permira Advisers LLP
  • Altor
  • Antin Infrastructure Partners
  • General Atlantic
  • Apax Partners
  • EV Private Equity
  • Verdane
  • Argentum
  • Viking Venture
  • North SEA Midstream Partners
  • Ratos
  • DWS Group
  • InfraRed Capital Partners
  • OKEA ASA
  • Prosus NV / Naspers
  • Telenor
  • Partners Group
  • DNB Bank ASA
  • Norsk Hydro ASA
  • Elkem ASA
  • Yara International
  • Softbank
  • Storebrand
  • Signicat
  • Thome Group
  • EcoOnline
  • Siemens
  • Ferd
  • AKVA Group
  • Endur ASA
  • Quantafuel ASA
  • Hafslund
  • Aeternum Management
  • Maritime Partners LLP
  • Columbia Threadneedle Investments
  • Aker
  • Jotun
  • Lerøy Seafood Group
  • NorgesGruppen
  • General Electric Company
  • Söderberg & Partners
  • Amedia
  • Norway Royal Salmon ASA
  • Danica Livsforsikringsaktieselskab, Danske Bank A/S
  • Tide AS
  • Havila
  • Havyard Group
  • Scottish Sea Farms Ltd.
  • Watrium
  • Ankala Partners
  • Hanover Investors Management LLP
  • Five V Capital Pty Ltd.
  • Fountain Venture AS
  • Norfund
  • Fraunar Capital Management AS
  • JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Limited

Work highlights

  • Advised the Telenor group on the NOK10.8bn sale of a minority stake (30%) of its passive fibre infrastructure to a consortium consisting of KKR and Oslo Pensjonsforsikring.
  • Advised Thome Group, and its owner Skagerak, on its merger with OSM Maritime Group (partially owned by US PE Oaktree).
  • Advised Fountain Venture AS, the founder and largest shareholder (28.54 %) of the Oslo Børs-listed company Meltwater N.V., and Verdane in connection with the contemplated offer to acquire all outstanding shares in Meltwater by MW Investment B.V.

Lawyers

Leading individuals

Ole Henrik Wille

Ole Henrik Wille

Wikborg Rein

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.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Ole Henrik Wille, Sigurd Opedal, Arild Frick

Other key lawyers

Ketil E. Bøe, Kaare Christian Tapper, Therese Trulsen

© 2024 Legalease Ltd. All rights reserved

Registered company in England & Wales No. 2423756 VAT 324572722

Registered address: 188 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2AG