Norway

Oslo based Aabø-Evensen & Co is a Norwegian boutique law firm with a specific focus on M&A and capital markets. The firm was established in 2002. The firm is especially well regarded in the M&A market by peers and clients.

The team punches above its weight advising on large transactions often alongside top tier firms and regularly engages in complex cross-border deals. The firm has clear expertise in M&A and leading engagement with recognizable multinational companies in the Norwegian mining, fishing, retail, energy and industrials industries.

Highlights

A notable example of the firm’s recent M&A work was its appointment as lead counsel to global mining tech company Imdex Limited, an Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)-listed company, in connection with the acquisition of Devico. The firm played a crucial role in handling all legal advice to Imdex, managing workstreams across 15 different jurisdictions and conducting due diligence over 19 companies connected with the proposed acquisition. The deal reflects the team’s capacity for large scale and complex deal management and structuring.

Testimonials

“Good and very much to the point” - (M&A)

“Stand out for their commercial understanding and approach coupled with legal expertise” - (Financial restructuring)

Key clients

Imdex Limited, Francisco Partners, Vauban Infrastructure, Stirling Square Capital Partners, KMD

BAHR is one of the largest law firms in Norway. The firm, established in 1966, has offices in Oslo and Bergen. The firm has high quality work in all areas of financial and corporate work ranging from banking and finance, capital markets, M&A, project development and restructuring and insolvency.

Highlights

The banking and finance team regularly advises on some of the largest mandates in the Norwegian market. It recently advised Norwegian salmon farming giant SalMar with regard to the financing of the public acquisition of NTS. SalMar has drastically structurally reshaped Norway’s salmon industry and the deal marked one of the largest and most high-profile acquisitions in the M&A market in Norway.

In another notable M&A transaction the firm advised Adevinta on an all-share takeover offer led by Permira and Blackstone - and including General Atlantic and TCV. 

Testimonials

“Highly professional, top service and priority, excellent team.” - (Banking and finance) 

“Always excellent quality – delivered on time and relevant to our business. Their long experience makes the work efficient. They are by far the leading law firm in Norway in our segment - covered bonds - including all other issues that relate to the business including our use of derivatives.” - (Capital markets client) 

“Great skills and availability of the team. We had good discussions with the partners and they provided comprehensive advice” - (Financial service regulatory client)

“Stand out for their capacity, quick turnaround, area expertise and client service” (M&A client)

“Very rapid responses. Clever and smart people. Uggedal in particular is pleasant to work with, effective and precise. He can think out of the box.”  (Private equity client)

“Experienced, dedicated and skilled team.” (Project finance client)

Key clients

Aker (and affiliates) , Norvestor Equity (and portfolio companies), HitecVision (and portfolio companies), Nordea, DNB Bank, ABG Sundal, Colliers, Norwegian Air Shuttle

Haavind is a full-service law firm based in Oslo. It was established in 1893. Haavind is a full-service law firm with specialist focuses on banking and finance, capital markets, M&A and project development.

Highlights

In banking and finance, the firm advises some of the largest banks in Norway. A team acted as sole legal advisor to the Norwegian commercial bank Bank2 in the acquisition by the Swedish commercial bank Bluestep Bank.  This was the only acquisition of a Norwegian bank in 2023. The expert financial service regulatory service provided by the firm is illustrative of the firms leading capabilities.

The firm’s prominence in project development in Norway was also highlighted by its advisory role for Eolus/Øyfjellet Wind in the development of the licensed wind power project Øyfjellet. The firm was assisting in all regulatory matters, employment matters and legal proceedings. The project is also recognized as Norway’s largest stand-alone wind power plant to date.

Testimonials

“Strong industry knowledge. Their team has a commercial mindset, always finding creative and practical solutions to complex legal and financial challenges with tailored advice, high ethical standards and integrity.” (Banking client)

“Good quality advice and great service” (Financial service regulatory client)

“Haavind is proactive in finding solutions that suit us as clients, and they are adept at identifying areas of high risk. They excel at proposing alternative solutions and illuminate various aspects of these so that we have a solid basis for decision-making. They always respond promptly and make time for us as clients regardless of whether it's the weekend or holiday season.” (M&A client)

“They are professional and precise, and have good knowledge of the relevant industry. Availability of sufficient resources.” (Project development client)

Key clients

Axactor, Telenor, Omda, BlackRock, Alimentation Couche-Tard, FSN Capital, Corio Generation, Kople, Telenor, Statnett Eolus, Norwegian Public Road Administration, Helse Sør-Øst, Bane NOR

Founded in 1989 the Norwegian law firm SANDS has offices in Oslo, Trondheim, Bergen, Stavanger, Ålesund, Tromsø and Tønsber. The firm is active in several financial and corporate areas in Norway.

Highlights

In the banking and finance space, the firm has been involved in many financing and financial restructuring transactions.

In the capital markets space, the firm is active in both equity transactions and issuances of bonds for a range of issuers and financial clients.

In the M&A space, the firm acts for both buyer and sellers on a range of transaction types. The firm is especially active in the Norwegian healthcare, energy, fisheries, insurance and technology sectors.

Key clients

Akastor, Eitzen Avanti & Eitzen Rederi, Solcellespesialisten, Fjord Base Holding

Simonsen Vogt Wiig is a Norwegian law firm with a history dating back to 1894. The firm has offices in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, Kristiansand, Tromsø and Singapore. The firm has 180 lawyers and is led by managing partner Mona Søyland.

Highlights

The firm has a strong presence in Norway’s financial and corporate sectors with recognizable reputation in banking and finance, M&A, project development and capital markets.

In banking and finance, the firm acted as lead counsel to DNB Bank for a syndicate, consisting of four commercial banks and Export Finance Norway, in the financing and construction of two purpose-built wind turbine installation vessels under construction in a Chinese shipyard. 

Project highlights also include advising on an ongoing basis for the long-time client RWE Wind Norway, a Branch of RWE Wind Norway, a leading global investor-owned electric utility service providers and one of the largest offshore wind power developers in the world. The firm was most recently advising RWE in connection with the bidding for two areas for offshore wind power. The projects are of significant national importance in Norway’s sustainable agenda plans.

Testimonials

“Always available, proactive and hands on.”  (Capital markets client)

“SVW has lawyers that are extremely skilled within all the regulatory and legal challenges within operating a power utilities company in Norway. In deliveries to Lede AS, SVW has delivered swiftly, with a very high quality of work and always within agreed deadlines. As the preferred legal council for a number of utilities companies in Norway, SVW has an in-depth knowledge of best practice within the sector that I believe benefits all parties. At a reasonable hourly rate compared to competitors, SVW delivers legal council at an extremely high value for money.” (Financial service regulatory client)

Key clients

DNB Bank, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, Tibber, Pareto Bank, SpareBank 1 SR-Bank, Arctic Securities, Spotlio (listed on Euronext Growth Oslo), Huddly (listed on Euronext Growth Oslo), Næringsbanken, Zwipe (listed on Euronext Growth Oslo and Nasdaq First North, Stockholm), RWE, Vestas, Eksfin (Export Finance Norway), Société Générale, Kingsrose Norway

Thommessen is a leading Norwegian law firm with offices in Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger and London. The firm’s history stretches back to 1856. The firm is highly ranked across all areas of financial and corporate law. The firm has a strong focus in banking, technology and renewable energy.

Highlights

A significant project development highlight includes advising on a major public deal called Brevik CCS, part of the Norwegian government's Longship programme, which aims to capture, transport and safely storage CO₂ from industrial sources. The Longship project is the first of its kind in Europe and the first full scale capture of CO₂. In this unprecedented project, the firm is operating and advising in a new regulatory and legal environment that challenges and actively shapes the future of the sector's legal landscape.

Another notable example of the firm’s work includes the firm’s active role in advising Goldman Sachs on the high-profile acquisition of Kahoot! The deal represents one of the largest public-to-private tech transactions in the Norwegian market. This deal reflects the firm’s presence in some of the markets largest mandates on a regular basis.

Testimonials

“Standout for their timeliness, being ahead of the game, their self-confidence and their ability to challenge the deal team by sharing their own perspectives” (Capital markets client)

“Combination of legal and business/commercial perspectives.” (Project development client)

Key clients

DNB Bank, Nordea Bank, Danske Bank, Svenska Handelsbanken, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, DOF Group, Kahoot!, Goldman Sachs , ABG Sundal Collier, Arctic Securities, Altor Equity Partners, Triton Partners, Ferd, HitecVision, Norvestor

The leading Norwegian law firm Wiersholm was established in 1875. The firm serves clients out of its Oslo office. The team has extensive experience and expertise across all areas of financial and corporate sectors. The firm has an extensive international presence and network that assists leading Norwegian clients in their expansion abroad and foreign companies placed in Norway.

Highlights

Deal highlights include advising Carneige and DNB Markets as joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners, in connection with the IPO of Norconsult. 

The firm was active advising on the Skanska Infrastructure Development in connection with the financing of a large Norwegian Infrastructure project procured by the Norwegian Public Road Administration. The significant PPP contract extends over a 21-year period and intends to develop and construct new roads, tunnels, bridges and road safety in Norway. This deal highlights the significance of the firm’s capabilities in handling the markets largest mandates.

Testimonials

“Extremely strong on the substance, very responsive and client-oriented" (Equity capital markets client)

“Wiersholm has a really strong and broad team and are able to handle the most complex and largest transactions” (Equity capital markets client)

“Very professional, creative advice (always friendly), very approachable and hard-working, always keen to find solutions.” (Equity capital markets client)

“They offer full-service solutions, with experts in each field; willingness to draw on supplementary resources within the company” (M&A client)

“Legal knowledge and flexibility is at the foundation, but what stands out is the ability to put themselves in our situation and understand the actual problem we face. This commercial understanding is the most important for us and what separates Wiersholm.” (Private equity client)

“High quality and fast answers, very dynamic and accessible team. Great project management on legal work streams” (Project development client)

“Clear cut advice, understanding of our business and requirements.” - Bank lending

Key clients

DNB Bank, Danske Bank, Norwegian branch, SpareBank 1 SR-Bank, Handelsbanken, Avarn Security Group, Visma, Schibsted, Orkla, Norsk Hydro, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, NTE AS/ NTE Energi, Statkraft, Aneo, Skanska, Green H

Wikborg Rein is a law firm with an international presence. It has offices in Bergen, London, Singapore and Shanghai, in addition to its headquarters in Oslo. The firm was established in 1923.

The firm has an exceptional presence in a wide array of corporate and commercial work in Norway.

Highlights

In the capital markets equity space, deal highlights include advising Seacrest Petroleo Bermuda on its IPO, followed by a private placement of shares. The deal had a dramatic impact in strengthening the companies market growth and capital increase.

Another significant example of the firm’s works include advising on the public-to-private takeover of Adevinta by Aurelia Bidco Norway. The firm’s leading role in this deal illustrates the firms leading market presence in the Norwegian markets and across the entire Scandinavian region.

Testimonials

“Highly experienced and skilled team, including top senior partners involvement.” - Financial service regulatory client

“Deep expertise and broad experience with relevant topics. Able to focus on key issues and be specific in recommendations” - M&A client

“Very hands-on. Always available. Great discussion partners and very competent team.” - Private equity client

“As this was our first platform deal in the region, it was even more crucial than ever to get everything right. Wikborg Rein (lead by OIe Henrik Wille) did a tremendous job with providing legal advice with strong commercial thinking, tactical considerations, deal execution and everything that comes with it. 

Key clients

DNB Bank (including DNB Markets), Nordea Bank (including Nordea Markets), Skandinaviska, Enskilda Banken, Danske Bank (including Danske Bank Markets), Svenska Handelsbanken, Permira Beteiligungsberatung, Seacrest Petroleo Bermuda, Blackstone, General Atlantic, Endúr, Summa Equity, KKR, Telenor, FSN Capital, DIF Capital Partners, Eidsiva Energi, Stadtwerke München, Ocean Winds, Northern Lights, Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency

DLA Piper is an international law firm with offices throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. The firm has a strong pan-Nordic presence including an office in Oslo.

Focuses / specialisms

The firm’s banking practice covers an array of loan transactions, including complex asset financing deals and project and construction financings where the firm has standout expertise. The firm also boasts a strong financial regulatory practice which advises large international and domestic banks on an ongoing basis and excels in the Norwegian fintech sector.

M&A is another focal point of the firm’s financial and corporate offering. Its Norwegian team cooperates with the firm’s offices in Finland, Sweden and Denmark and supports cross- border deals.

Key clients

Key clients include Telenor, Cube Infrastructure, OpenGate Capital, Cloudberry Clean Energy, Alder Fund II, Katalysator, Herkules Private Equity, Cennox Holdings, Betonmast, Pharmaq, OneCo, Storskogen 3 Invest, Danske Bank, BNP Paribas, UniCredit, Credit Suisse, Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen Girozentrale, Telenor, SEB and Nordea.

The legal arm of the multinational “Big Four” professional services firm EY is one of the largest law firms in Norway. It has offices in 16 cities across the country from North to South.

Focuses / specialisms

Corporate M&A, especially for cross-border transactions in the SME segment, is a core business for the firm.

Key clients

Key recent clients include Inflexion, Sweco Group, Olav Thon Eiendomsselskap and Artelia Group.