EU and competition

Arntzen de Besche

Arntzen de Besche’s ‘highly-skilled’ team attracts praise for its ‘exceptional knowledge of EU and competition legislation’. With demonstrable industry strength across the trade and retail sectors, the group handles a high volume of merger control and state aid mandates. The ‘outstanding’ Svein Terje Tveit oversees the department and is particularly active in high-profile state aid investigations and litigation, as well as advising on compliance and merger control mandates. Also in the core team is Stein Ove Solberg, a seasoned competition expert with a solid track record in advising clients within the trade, retail, and food sectors on complex merger control cases. At associate level, Frida May Behrens handles contentious antitrust mandates, while Paul Gunnar Hagelund is also recommended.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘The team's capacity, availability and ability to understand complex business matters are among the best I've ever experienced. The team has exceptional knowledge of EU and competition legislation, combined with the same level of expertise in a national perspective.’
‘Svein Terje Tveit has grown to be a senior adviser with a broad spectrum of competencies that makes our legal processes run as efficiently as possible. Svein Terje also seems to be a magnet to brilliant newcomers in the legal business, due to our experience with all the different employees in his team throughout the years.’
‘Svein Terje Tveit shows outstanding legal and commercial skills, excellent communication, local knowledge and showing good understanding of the industry we operate within.’
‘The team is very proactive and up-to-date on all regulatory and political developments relating to food industry and retail.'
‘Stein Ove Solberg; decades of dedication to our industry. Widely admired and respected for his integrity, efficiency and ability to give practical and applicable advice.'
'Svein Terje Tveit: an encyclopedia of all regulatory and political development in the EU regarding competition, public procurement and state aid. A "thinker" and dedicated to our industry. Efficient and easy to cooperate with.'
'Paul Gunnar Hagelund: Paul is an outstanding associate who is creative, efficient and always very well prepared on the facts and the law. A pleasure to cooperate with and "rock solid".'
‘Highly skilled team with relevant branch insight. Easy to work with and easily available. Practical approach in their advice.’

Key clients

The Norwegian Competition Authority (Konkurransetilsynet)
Orkla ASA
Eviny Group
Bonnier Books AB
Shearwater GeoServices Holding AS
SINTEF
Nortura SA
Toyota Norge AS
ENOVA SF
TINE SA
Abbott Norge AS
Bose Products BV
Colgate Palmolive Norge AS
EG Norge AS
AbbVie AS
Drivkraft Norge
CSL Behring AB
Fitness Group Nordic AS

Work highlights

Advised Eviny on its legal challenge against ESA before the EFTA Court concerning its 2022 streetlighting state aid infrastructure.
Advised EG Norge, a leading software management company, on several acquisitions in Norway cleared in Phase I.
Assisting the Norwegian Competition Authority with a number of trustee cases (e.g. Vipps, Ringnes, Sector Alarm, Foodora).

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