Described by clients as ‘simply an elite group of practitioners’, BAHR draws from its strength in energy as well as its overall ocean capabilities to provide a full-service offering in this space. Field development projects, high-value transactions, and newbuild projects feature prominently in the team’s workload. In June 2023, the firm strengthened its shipping offering with the hires of Henrik Aadnesen and Rebecca Lund Nakkim, both from Advokatfirmaet Schjødt. The pair now co-head the practice alongside Morten Smørdal, who focuses on contracts for the construction of rigs and ships, including FPSO contracts; Haakon Flaatten is another key name here. Øystein Meland, based in Bergen, handles shipbuilding contracts, while Geir Gustavsson attracts praise for his ‘commercial acumen, strategical thinking and sophisticated legal analysis’, handling project finance and contentious mandates.

Described by clients as ‘perhaps the most solid practice in the country’, Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS is routinely instructed by large high-profile contractors and regularly advises on shipbuilding mandates, energy development projects, as well as contentious matters within the sector. Christopher Sveen oversees the group and has a strong track record advising oil and offshore industry players on project developments and contracts; while Mikal Brøndmo is the key contact for contentious work. Fielding a strong team of associates, the team also includes Sarah-Ann Kvam, who specialises in offshore construction and shipbuilding contracts, while Silje Helene Bakkevig Dagsland ‘excels’ in both contentious and advisory mandates.

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS advises on the full range of contentious and non-contentious work in the offshore and shipbuilding sector, counting shipyards, suppliers, rig owners, energy companies, and infrastructure operators among its impressive roster of clients. In particular, the team has seen a recent uptick in work related to the increase in energy prices and materials, as well as sanctions-related issues affecting the sector. Mads Haavardsholm oversees the team and focuses on corporate shipping matters, including the sale and purchase of vessels and drilling rigs, shipbuilding contracts, and drilling rig construction projects. Pål Lieungh advises Norwegian offshore energy companies undertaking international projects; Jacob F Bull is another key individual here. Kristine Hyldmo Bjørnvik leads on contentious issues and has extensive experience handling construction and contract disputes.

Leveraging its international network of offices, Wikborg Rein has a solid track record in advising on high-profile and complex mandates, with a particular emphasis on cross-border work as well as shipbuilding disputes. Øyvind Axe oversees the practice from Bergen, working alongside Oslo-based co-head Andreas Fjærvoll-Larsen. Axe’s practice encompasses industry-related transactions, as well as construction contracts, asset sales, and major restructurings. Fjærvoll-Larsen takes point on international transactions in the maritime industry and also contract negotiations and charter agreements. Morten Valen Eide focuses on strategic commercial advice and dispute resolution within the shipping, offshore, and energy segments. Christian James-Olsen heads up the firm’ renewables energy group and also has extensive experience advising on energy-related offshore work, including project development, shipbuilding, and cross-border contract matters.

Karl Erik Navestad heads up Arntzen de Besche’s offshore offering, which covers the full range of contentious and non-contentious shipbuilding and offshore construction projects with a particular focus on oil and gas-related work. Navestad has broad experience handling field developments and general project work, as well as drilling rig contracts and regulatory issues. He works alongside Ole Skeidsvoll Moe, who draws on broad in-house experience to advise on projects and developments, as well as contentious matters.

Noted for its strength in shipping disputes, Kvale Advokatfirma DA acts for large oil companies, shipyards, and shipping companies and advises on the full range of offshore and shipping issues both domestically and cross-border. In 2022, the firm opened an office in Tromsø, strengthening its presence along the northern coast of Norway. Practice head Kristian Lindhartsen focuses on charterparty agreements and insurance disputes in the sector, and Gry Bratvold has extensive experience advising on international offshore projects, while Yngve Bustnesli takes point on transactions and projects on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. For building, subsea, drilling and seismic contracts, Lilly Kathrin Relling is the key contact.

Advokatfirmaet Schjødt handles a high volume of offshore construction and shipbuilding disputes, as well as handling all aspects of corporate shipping transactions, for a broad range of clients that include domestic and international shipyards, ship owners, charterers, financiers and insurers. Erlend Bakken and Nils L. Dahl now jointly lead the practice from Oslo and Stavanger, respectively, while Stian Tennfjord, in Ålesund, specialises in offshore and vessel construction and primarily acts for shipyards. Contractual matters are handled by Camilla Bråfelt, who benefits from significant in-house experience in the maritime industry, while contentious matters are handled by Trond Sollund. Henrik Aadnesen and Rebecca Lund Nakkim left the firm in 2023 and are now at BAHR.

The dedicated offshore construction and shipbuilding team at Selmer receives praise for its ‘exceptional expertise and innovative approach’. Practice co-head Nicolai Myren acts for oil and gas industry players on a broad range of matters, while co-head Christian Steen Eriksen has notable expertise in engineering, procurement and construction contracts in the industry. Frequently working alongside Eriksen is new partner Martin Tandstad Ege, another key name for contracts and procurement issues, particularly charterparties and shipbuilding contracts. Hailed by clients for his ‘strategic insight and meticulous approach’, Preben Berge Helverschou, who joined the firm from Kvale Advokatfirma DA in 2023, is recommended for contentious work relating to offshore support vessels.

Advokatfirmaet Simonsen Vogt Wiig combines its strength in shipping, oil and gas, and other maritime industries with its network of offices along the Norwegian coast to advise leading clients operating on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The Oslo and Bergen offices focus on vessel newbuild work, shipping disputes, and rig construction contracts, with Erlend Lous, Christine Rødsæther, Lars Inge Ørstavik and Jan Vablum being the key names here. Corporate and transactional mandates are overseen by Gunnar Espeland in the Stavanger office, while shipbuilding and repair is an area of focus for the team in Tromsø.

Under the joint leadership of Karl Even Rygh and Kristine Hasle, the interdisciplinary offshore construction and shipbuilding practice at Wiersholm draws on experts from various practice areas across the firm to provide a full-service offering with notable strength in dispute resolution, including acting in international arbitration proceedings; Christian Hauge is a key name here. Field development and project execution feature heavily in the group’s workload, with the team regularly acting for both international and domestic oil services contractors operating on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Sondre Dyrland takes point on offshore construction matters, while associate Mattias Grieg ably assists with transactional work in this space.