Hall Of Fame

Next Generation Partners

Leading Associates

Firms To Watch: Regulatory, compliance and investigations

Advokatfirmaet Schjødt continued the expansion of its offering in the regulatory, compliance and investigation space with the 2022 hire of Thomas Steen Brandi, formerly at Selmer, and the 2023 hire of Annina Luterbacher from BAHR.
Having revamped its compliance practice in early 2023, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is establishing itself as a firm to watch in the space; the group continues to grow, with Hedvig Moe and Snorre Valdimarsson both joining in 2023.

Regulatory, compliance and investigations in Norway

Wiersholm

Wiersholm’s ‘truly outstanding’ compliance offering spans the full range of contentious and non-contentious advice, handling crisis management, investigations, acquisition due diligence, and ESG-related mandates. A recent work highlight includes acting for Gjerdrum Municipality against corporate criminal charges following the 2020 fatal mudslide in the municipality. Jan Fougner and Georg Abusdal Engebretsen jointly oversee the practice; Fougner has long-standing experience handling high-profile contentious compliance cases as well as corporate penalty and crisis management work, while Engebretsen regularly assists domestic and international clients with private investigations. At associate level, Helene Bogen takes point on environmental and human rights compliance.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jan Fougner; Georg Abusdal Engebretsen


Autres avocats clés:

Helene Bogen


Les références

‘The team is very available and provides efficient and high-quality legal advice.’

‘Very good understanding of environmental legislation and EU-framework directives, and technical industrial challenges.’

‘Helene Bogen: Very client focused and delivers always on time. Excellent work related to legal framework and what is needed ad background information. Well organised in her work and cooperative spirit.’

Principaux clients

Bane NOR SF


Equinor ASA


Hurtigruten AS


Schibsted ASA


Skagerak Kraft


ABB AS


Celsa Armeringsstål AS


Huhtamaki Oyj


Felleskjøpet Agri SA


Glamox AS


Nord-trøndelag Elektrisitetsverk Holding AS


OBOS BBL


VIPPS AS


FERD AS


Longship AS


NBIM


Gjerdrum Municipality


SOS Children’s Villages


Ministry of Culture and Equality


Ministry of Petroleum and Energy


Aars As


The Corona Commission


Principaux dossiers


  • Assisted Huhtamaki Oyj in relation to one of Norway’s largest potential clean-up projects on land.
  • Conducted a major investigation concerning alleged human rights and compliance and governance breaches across various jurisdictions in the world relating to SOS Children’s Villages.
  • Defended Gjerdrum Municipality against corporate criminal charges following a fatal mud slide in the municipality.

Wikborg Rein

Leveraging its international network of offices, Wikborg Rein’s multidisciplinary offering spans all core areas of compliance and regulatory work, with the group routinely handling crisis management, investigations, due diligence, and ESG work. Practice co-head Elisabeth Roscher has an impressive track record advising on a large volume of complex compliance cases, as well as private investigations and human rights due diligence matters. Working alongside Roscher is co-head and managing partner Geir Sviggum, who is particularly skilled at handling mandates and investigations with international aspects. The firm’s sanctions offering, hailed by clients as ‘by far the best in Norway’, has recently seen further increases in sanctions and export control-related instructions, a core area of expertise for the firm; the ‘fantastic’ Tine Elisabeth Vigmostad is the name to note here. New partner Elise Johansen is also recommended for her ESG expertise. Charlie Pope left the team in March 2023.

Responsables de la pratique:

Elisabeth Roscher; Geir Sviggum


Autres avocats clés:

Kristin Nordland Brattli; Tine Elisabeth Vigmostad; Elise Johansen


Les références

‘The team is highly competent in the ever changing and complicated compliance and sustainability laws and regulations we today all face on a global level.’

‘Geir Sviggum is a highly skilled manager of the team, trusted by all internal stakeholders. Tine Vigmostad is probably the best sanctions attorney in Norway.’

‘The team has a deep understanding of international compliance issues and practical insights into how to handle investigations and solutions to “everyday” compliance matters. They are incredibly responsive and hardworking but at the same time an absolute pleasure to work with.’

Principaux clients

Samherji hf


Aker Solutions ASA


Huawei Technologies AS


Renewables Norway


Solstad Offshore ASA


Statkraft AS


Norfund (the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries)


Edison S.p.A.


Telenor ASA


Klaveness Marine AS


Principaux dossiers


  • Assisted the board of Samherji hf with a broad and extensive international investigation in a number of countries (the so-called ‘Fishrot case’), which includes allegations of bribery/corruption and other wrongdoings.
  • Acting as the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the Ministry’s preferred external counsel, domestically and internationally, as lead counsel for Norway on a series of compliance cases.
  • Advised numerous Norwegian and international clients with global operations on economic and trade sanctions risks following the invasion of Ukraine.

BAHR

BAHR draws on the firm’s transactional and corporate capabilities and routinely assists clients with day-to-day corporate compliance, sanctions issues, international investigations, and transaction-related due diligence work. Under the leadership of Morten Smørdal, who has extensive experience in handling transaction and project development-related compliance issues, the ‘incredibly sophisticated‘ team has seen a recent increase in instructions relating to due diligence and the new Norwegian Transparency Act. Other core members of the team include asset management compliance expert Peter Hammerich and Jon Christian Thaulow, who handles regulatory and compliance work for clients in the energy sector. Annina Luterbacher departed the team in 2023 and is now at Advokatfirmaet Schjødt.

Responsables de la pratique:

Morten Smørdal


Autres avocats clés:

Peter Hammerich; Jon Christian Thaulow


Les références

‘The BAHR team is incredibly sophisticated and has expertise across a range of practice areas, making them particularly well-equipped to advise on practical regulatory and compliance questions for businesses.’

‘Morten Smørdal is an excellent practitioner. He is closely involved in his matters and makes sure that all considerations are accounted for when delivering practical regulatory and compliance advice.’

‘Unique team in respect of asset management services in Norway. Competence and quality at the level of the large London and New York based firms.’

Principaux clients

Aker BP ASA


Aker ASA


HitecVision


Norvestor


OMP Capital


Luftambulansetjenesten HF


Equip Capital


Hadean Ventures


Argentum


Explore Equity


Sector Asset Management


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising a Norwegian export/import and freight company on the implementation of a risk-based programme for compliance with EU and Norwegian sanctions.
  • Advising a Norwegian investment company with multiple international portfolio companies on the establishment of a group compliance and ESG programme.
  • Helping a renewable energy client with the implementation of a programme for the assessment of potential high risk joint venture partners, as well as onboarding and ongoing due diligence.

Selmer

Selmer’s compliance group works closely with the firm’s corporate and M&A departments, regularly assisting clients with transactional due diligence, ESG, and general corporate compliance work. Practice head Liv Monica Stubholt has a focus on corporate governance and board best practice, advising corporate entities on crisis management, audits, and compliance risk analyses. Ole Christian Borge has notable expertise in anti-money laundering work, and specialises in regulatory advice for banks and investment businesses, while Christian Steen Eriksen advises clients in the oil and shipping sectors on sanctions and export control issues.

Responsables de la pratique:

Liv Monica Stubholt


Autres avocats clés:

Ole Christian Borge; Christian Steen Eriksen


Les références

‘Always supportive, good collaboration, proactive thinking, and understands our business.’

‘The team members are, without exception, quick responders when contacted. They have the ability to put themselves in my position and see a case from my side.’

Principaux clients

HydraWell


Norvestor Equity


Ferd


NRC Group


Comrod


Elmatica


Endur


Institute of Energy Technology


Advokatfirmaet Hjort

Advokatfirmaet Hjort‘s interdisciplinary team advises on crisis prevention and management, investigations, ESG issues, and compliance matters for businesses in the public and private sectors, with Transparency Act-related compliance an area of recent growth for the group. Kristian Brandt heads up the practice and has a solid track record leading major investigations; the ‘excellent’ Anne Marie Due, Kristin Veierød, who primarily acts for clients in the public sector, and criminal law expert Christian B. Hjort are other names to note in this space.

Responsables de la pratique:

Kristian Brandt


Autres avocats clés:

Christian B. Hjort; Anne Marie Due; Kristin Veierød


Les références

‘Anne Marie Due is excellent especially when comes to quality, efficiency and communication.’

‘The team is efficient and work in a timely fashion.’

‘The individuals are competent, easy to work with, and smart and receptive. We have had a good dialogue and they are responsive.’

Principaux clients

Riksrevisjonen


Festspillene i Bergen


Statkraft AS


Asker og Bærum brann og redning IKS


Salmonor AS


Institutt for Energiteknikk


Sjøfartsdirektoratet


Principaux dossiers


  • Acted for Riksrevisjonen in a high-profile investigation relating to the Members of the Parliament, ensuring it is conducted in accordance with relevant legislation and best practice policies.
  • Advised Salmonor on an extensive CEO investigation that entailed an extensive and detailed report that was submitted to the board.
  • Assisted Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) with compliance matters in producing internal guidelines on personal data retention.

KPMG Law Advokatfirma AS, Norway

Praised by clients for its ‘technically strong’ offering, KPMG Law Advokatfirma AS, Norway advises clients on a range of compliance and investigation matters, including whistleblowing mandates, anti-money laundering work, anti-corruption issues and crisis management. Tor Henning Rustan Knudsen heads up the practice and has a broad workload that covers corporate, ESG, and M&A-related compliance. Solfrid Haaskjold Brænd joined the firm in 2023 and assists with ESG-related matters, with particular emphasis on human rights compliance and investigations.

Responsables de la pratique:

Tor Henning Rustan Knudsen


Autres avocats clés:

Solfrid Haaskjold Brænd; Erik Davidsen


Les références

‘A remarkable team with a flawless blend of personality and professionalism in their communication. They exhibit a remarkable ability to swiftly identify key individuals to address specific inquiries and respond with remarkable speed.’

‘An exceptional team distinguished by their down-to-earth approach and their talent for simplifying complex concepts into highly informative explanations. Solfrid Haaskjold Brænd has stood out as she excels in follow-up and communicates with remarkable clarity. She possesses a wealth of valuable experience, which enables her to provide prompt and insightful responses.’

‘Technically strong.’

Principaux clients

Aker ASA


Aker BP


Bane NOR


Ruter AS


Handelsbanken


Statkraft AS


Oslo kommune


Telenor Norge AS


Statsbygg


Celsa Nordic


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised and investigated OBOS BBL due to a question of possible corruption or conflict of interest related to a real estate sale where OBOS sold houses to a rental investor.
  • Provided Statkraft, under a frame agreement, compliance analysis globally related to new compliance regulations from the EU as well as handling numerous compliance related investigations.
  • Providing a whistleblowing service to Aker ASA.