Nordics - Norway
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EU and competition

Kvale Advokatfirma DA

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The EU and competition practice at Kvale Advokatfirma DA is particularly active in merger clearances and state aid work, and is sought out by clients in the grocery, telecoms, media and technology industries. With ‘extensive competition law expertise, great industry understanding and a strategic mindset’, Kristin Hjelmaas Valla heads up the practice and is a key contact for merger clearance mandates, cartel and leniency processes, and compliance work. For state aid, Robert Lund is a key name, with experience dealing with cases before the courts. The ’very skilled’ Gjermund Mathisen has extensive in-house experience from the EFTA Surveillance Authority, with broad experience across antitrust and state aid matters. At associate level, Sindre Svendsen and Hermann Solheim are both recommended.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘They always familiarise themselves with the issues and use their time effectively to provide good advice, good answers and correct information. They appear to want to give advice, rather than press forward a legal process.’

  • ‘This team is a no-frills gang with solid knowledge and experience, and which has broken new ground. Kristin Hjelmaas Valla in particular is easy to work with, focused on a good result, and no turf warring. Gjermund Mathisen is a great addition and completes the team with his deep knowledge of State Aid.'

  • ‘Kvale offers one of the best competition law teams in Norway. Kristin Valla is an excellent leader of the team, but the team consists of other highly knowledgeable lawyers such as Hermann Solheim and Gjermund Mathisen. In addition to providing excellent professional expertise and industry understanding, they are also very easy to work with. They are very service-minded and provide efficient support.’

  • ‘I have worked with several lawyers in the field of competition law in Norway and I would rank Kristin Valla as the best. Her strong professional background, broad practical experience and ability to provide practical advice, combined with a pleasant personality, are the main reasons she does such an excellent job for her clients.’

  • ‘Gjermund Mathisen is very skilled and quickly understands the issues at hand.’

  • ‘Gjermund Mathisen has demonstrated the ability to think strategically and come up with creative solutions to complex legal challenges within competition, EU law and state aid in high-stakes cases for us. A very valued and trusted partner with high integrity.’

  • ‘The competition practice is led by a very experienced lawyer - Kristin Hjelmaas Valla. She can combine hard work on cases with an excellent understanding of how the particular case will be assessed by the competition authority - which facts and details will be decisive in the assessment.’

  • ‘In my opinion, Robert Lund is the number one in Norway on EU and competition law. He has detailed knowledge of the subject. He is an excellent litigator. He is tough but responsive. Our case was unique, but Lund appeared with self-confidence and made us feel well taken care of.’

Key clients

  • Telia Norge
  • Norsk Hydro
  • Pfizer
  • Tine
  • Visa Europe
  • Vigmostad & Bjørke
  • Barilla
  • Coca Cola European Partners Norge
  • Equinor Energy
  • GlobalConnect
  • DLF (the Grocery supplier's association)
  • NHO Mat og Drikke (FoodDrinkNorway)
  • Grønnegata 21
  • Kirkeveien 72
  • Mano
  • Nortura
  • Elkjøp Nordic / Currys
  • Ministry of Trade and Industry
  • Lerum
  • DNB Bank
  • Diplom-Is
  • Bilia
  • Tradesolution
  • The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS)
  • The Coastal Shipowners Association (Kystrederiene)
  • Innovation Norway
  • Landsvirkjun

Work highlights

  • Advising Vigmostad & Bjørke on a successful appeal against the Norwegian Competition Authority's infringement decision regarding an alleged information exchange between four publishers and an industry-wide database.
  • Advising Telia Norway before the national courts in relation to a NOK500m follow-on claim against Telenor following infringements decisions.
  • Advising several parties involved in the Boligbygg case, a large state aid lawsuit filed by the Municipality of Oslo relating to the so-called ‘housing construction scandal’.

Lawyers

Leading partners
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.

Kristin Hjelmaas Valla

Other key lawyers

Robert Lund, Gjermund Mathisen, Sindre Svendsen, Hermann Solheim