BAHR fields an excellent corporate and M&A practice, which is ‘very solution oriented‘ and has particular expertise in private equity transactions as well as sector-specific knowledge in the oil and energy, real estate and infrastructure industries. Practice head Øystein Guvåg specialises in M&A transactions and private equity matters, while Lars Kristian Sande is the deputy head of the practice and an expert in advising both private equity and industrial investors on telecoms and technology transactions. Svein Gerhard Simonnæs, Robin Bakken and Lars Knem Christie are all key contacts for public M&A. The group also includes the private equity expert Børre Sofus Arnet, Jon Christian Thaulow, who is particularly experienced in the energy related industries, and Erik Langseth, who focuses on M&A and real estate transactions. Anne Dahl Frisak, who particularly focuses on M&A within the shipping, aquaculture and offshore sectors, is also a key practitioner.

The commercial, corporate and M&A team at Advokatfirmaet Schjødt AS is ‘hands-on and professional with a can-do attitude’, and has particular expertise in cross-border and public-to-private transactions. The practice is co-headed by Tord Fondevik, who is ‘a machine when it comes to execution power' and regularly acts for blue-chip companies, private equity funds and founders, particularly in the life sciences sector; and private equity specialist Robert Romansky. The group also includes Knut Smith-Erichsen, who co-heads the transactions department and is highly knowledgeable in private equity mandates and industrial M&A; Dag Sigvart Kaada, who assists private equity and blue-chip companies on matters relating to the technology, energy and oil and gas sectors; and Jon Kristian Sjåtil, who focuses on M&A and capital markets transactions. The ‘highly competent‘ Christoffer Bjerknes, who regularly assists private equity sponsors with investments, is also a key contact.

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is ‘capable, pragmatic and solution oriented‘ and is sought after for its expertise in public and private cross-border M&A work, particularly in combination with equity issues and debt financings. Practice head Christian Grüner Sagstad acts for a variety of private equity companies and other clients on M&A and equity capital markets transactions. Hans Cappelen Arnesen  is a capital markets and M&A expert, who advises a variety of corporate clients, private equity houses and investment banks; and Anders Arnkværn is highly experienced in public and private M&A and capital market transactions. The group also includes Ervin Auren, who advises on national and international M&A and capital markets transactions; and Baard Bale, who acts in numerous public and private M&A and capital markets transactions. Tore Mydske, who has great ‘commercial skills‘, and Solveig Fagerheim Bugge are also key contacts.

Wiersholm fields a ‘top-quality‘ corporate practice that advises on national and cross-border M&A transactions across a wide range of sectors. The practice is co-headed by experienced M&A practitioner Harald Hellebust, who advises both private equity funds and industrial players, and the ‘excellent‘ Sverre Sandvik, who specialises in M&A, capital market transactions and general company and securities law. Gunhild Dugstad is a key contact for private equity transactions, and Kristian Martin Lind regularly advises on M&A, venture investments and general company law. The group also includes Ingjerd Røynås, who assists clients with matters relating to the technology, retail and industry sectors, and Kristian E. Ottesen, who advises companies in connection with M&A, capital market transactions and company law. Other notable practitioners are Hannah Advocaat Lund and Oscar Brown.

Wikborg Rein has a full-service practice with ‘unique industry skills‘, which assists with M&A transactions in a variety of sectors, including the oil and gas, renewables, shipping, offshore and technology industries. The practice is jointly led by Ole Henrik Wille, who is ‘an exceptional lawyer‘ and highly active in M&A and equity capital markets transactions; Sigurd Opedal, who regularly assists private equity and industrial clients; and ‘highly valued adviser‘ Arild Frick. The group also includes Ketil E. Bøe, who advises investors, securities clients, banks and companies on a wide range of issues relating to M&A, and Kaare Christian Tapper, who is highly experienced in a variety of M&A and other equity transactions. Therese Trulsen, who advises industrial and technology clients on greenfield projects and cross-border transactions, is also a key practitioner.

Arntzen de Besche‘s corporate and M&A practice is ‘creative, structured, responsive and flexible’, with particular knowledge in the renewables, oil and gas and, increasingly, technology sectors. Practice head Knut Martinsen is an M&A specialist with a ‘strong commercial mindset‘ who focuses on software transactions. Per A Dagslet is also an M&A specialist whose ‘capacity, experience and dedication is exceptional‘, and Lars Horgen Hinze acts for a wide range of clients on cross-border and domestic buy-outs and exits. The group also includes Per Kristian Ramsland and Steffen Rogstad who both advise on a wide range of issues relating to M&A and general company law. Another key contact is Maria B. Tanemsmo, who assists clients in various business sectors. Thomas Borch-Nielsen and Øyvind Greaker Bjørndal joined the team from Advokatfirmaet Grette AS in early 2024.

Advokatfirmaet CLP DA is a ‘first-class‘ boutique firm with particular expertise in private equity mandates, specialising in corporate law and capital markets work in the retail, renewables and technology sectors. The practice is led by ‘stand-out‘ M&A and private equity specialist Lars Gunnar Aas, who has extensive experience in transactions, investments and restructurings. The team also includes corporate and M&A practitioner Jakob Villum, who specialises in technology transactions, private equity work and venture capital issues; Amund Erdal, who focuses on mandates relating to renewable energy; and Christian Vestheim, who works primarily with corporate and securities law.

The corporate and M&A practice at Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS has ‘a great team with a good mix of commitment, competencies, structure and motivation‘, with sector-specific expertise in the energy, aquaculture and technology spaces. Practice head Bjørn Olav Torpp is a highly experienced M&A lawyer who specialises in cross-border and private equity transactions, as well as joint ventures. The group also includes Preben Brecke, who advises on private equity mandates, and the ‘great‘ Kjetil Hardeng, who advises domestic and foreign clients on transactions and corporate projects. Bård Sandstad, who has extensive experience in handling cross-border transactions and advising international investors in the offshore and energy sectors, is also a key practitioner.

Selmer's practice is ‘very commercially minded‘ and advises across a wide range of issues encompassing corporate and M&A work, private equity mandates and venture capital transactions, with specialist knowledge in the energy, natural resources, retail and aquaculture sectors. Practice head Camilla Magnus is a specialist in corporate and M&A, private equity and corporate governance, while private equity expert Are Herrem has ‘excellent business acumen and is very proactive’. Robert Sveen is a ‘top pick when it comes to M&A related work‘ including public and private M&A and equity capital markets transactions, and Jon Fredrik Johansen is another sought after practitioner. The team also includes corporate finance specialist Ingar Solheim, Remi Dramstad, who specialises in private equity, corporate finance and venture capital work, and Margaret Solberg, who primarily handles M&A transactions and shareholder issues.

Advokatfirmaet Simonsen Vogt Wiig advises on the full spectrum of transactional issues, including private equity mandates, venture capital work and industrial M&A, in key sectors spanning the communications, IT, media and oil and gas industries. Practice head Kristoffer Birkeland is particularly strong on private equity and venture capital matters. The group also includes Amund Fougner Bugge, who specialises in equity capital market transactions and M&A, specifically industrial M&A deals relating to public companies; and Henning Øvrebø, who advises both mid-size and blue-chip companies on M&A mandates. Stian Alexander Slaatta, who assists with private and public M&A and equity capital market transactions, is also a key contact.

AGP Advokater is singled out as a ‘great‘ M&A, capital markets and corporate focused firm, which ‘provides excellent legal advice in an efficient and thorough manner’. The practice is co-headed by private M&A specialist Nils Olav Aarseth and Gard A. Skogstrøm, who primarily handles M&A, equity transactions and general corporate advice. Another notable practitioner is M&A specialist Ketil E. Sauarlia, who is particularly active in the technology sector. In January 2023, debt finance specialist Peter Skutvik joined from Advokatfirmaet Schjødt, and property transaction expert Kim Hellstrøm Christensen joined from Wiersholm. Maria Heiberg Styrvold, who specialises in private M&A and ‘provides legal advice that exceed the client’s expectations’, joined from Wikborg Rein in October 2022.

Bull & Co Advokatfirma AS advises host of private sector companies on corporate and transactions matters, especially in the technology, construction, media and retail sectors. The ‘competent and knowledgeable team‘ is led by Erlend Balsvik, who primarily focuses on venture capital and technology sector M&A. The group also includes the ‘clear and concise‘ Bjarte Bogstad, who focuses on venture capital and private equity work; retail, petroleum and maritime specialist Saloume Djoudat, and Stian Sørensen Schilvold, who assists with matters relating to technology and media clients. Other notable practitioners include Finn Olav R Elde, who advises on technology and venture capital matters, tax specialist Eivind Bergo-Eriksen, and newly promoted partner Elisabeth Hoffmann.

CMS Kluge has a broad M&A and private equity practice with cross-border capabilities and a ‘commercially oriented‘ team. Espen Debes leads the practice out of the Stavanger office and advises on transactions in the healthcare, energy and IT sectors. The team also includes the ‘very attentive‘ head of the Oslo-based offering Frode Olsen, who is a private equity specialist in the construction and tech sectors; Snorre Haukali, who assists on M&A and financing transactions; and Johan Svedberg, who specialises in corporate, M&A and securities law. Christina Lavold, who primarily handles private M&A, is also a key contact.

DLA Piper's broad corporate and M&A practice is especially sought after for its cross-border capabilities, particularly in the technology and renewable energy industries. Practice head Christian Fenner focuses primarily on corporate and M&A work in the private equity space. The team also includes head of the renewables sector group Kaare Oftedal, and Fredrik Lykke, who handles transactions for both industrial and private equity clients. Sveinung Mjaugedal, who has sector-specific knowledge of the construction, healthcare and technology arenas, and Dina Jørstad are also key contacts. The practice has seen notable recent growth; Fredrik Klebo-Espe joined the firm in April 2023 from KPMG Law Advokatfirma AS, Norway, Stig Nordal and Fredrik Finsås joined from SANDS in August 2023, and Malin R. Ranheim joined from Økland & Co in October 2023.

Advokatfirmaet Grette AS assists with all types of M&A transactions with particular expertise in the construction, renewable energy, real estate, and infrastructure industries. Leading the practice, Andreas Myrstad primarily focuses on M&A and capital markets transactions. The group also includes Thomas J. Fjell, who specialises in distressed transactions; Erik Alsvik Skogsbakken, who advises on general corporate law, particularly matters involving a significant debt element, and Roland Mörsdorf, who focuses on cross-border transactions between Norway and Germany. Thomas Borch-Nielsen and Øyvind Greaker Bjørndal departed to Arntzen de Besche in early 2024.

The corporate team at Kvale Advokatfirma DA is ‘highly qualified in the transactions area‘ and advises across a wide range of sectors. The practice is led by Anne Kjølseth Ekerholt, who specialises in handling transactions for corporations. Thomas S Farhang is an ‘excellent lawyer and an M&A star’, who frequently advises on cross-border issues, and M&A specialist Øystein Løken has ‘exceptionally good commercial understanding‘, particularly in the natural resources, retail and TMT sectors. The group also includes transactional lawyer Marius L Andresen, M&A specialist Kristin Nyhus Halvorsen, who particularly advises on issues relating to the hospitality industry, Carl Christian Marthinussen and Odd-Terje G Elde.

Aabø-Evensen & Co Advokatfirma is a boutique M&A firm, which advises clients across the full spectrum of corporate, commercial and M&A matters, and is especially sought after by foreign investors for cross-border transactions. Practice head Ole Kristian Aabø-Evensen is a highly experienced M&A practitioner who advises on all types of M&A transactions with a particular focus on international matters. The team also includes Henning Raa, who advises on transactions in the technology, real estate, infrastructure and industrial production sectors; and Geir Johan Nilsen, who specialises in M&A, corporate reorganisations, corporate law and litigation.

Brækhus Advokatfirma AS fields an ‘extremely efficient and effective team‘, which advises on the full range of corporate, M&A and finance transactions. Practice head Christoph Morck, whose ‘knowledge of Norwegian legal issues is outstanding’, is a cross-border expert, and frequently advises foreign companies on their establishment, business and investments in Norway. The group also includes John Sveinsvold, who is a corporate and commercial expert.

The transactions team at Advokatfirmaet Hjort is ‘always available and very competent‘, and advises on a host of matters in the technology, energy, renewables and aviation sectors. Practice head Thomas Alnæs is highly experienced in M&A, tax structuring and company law, and also handles cross-border transactions. The group also includes Christian Dahl Aaser, who specialises in the offshore and energy sector; and ‘excellent‘ M&A and international capital markets expert Vegard André Fiskerstrand, who joined the team from Advokatfirmaet Schjødt in February 2023. Helene Eng is also recommended.

SANDS leverages its broad and ‘highly competent‘ corporate and M&A practice to provide sector-specific advice to clients in the healthcare and health tech industries. Practice head Terje Gulbrandsen is an M&A specialist who particularly focuses on company and contract law, while Erik Lind, who leads the transactions department, has a ‘solid M&A track record and excellent people skills‘. M&A, corporate and equity transactions expert Espen Furuholt and Martin Feevag Larsen, who specialises in transaction advisory services, are also recommended, along with Jill Berglund.