Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS attracts praise for its ‘deep industry knowledge’ and routinely advises clients on the full spectrum of regulatory, contractual, M&A, restructuring and contentious mandates. Christian Hals leads the oil and gas team and takes point on M&A and capital markets transactions on the Norwegian Continental Sshelf. Hals works alongside Pål Lieungh and Audun Stornes; Lieungh has an impressive track record advising Norwegian companies undertaking offshore and oil and gas international projects and also handles disputes, while Stornes works with clients in the upstream and oil service sectors, handling contentious mandates. On the renewables front, Bendik Christoffersen oversees a strong group with expertise in project development and structuring, project finance, and expropriation and valuation issues. Gunnar Martinsen is the key contact for regulatory mandates and energy-related litigation, while June Snemyr heads up the renewables team in Stavanger.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Thommessen have some of the best people available to carry out the work.’

  • 'Nice, skilled, broad expertise areas and proactive.'

  • 'Audun Stornes should be mentioned as a very competent and helpful person with great knowledge of the E&P business in Norway.’
  • ‘From my experience with them, Thommessen has strong experience in the energy sector in Norway, and is very well connected to the energy eco-system which is very useful for a foreign investor with limited experience in the country.’

  • ‘I worked with Kai-Ståle Kristiansen who has been very impressive, probably one of the best lawyers I have worked with: very thorough and knowledgeable while being pragmatic and looking for solutions to make deals happen.’

  • ‘Gunnar Martinsen has deep industry knowledge and network combined with law to create practical, feasible solutions.’

  • ‘Unique and broad competence in all relevant legal areas, always available for us as a customer, excellent discussion partner and adviser that helps us find the best solutions growing our businesses and securing compliance in all relevant matters.’

Key clients

  • Green Investment Group
  • Akershus Energi AS
  • Eidsiva Energi AS with subsidiaries
  • Lyse AS / Lyse Energi AS with subsidiaries
  • Nordkraft AS with subsidiaries
  • FREYR AS
  • Haugaland Kraft AS with subsidiaries
  • Tonstad Vindpark AS
  • Zephyr AS
  • Haram Kraft AS
  • Lutelandet Energipark AS
  • Glitre Energi AS/Å Energi AS with subsidiaries
  • Vardar AS with subsidiaries
  • Sira-Kvina Kraftselskap
  • Småkraft AS
  • Tysvær Vindpark AS
  • Østfold Energi AS
  • Yve AS (incl Kraftriket AS and Polar Kraft AS)
  • Beyonder AS
  • HitecVision
  • Epex Spot
  • Encavis AG
  • Multiconsult Norge AS
  • Northern Lights JV DA
  • Deep Wind Offshore AS
  • Norway Fortescue Future Industries AS
  • Cadre AS
  • SWEN Capital Partners
  • InfraVia Capital Partners
  • Fu-Gen AG
  • Solgrid AS
  • Scatec ASA
  • Release Solar AS
  • Endra AS
  • Havfram AS
  • Cloudberry ASA
  • Vianode AS
  • BP International
  • Equinor
  • Kongsberg Gruppen
  • Seadrill
  • DOF
  • Island Offshore
  • Island Drilling Company
  • Vard Group AS
  • Odfjell Drilling
  • Transocean
  • Shelf Drilling
  • Vår Energi
  • BW Offshore
  • Wellesley Petroleum
  • TGS-Nopec
  • MOL Norge
  • Myklebust Verft
  • TTC Norge
  • Veolia Environmental
  • DNV GL
  • A/S Nymo
  • BW Energy
  • Longboat Japex Norge
  • Longboat Energy plc
  • LOTOS Exploration and Production Norge
  • Wintershall Dea Norge
  • DNO ASA
  • Hav Energy AS
  • Wellgrab
  • Petoro AS
  • TotalEnergies E&P Norge AS
  • Optime Subsea AS
  • ECOnnect Energy AS
  • OMV Norge

Work highlights

  • Advised HitecVision in connection with the establishment of Aneo AS, a renewable JV.
  • Advising Norway Fortescue Future Industries AS in connection with the development of a major hydrogen production facility in Holmaneset (Bremanger, Norway), and in connection with other potential projects relating to the production of green hydrogen and ammonia.
  • Advised Longboat Energy plc. on the establishment of a joint venture with Japex Corp.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame: Electricity and renewable energy
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading individuals: Oil and gas
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.

Bendik Christoffersen, Christian Hals

Other key lawyers

Pål Lieungh, Gunnar Martinsen, Kai-Ståle Kristiansen, Audun Stornes, June Snemyr