Advokatfirmaet Simonsen Vogt Wiig has a strong track record in advising leading industry players on the full range of work, including regulatory, transactional and operational mandates. Bjørn-Erik Leerberg and Gunnar Espeland jointly head up the full-service oil and gas team; Leerberg is an expert in petroleum law and regulatory issues, while Espeland takes point on oil and gas procurement matters, decommissioning projects, and construction work. The team is also highly regarded for its expertise in the electrical utilities sector, handling power grid issues, electricity transmission work, project developments, and project finance issues. Offshore and onshore wind projects and transactions are other core pillars of work for the renewables and electricity group, which is overseen by Robin Aker Jakobsen and Peter Aall Simonsen. Jakobsen takes point on energy and grid sector mandates with an emphasis on commercial and contractual matters, while Simonsen is recommended for large-scale energy projects.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'SVW provides sincere and high quality services related to our practice, especially toward major projects. They are extremely service oriented towards their clients, and possess a broad competency within the electricity and renewable energy business through a diverse team of highly committed people.'
- 'High competency, flexibility and high understanding of what we need as a company and why, high customer focus with respect and commitment as underlying values in their practice.'
- 'In my opinion Simonsen Vogt Wiig possesses insight into the energy sector in Norway, which I doubt any other law firm can compete with. Jahn Egil Osestad may be the best utilities procurement law specialist in Norway. Robin Aker Jakobsen may be the best energy law specialist in Norway.'
- 'Skilled and trustworthy.'
- 'We find that the practice has very good knowledge when it comes to the utility sector in which we operate. They are quick to identify the problem we are facing and help us focus on the issue of most importance.'
- 'I have found their main strength to be their broad understanding of the electrical utility sector in Norway and the complex legal challenges that the grid companies encounter.'
- 'Great team bringing together regulatory knowledge, business experience and construction law experience. The team is outstanding in cooperating but also guiding other supporting parties like technical and commercial advisors.'
- 'Peter Aall Simonsen provides excellent advice, judgment and recommendations on all aspects of the energy market, legislation and approach towards authorities.'
Key clients
- RWE AG
- Prime Capital AG
- DNB Bank ASA
- Statkraft AS
- Vestas Norway AS
- Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA
- Eksfin (Export Finance Norway)
- SpareBank 1 SR-Bank ASA
- Société Générale
- Fornybar Norge
- HyCap Group / Vedra Partners Limited
- Neptun Tromsø AS
- Horisont Energi AS
- Tibber AS
- Biojet AS
- Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB
- CapMan Infra Oy
- NAEV Solventus S.a.r.l.
- REN AS
- Tensio AS
- Haugaland Kraft AS, including Fagne AS
- Å Energi AS (formerly Agder Energi AS) / Glitre Energi AS / Glitre Energi Nett AS
- Wergeland Base AS
Work highlights
- Advising SADCO, the ultimate parent company of the Saudi Aramco Group, on the acquisition of Aker BP ASA’s 7, 4% shareholding in Cognite AS with which Saudi Aramco also entered into a strategic JV for the digitalisation of the petroleum, energy, industrial processes and core infrastructure sectors of Saudi Arabia.
- Advised the Norwegian export credit agency Eksfin (as export guarantor) in relation to the Dogger Bank wind farm projects (phases A, B and C), located between 125 and 290km off the east coast of Yorkshire, UK.
- Advising the Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority in connection with its Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) regulatory practices concerning offshore petroleum activities and offshore renewable energy projects.
Lawyers
Leading partners: Electricity and renewable energy
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Peter Aall Simonsen, Robin Aker Jakobsen, Bjørn-Erik Leerberg, Gunnar Espeland