The team at Ro Sommernes Advokatfirma DA is ‘highly specialised and up to date with current changes in the shipping legal arena’ and handles mandates across all aspects and stages of shipping work. Praised for ’an in-depth knowledge of a wide range of relevant processes’, the practice is led by Ole Johan Stensli and Erling Lind. They work alongside Katinka Wikborg, who regularly assists with corporate, finance and asset transfer transactions within the shipping sector, and Håkon Hellerud, who handles vessel financing and asset transactions.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Highly experienced and knowledgeable on various legal aspects, covering financing, regulatory and corporate advice in multiple jurisdictions. Very responsive and always available to discuss issues and provide constructive advice.’

  • ‘Partners Håkon Hellerud and Ole Johan Stensli have an in-depth knowledge of a wide range of relevant processes and get stuck into the details whenever required.’

  • ‘Håkon Hellerud provides excellent service and is very knowledgeable. It is always a pleasure to work with him.’

  • ‘Very pragmatic and commercial-minded trusted legal advisers.’

  • ‘Their shipping practice is very strong for a firm of their size, with an enviable client list and a wealth of experience.’

  • ‘Erling Lind is very much the doyen of the Oslo ship finance legal scene, who knows everyone and has seen pretty much everything in his many years of practice. Hakon Hellerud is a rising star with whom we deal more and more. He is very knowledgeable on Norwegian ship finance matters and his client management is very good.'

  • ‘We were impressed by their professionalism and constructive, pragmatic approach to negotiation and prompt finalising of documentation connected to the sale of vessels. They were courteous and commercial in their style.’

  • ‘We were impressed in particular by Håkon Hellerud. Very commercial in style, but also had a good grasp of ship finance and ship sales and was able to manage the whole transaction smoothly without any hiccups.’

Key clients

  • Borr Drilling Limited
  • Himalaya Shipping Limited
  • 2020 Bulkers Ltd.

Work highlights

  • Assisted Borr Drilling Limited in connection with the placement of a $1.54bn secured bond in the US market.
  • Assisted Himalaya Shipping Ltd. with its sale and leaseback financing arrangements for the twelve bulk carries deliveries from New Times Shipbuilding in China during 2023 and 2024.
  • Assisted 2020 Bulkers Ltd. with the sale of two dry-bulk vessels to a third-party owner.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Katinka Wikborg
Ro Sommernes Advokatfirma DA
 

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Erling Lind, Ole Johan Stensli

Other key lawyers

Katinka Wikborg, Håkon Hellerud