Managing Partner
SANDS
More informationSANDS‘ ’excellent team within EU and competition practice’ advises clients active in a wide range of industries, including the fisheries and aquaculture, waste and recycling, healthcare, and transport sectors. The team has a particular focus on providing competition compliance advice, assisting with merger control processes, and supporting in private damages litigation. The team is headed up by Aksel Joachim Hageler, who possesses expertise in infringement and access to the market cases as well as risk analysis related to merger proceedings. With ‘deep knowledge of competition law’, Thomas Sando routinely handles competition-related matters for large and medium-sized domestic and foreign companies. Special counsel Lennart Garnes has ’broad knowledge’ of EU and EEA free movement rules, and public procurement, competition and state aid law.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Always available and have a practical approach to the application of law.’
- ‘SANDS has excellent knowledge of competition law as well as public procurement law.’
- ‘We work most with Thomas Sando, who is outstanding. Thomas is extremely service-minded, and he always responds at short notice. Probably because of his deep knowledge of competition law and his calmness and professionality, we always feel that we have an advantage in discussions with counterparts - and that we have chosen the best lawyer.’
- ‘The team has proven very valuable as they possess detailed competence of all aspects of legal issues regarding international business trade. Our company is engaged in complex system deliveries across the globe and face numerous legal challenges concerning contracts and potential issues. They have always been able to provide the correct competence and experience to provide good legal advice within all such areas.’
- ‘Lennart Garnes, Special Counsel: He has an excellent analytic approach and I have been impressed by his ability to identify important challenges overlooked by others. I trust his advice and feel at rest when he presents the practical consequences of a given legal framework.’
- ‘SANDS offers an excellent team within EU and competition practice. A particular strength of the team is its dedication to the case and thoroughness. The team communicates well in cases with complex stakeholder structures’.
- ‘All individuals I worked with exhibit a high standard of expertise and utmost professionalism. I have particularly valued their caution towards legal risks and ability to incorporate independent economic analysis into their proceedings. I worked with Partner Aksel Joachim Hageler and Special Counsel Lennart Garnes.’
- ‘Sands has a strong position in the Norwegian Market. The main reason for this is their reputation for housing the best legal competence in Norway, attracting the smartest and the most hardworking lawyers in the market. Our main contact has been Thomas Sando, the managing partner in Sands. He has supported us on several big public tenders with a great success.’
Key clients
- Iveco Group (CNH Industrial; Iveco; Iveco Magirus; and Stellantis N.V.)
- Stendi & Norlandia Health & Care Group
- Bewi Norway AS
- Volvat Medical Center (Ramsay Health Care Limited)
- Research Council of Norway
- NOFIMA
- Norsk Takst
- Salvesen & Thams
Work highlights
- Defending CNH Industrial against a NOK410m claim, a result of the European Commission’s record-breaking €3bn cartel fine in 2016.
- Advising Stendi & Norlandia on a legal battle against Oslo Municipality's exclusive allocation of public nursing home service contracts to non-profits.
- Provided legal guidance to NOFIMA which has helped ensure compliance with State aid and competition laws, particularly concerning projects that blend research and development with commercial sales, and involve collaborations with other entities.
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.
Aksel Joachim Hageler