With an increasing caseload on the resource rent tax, the fishing and aquaculture practice at Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS provides full-service advice, from commercial contracts and patent protection to disputes and transactions. Practice head Bjørn Sørgård is ‘both professionally skilled and good in human relations’ and has a proven track record of advising commercial entities and trade associations on regulatory and corporate matters. On the contentious front, Ida Espolin Johnson is a key name, with experience in public, commercial and corporate mandates. The team also includes Torbjørn Gjelsvik, an aquaculture expert, and Christopher Rønbeck who takes point on regulatory matters. In May 2024, the team also strengthened its fisheries and aquaculture financing offering with the hiring of Lene Kristin Hennø from Advokatfirmaet Schjødt.

SANDS' full-service fishing and aquaculture offering stands out for its strength in regulatory matters, transactions, advisory and dispute resolution. At the helm of the practice is Halfdan Mellbye, who has established experience advising on regulatory frameworks relating to fisheries and fish farming and on public administration matters. Alongside Mellbye, the team also includes Kenneth Steffensen and Erik Meyer-Lampe. The team in Tromsø include Ole-Martin Lund Andreassen, who takes point on coastal zone planning, aquaculture concessions and M&A work, and Bjørn-Ivar Bendiksen, who handles administrative processes regarding location clearances and permits.

With several offices across the country, the Advokatfirmaet Simonsen Vogt Wiig fishing and aquaculture team is well equipped to handle all matters related to the industry for seafood, aquaculture, and fisheries sector clients. The team is led by capable duo Arthur Duus and Mikael Rossvoll Jørgensen. Duus assists listed companies and privately owned enterprises on contracts and corporate and regulatory matters, from the Bergen office. In Tromsø, Jørgensen is a key name for public and private law matters related to the industry. For advice at the nexus of fisheries and company law, Ørjan Nilsen is a key name, while Markus Sørlie ably assists on regulatory frameworks.

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS leverages its cross-practice strength to provide a full-service fishing and aquaculture offering, singled out for its ability to handle both contentious and non-contentious matters. ‘Dedicated and well-connected in the industry’, Mons Alfred Paulsen heads the practice and offers a wealth of experience advising clients on industry-related corporate, tax and M&A matters. Rune Ulriksen Steinsland is a key contact for contracts, while Trond Hatland is the name to note for litigation. With broad experience across transactional and operational issues, Lisa Marie Opdahl, formerly at BAHR, joined the team in July 2024.

With an impressive client roster featuring large domestic seafood companies, Wikborg Rein is sought after for its strength in complex regulatory issues. On this front, a key name is Martin Bryde, who oversees the practice and combines a background from the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries with expertise in regulatory issues. The team is supported by a skilled group of associates including Heidi Ann Vestvik-Bruknapp and Lars Erik Kvinnsland. Previous practice head Grunde Bruland left the team in March 2024.

Leveraging the firm’s multidisciplinary capacities, Advokatfirmaet Schjødt‘s fishing and aquaculture practice handles regulatory matters, complex disputes and cross-border work. Practice head Tore Fjørtoft is recommended for regulatory advice and restructuring for clients within the industry. Stian Tennfjord specialises in contracts and regulatory advice; Eirik Wold Sund, who joined the firm in January 2025, is another key name here. Erik Staurset Andresen left the team in July 2024.

Arntzen de Besche offers advisory and contentious support on an array of matters in the sector, including investments, construction and transactions. The practice group is co-led by experienced partners Ole Skeidsvoll Moe, who has a broad practice across construction, licensing and litigation, and Anders Dyrseth, who focuses on corporate and M&A matters related to the industry.

With a notable emphasis on transactional mandates, the fishing and aquaculture practice at BAHR provides a full-service offering with ‘deep industry knowledge’. Practice head Silje Remøy, who joined the team in June 2023, combines in-house experience with expertise in corporate and M&A matters. Former practice head Lisa Marie Opdahl left the team in July 2024.

With offices in Tromsø, Oslo, Bodø, and Ålesund, Kvale Advokatfirma DA handles the full spectrum of fishing and aquaculture matters. Practice head Rode S. Rønning-Hansen has a ‘unique understanding of the industry’ and a broad practice; fellow practice head Monica Gjerde Sperre takes point on aquaculture and fishery-related shipping and maritime matters. Henrik Grung is a key contact for corporate and M&A matters. At the associate level, Frederic Holen Bjørdal and Jørgen Blix Nicolaysen are also recommended.

Complimented by multidisciplinary teams, Wiersholm‘s fishing and aquaculture team routinely advises on M&A, financing and tax matters. Svein-Helge Hanken oversees the team and specialises in transactions within the aquaculture industry. Jon Martin Atkinson focuses on M&A and contracts within the sector. Erik Staurset Andresen, a regulatory expert, and Sigrid Ratvik Østvik, who takes point on regulatory and contractual matters, are further names to note.