Arntzen de Besche

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With strength across both contentious and transactional mandates, Arntzen de Besche attracts praise for its ‘stellar focus on commercial solutions and the ability to offer efficient teams’. Department head Thomas Øslebø focuses on commercial property transactions, investments, and development projects. The ’highly experienced’ Håvard Bergli has in-house experience from the real estate industry and advises on structuring work, due diligence, and contracts relating to property transactions. Eilif S. Koch acts for investors and project finance clients, while seasoned adviser Hans Henrik Kværne handles major transactions as well as arbitrations relating to commercial real estate. Marianne Raa Bjaaland joined the team in 2022, strengthening its property development offering. Senior associate Erlend Husebye Haug is also recommended.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'We highly appreciate their stellar focus on commercial solutions and the ability to offer efficient teams. Thomas Øslebø and the team at Arntzen de Besche proactively support our team with a personal and collegial touch.'
  • 'Thomas Øslebø and Erlend Huseby Haug are extremely competent and very adaptable, too.'
  • 'Thomas Øslebø is a prodigy in real estate and in getting to know our business and strategic plans, and implementing them in legal advice.'
  • 'Great breadth and depth of expertise. High delivery standard and good cooperation skills.'
  • 'Håvard Bergli has very good knowledge about the real estate industry and market. He is focused on getting the deal done on fair terms, and efficiently. Håvard Bergli is in our view the best real estate transaction lawyer in Norway.'
  • 'Håvard Bergli is a highly experienced lawyer within real estate transactions, and with extensive knowledge within real estate development.'
  • 'Hans Henrik Kværne and Eilif Koch, among the very best real estate lawyers in the market, very experienced, well connected.'
  • 'Marianne Raa Bjaaland: Long experience and very good knowledge of property organisation, efficient and easy to work with.'

Key clients

  • Swiss Life Asset Managers AS
  • Stor-Oslo Eiendom AS
  • Møller Eiendom Norge AS
  • Arctic Securities AS
  • USBL
  • Oro Eiendom AS
  • Oslo Finans AS
  • Lerka Eiendom AS
  • Trondheim Areal
  • Veidekke ASA
  • BRUUN Eiendom AS
  • Urban Jungle AS

Work highlights

  • Advising Arctic Securities on the purchase of Østre Aker Vei 19 in Oslo.
  • Acting for Certas in a dispute with the Norwegian State Highways Authority and several landowners relating to the expropriation of the leasehold for Norway’s largest fuel station and landmark at the E18 highway due to an expansion of the E18 highway.
  • Assisted Newsec with establishing its project finance set up in Norway, Newsec Investment Management.

Lawyers

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Hans Henrik Kværne
Partner. Kværne primarily assists clients on matters relating to real property rights, company law and contract law. He advises leading actors in the property sector in connection with property transactions and property companies. He has extensive experience with the establishment, structuring and financing of syndicated property projects both in Norway and abroad. In addition, Kværne works on matters relating to the day-to-day management and operation of real property, particularly those relating to tenancy issues, development projects and dispute resolution. On several occasions, he has been appointed as arbitrator, particularly in disputes relating to real property. He also assists in negotiations and the structuring of complex contracts. Kværne is a dedicated advisor, who is keen to learn about and understand each client. He emphasises clear communication and his extensive experience of most property-related issues enables him to quickly find the solutions that best meet his clients’ needs and wishes.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Thomas Øslebø

Other key lawyers

Håvard Bergli, Eilif S. Koch, Marianne Raa Bjaaland, Erlend Husebye Haug, Hans Henrik Kværne