Bjørn Sørgård
Advokatfirmaet Haavind ASHailed by clients for its ‘very extensive’ industry knowledge, the fisheries and aquaculture team at Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS acts for an impressive roster of high-profile clients across the sector, including industry bodies, government ministries, and leading corporations. Bjørn Sørgård and Ida Espolin Johnson jointly oversee the practice; Sørgård advises commercial parties and trade associations on corporate and regulatory matters, while Johnson takes point on contentious matters. The team has recently seen an increase in instructions relating to the proposed new ground rent tax for the aquaculture industry as well as an uptick in transactional mandates. In 2023, the team also strengthened its west coast offering with the arrival of aquaculture expert Torbjørn Gjelsvik, who splits his time between Bergen and Oslo.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'High status in the field and recognised in the industry.'
'Very extensive industry knowledge of several of the lawyers.'
- 'Competent. Available, deep industry knowledge.'
Key clients
- Sjømat Norge
- Nordlaks Oppdrett AS
- Nova Sea AS
- Wilsgård Fiskeoppdrett AS
- Sporbarhet AS
- Jarle Bergs Sønner AS
- STIM AS
- Gildeskål Forskningsstasjon
- Sinkaberg-Hansen AS
- Benchmark Genetics Norway AS
- Gigante Salmon AS
- Norcod AS
- Skår og Østervold Invest AS
- Blom Fiskeoppdrett AS
Work highlights
- Assisting the Norwegian Seafood Federation in several cases, including advising on several principal regulatory matters.
- Representing STIM, a leading supplier of veterinary and aquamedical services to the Norwegian fish farming industry, with high-stakes patent litigation within the aquacture industry.
- Assisting several salmon farming companies with handling the consequences of the new resource rent tax introduced by the government.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Ida Espolin Johnson
Advokatfirmaet Haavind ASPractice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Bjørn Sørgård, Ida Espolin Johnson