ADVOKATFIRMA DLA PIPER ThE OnLy gLObAL LAw FIRM In...

ADVOKATFIRMA DLA PIPERThE OnLy gLObAL LAw FIRM In nORwAy

02 | DLA Piper in Norway

Corporate 04

Tax 05

Real Estate 06

Construction 07

Finance & Projects 09

Employment 10

Intellectual Property & Technology 12

Litigation & Regulatory 14

Restructuring & Insolvency 16

Corporate Responsibility 17

Our Global Reach 18

CONTENTS

A DEDICATED bUSInESS PARTnER

We lay great weight on being a strategic business partner for our clients, with a strong anchorage in legal disciplines. In our close cooperation with our clients we work to find the best, most practical and economic solutions to our clients’ needs and challenges. Our experienced and knowledgeable lawyers have a permanent focus on finding solutions and giving advice that creates wealth for our clients. Often the solution to a challenge is nearer than we think.

As a full-service business law firm we cover the following areas:

■ Transactions & Company Law

■ Tax & VAT

■ Real Estate & Construction

■ Banking, Finance & Projects

■ Employment Law

■ IP & Technology

■ Litigation & Regulatory Counselling

■ Restructuring & Insolvency

www.dlapiper.com

Advokatfirma DLA Piper is one of Norway’s leading law firms, with 55 lawyers and a total of 75 employees. We are part of DLA Piper, the world’s largest law firm, with 4,200 lawyers in 30 countries all over the globe. We are a full-service commercial law firm that assists Norwegian and international clients in all areas of business law.

“In close collaboration with our clients we work to find the best, most practical and economical solutions to our clients’ needs and challenges.”

Aslak AslaksenPartner, Corporate [email protected]

Lars-Kaspar AndersenPartner, Corporate [email protected]

Sveinung MjaugedalPartner, Corporate [email protected]

We also assist companies and investors with public and private offers of equity and loan capital, shareholder agreements etc.

We also assist undertakings with all kinds of corporate-law matters, plus listed enterprises, with stock-exchange regulations, insider issues etc.

Our lawyers have considerable experience in project management for complex multi-national corporate transactions.

Fredrik LykkePartner & Group Head, Corporate [email protected]

With more than 1,200 lawyers around the world, our Corporate division assists many of the world’s leading and prominent growth companies, plus financial institutions and private equity and venture funds, with buying, selling and merger of undertakings, including acquisition of listed companies.

CORPORATE


Our taxation division offers counselling to national and international companies, organisations and private individuals. We offer legal services in among other things income and property taxes, planning of inheritance tax, general tax planning, corporate transactions, tariff rates and VAT, and we assist with various kinds of tax disputes.

We also have comprehensive expertise in transfer pricing.

TAX

bård braathenAssociated Partner & Group Head, Tax [email protected]

Siv Merethe ØveraasenAssociated Partner, Tax [email protected]

www.dlapiper.com

REAL ESTATE

Our competence embraces the following relevant areas:

■ Property transactions in all types of industry and structure

■ Assistance in property investments outside Norway via our DLA Piper colleagues overseas

■ Assistance with international investors’ investments in Norway

■ Contract regulation and contract negotiations

■ Due diligence

■ Establishment of investment and ownership structures

■ Financing/raising of capital

■ Organisation of development projects

■ Taxation

■ Planning and development processes and other public regulation

■ Leases

■ Property law and rights in real estate

■ Registration

■ Expropriation and discretionary valuation

■ Allodial property rights and primogeniture

■ Neighbour problems

■ Dispute resolution

Real Estate

Our real estate lawyers have long experience and solid references from assistance related to sales, acquisition, development and management of property. We regularly handle complex property transactions and development projects within both the commercial and the residential property market.

We supply complete legal services to the entire value chain of the property market; from property companies and contractors, brokerages and facilitators, to tenants, managers, hotel operators and finance firms. We represent both private and public undertakings. Thorough familiarity with the statutes and regulations at any given time applicable to the real estate industry is naturally the foundation of all our advice. Our clients should be able to expect and discover that our lawyers have the best expertise in all areas of law affecting real estate.

We adapt team and specialist competence to each individual client and the assignment in question, often in combination with attorneys from other professional groups in DLA Piper (for example in corporate, taxation and financing). Our size and empirical background enable us to participate in any property project, no matter how large or complex. We also pay great attention to being a strategic business partner for our clients in addition to supplying legal services. We therefore focus continuously on further developing our insight into and commercial understanding of the property market.

A close and long-term cooperation with our principals, together with a thorough analysis of their needs and interests in each individual case, helps us to realise this objective. Our lawyers regularly act as lecturers in their specialities. We also offer customised courses to our clients and other players in the industry.

DLA Piper has one of the largest professional groups in real estate and construction in Norway.


SPECIAL EXPERTISE In ThE COnSTRUCTIOn InDUSTRy

In Norway we distinguish ourselves as a law firm by our thorough knowledge of the construction industry. We have a very strong team that works on construction-contract law as its special field. Several of our lawyers have backgrounds as corporate counsel in the big construction firms, which affords us unique insight into the construction industry and a realistic approach to our clients’ needs. DLA Piper Norway is a substantial and one of the most requested legal advisor to the construction industry in Norway. We advise on regular basis 7 out of 10 and 10 out of 15 of the largest construction companies in the country. Our work covers multiple practice groups such as Construction, Real Estate, Corporate/M&A, Employment and Regulatory, making the construction industry one of the key sectors and focus areas for DLA Piper in Norway, and making DLA Piper as one of the most prominent legal player and advisor to the construction business.

Construction disputes and advise on construction agreements, negotiations and strategic advice, financing and structuring of projects and acquisitions, joint ventures, land acquisition, development projects, mergers & acquisitions, zoning and environmental issues, labor issues and regulatory issues are all examples of matters we regularly are involved in on behalf of our clients within the construction business.

LOng AnD bROAD EXPERIEnCE

We have long and broad experience in all forms of construction assignments. Our competence ranges from big international construction projects in infrastructure to smaller local projects in housing and commerce. We have for a number of years assisted most of the big Norwegian construction companies.

In addition we assist principals, consulting engineers, architects, small and medium contractors, plus industry associations.

We offer legal assistance covering all aspects of a construction assignment: risk evaluation of projects, review/preparation of contract, public permits, contract negotiations, running assistance during project implementation, final settlement, plus dispute resolution and litigation or arbitration proceedings.

EFFICIEnCy

The foundation for our counselling is our understanding of the industry and its enterprises, plus strongly work-geared client relationships. For this reason we can rationally and efficiently provide the necessary legal advice. We are continually stretching ourselves to satisfy our clients’ needs for assistance as efficiently as possible.

ThE CUTTIng EDgE

The complexity of construction contracts has increased considerably in recent years. New contract structures such as PPP contracts and partnering are changing the traditional apportionment of risk and responsibility between principal, contractor and adviser. We have a leading role in structuring and counselling in connection with PPP contracts and partnering agreements. We also assist with tenders, negotiations and implementation of PPP highways projects, both contractually and financially.

ASSISTAnCE ACROSS nATIOnAL bOUnDARIES

In a time when the market is being internationalised and the individual market player has an increasing presence in several countries, as Norway’s only international law firm DLA Piper can offer its clients unique assistance across national boundaries. Regardless of where in the world the need should be felt, our clients can relate to a single point of contact and a single law firm. We also work under a single, global policy for third-party cover.

CONSTRUCTION

www.dlapiper.com

Anders bergenePartner, Real Estate [email protected]

Espen MoePartner, Construction [email protected]

Magnus Løvlien LutnæsPartner, Real Estate [email protected]

hans Christian brodtkorbPartner, Construction [email protected]

bjørn SlattaPartner & Group Head, Real Estate & Construction [email protected]

Are hunskaarPartner Professional Group Leader, Construction [email protected]


Forms of finance are undergoing constant development in order to satisfy the requirements of new market and business segments. We ensure effective and reliable structuring, documentation and implementation of ever more complex national and cross-border transactions. We offer effective and practical solutions that protect the commercial aspects of every transaction. Our approach is to develop the simplest, most clearly-structured and most transparent contractual conditions that are possible for complex financial transactions. We have a creative approach to financial transactions and collaborate closely with banks, financial institutions and leading commercial players with a view to securing their investments and reduce their risks and adding value to their businesses.

The finance team in Oslo works particularly closely with our finance teams in London, Stockholm, Frankfurt and New York. We have broad experience in all types of financial transactions. Combined with intense commercial focus and understanding, this means that we are often asked to assist our clients in strategic and structural questions. We are also skilled technicians and deliver efficiently in the face of technical questions and challenges, and we are extremely effective administrators in transaction processes.

Our finance teams assist with:

■ Bilateral and syndicated loan and guarantee facilities

■ Acquisition financing

■ Projects and project finance

■ Structured transactions

■ Capital market transactions and bond loans

■ Mezzanine loans and hybrid capital

■ Derivatives

■ Regulatory matters

we are specialists in the following areas:

■ Energy and infrastructure projects, including PPP

■ Financing of (and transactions related to) ships, offshore installations, real estate and aviation

■ Acquisition financing – privately-held and listed companies

FINANCE & PROJECTS

Camilla wollanPartner, Finance & Projects [email protected]

Tord EidePartner, Finance & Projects [email protected]

Fredrik LindblomPartner & Group Head, Finance & Projects [email protected]

www.dlapiper.com

EMPLOYMENT

With our long experience in questions of labour law from large parts of the private and public sectors, we can offer assistance adapted to the needs of the individual enterprise.


Our experience makes it possible to have a practical and business-oriented approach and in this way we become an active partner in the structure of the company in the implementation of a good HR policy.

we assist with the following:

■ Appointment and preparation of contracts of employment

■ Establishment of incentive schemes

■ Preparation of internal routines and standard documents

■ Pensions

■ Questions of working hours

■ Health, Safety and Working Environment (HSE)

■ Follow-up of sickness absence

■ Privacy protection

■ Conflict-handling

■ Mergers and acquisitions

■ Reorganisation and rationalisation

■ Handling of whistleblowers

■ Disciplinary follow-up and termination of employment

■ International employment

We offer courses in a number of labour-law topics. We hold these courses ourselves, but in cooperation with several serious course organisers. We also offer customised courses for our clients. We further offer international courses in labour law together with several of our labour-law divisions in other countries.

Anette Mittet gjertsenPartner, Employment, Pensions & Benefits [email protected]

Per benonisenPartner & Group Head, Employment, Pension & Benefits [email protected]

www.dlapiper.com

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & TECHNOLOGYDLA Piper’s division for technology, sourcing and IPR focuses on provision of state-of-the-art legal expertise to all enterprises that need to protect or exploit an intellectual property right. We help our clients to achieve their commercial goals by assisting with development, protection, exploitation and use of technology-related assets at every stage.


We have long experience from a number of sectors that enables us to provide valuable practical assistance with innovative solutions. We assist many of the world’s biggest companies in a large number of sectors, including outsourcing, ICT, media, pharmaceuticals, health, banking and finance, FMCG and telecommunications. In addition to the traditional issues that arise in the form of for example questions about trademarks, patents, commercial secrets, convergence problems, domains, infringements and licensing, we have strong competencies in a number of regulatory questions, among other things privacy and recall situations.

DLA Piper has one of the largest international groups of technology and IP lawyers in the world. Nearly 400 lawyers every day help our clients handle risk, continue growth and protect market shares locally and globally. We understand the commercial factors and the pressure and the expectations created by disputes and related negotiations, and assist with innovative and strategic solutions to handle these. When a dispute arises, our primary interest is optimally to address your commercial goals. Whether you use legal action or negotiations to solve problems, our IP and technology group can represent and assist you from the day the conflict materialises to the day you have found your solution.

Cecilie haavikPartner, Intellectual Property & Technology [email protected]

nils Arne grønliePartner & Group Head, Intellectual Property & Technology [email protected]

www.dlapiper.com

The regulation of Norwegian business is extensive, complex and interwoven with requirements from the EU and EEA. A number of industries, enterprises and agreements are dependent on consent and/or permits from public authorities.

The EU is Norway’s most important trade partner and the EEA Agreement is the biggest and most extensive international legally-binding agreement Norway has ever signed. Over and above the EEA Agreement Norway also possesses a broad network of international trade agreements. In addition the Norwegian public sector is a large and important player in a number of markets. For a number of our clients, public procurement of goods and services accounts for a considerable share of their turnover.

The regulations on public procurement and their enforcement are vital to our Regulatory division, which assists both national and international clients with counselling and contact with and vis-à-vis public authorities. This may be in connection with mergers and acquisitions where permits are necessary from relevant competitive authorities, other sector agencies (for example the Norwegian Media

Authority, the Norwegian Post and Telecommunications Authority, the Civil Aviation Authority etc.) and/or from the ministries. We also assist clients with regulations-oriented advice vis-à-vis EFTA, the EFTA Surveillance Authority plus the European Commission. Several of our staff have backgrounds from EFTA and possess special competence on the EEA Agreement plus Norway’s other free trade agreements. Our Regulatory services are “seamless” and our team is an integral part of a larger EMEA team. Our cooperation in the Nordic region and with the EU (Brussels) is particularly strong.

Furthermore we assist with compliance counselling, private investigations, in the event of suspicion of irregularities and potential contravention of Norwegian framework legislation, including for example the competition and/or anti-corruption legislation.

LITIGATION & REGULATORY


Kjetil JohansenPartner, Litigation & Regulatory [email protected]

Knud Jacob KnudsenPartner, Litigation & Regulatory plus leader for our Interdisciplinary Litigation Group [email protected]

Runar hansenPartner& Group Head, Litigation & Regulatory plus leader of our Interdisciplinary Insurance Group [email protected]

“The regulations on public procurement and their enforcement are vital to our Regulatory division. We assist national and international clients with counselling and contact with public authorities.”

www.dlapiper.com

Our Restructuring group consists of an interdisciplinary team with long experience of trade and industry, dispute resolution, general company law and bankruptcy law. We collaborate closely with our local and global teams in finance and corporate in order to offer full-service legal advice in insolvency and restructuring questions.

We have broad experience in both local and international restructuring, and our team has extensive expertise in all aspects of companies’ financial difficulties. We also assist with advice on directors’ liability and litigation/dispute resolution. Our attorneys are often appointed as estate administrators by local Norwegian probate courts.

we regularly represent:

■ Debtors

■ Secured and unsecured creditors

■ Shareholders

■ Banks and other financial institutions

■ Insurance companies

■ Administrators and landlords of real estate

■ Purchasers of assets in bankruptcy negotiations

RESTRUCTURING & INSOLVENCY

Egil hatlingPartner, Restructuring [email protected]

Johan RatvikPartner & Group Head, Restructuring [email protected]


DLA Piper takes social responsibility seriously. On a global basis, every year we donate around 200,000 hours to assist charitable objectives and needy social groups.

Through our pro bono work we support among other things the following organisations and projects:

■ Regular legal adviser to the annual Norwegian TV-based charity drive “TV-aksjonen”

■ Kirkens Bymisjon, the Church of Norway urban mission

■ Legal adviser to the Norwegian cancer association “Kreftforeningen”

■ Legal adviser to Global Dignity Day

■ Sponsor of Partnership for Change

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

www.dlapiper.com

AFRICA

Addis Ababa

Accra

Cairo

Cape Town

Dar es Salaam

Johannesburg

Gabarone

Kampala

Kigali

Lusaka

Mwanza

Nairobi

Port Louis

AMERICAS

Albany

Annapolis

Atlanta

Atlantic City

Austin

Baltimore

Boston

Caracas

Chicago

Dallas

Florham Park

Houston

La Jolla

Los Angeles

Mexico City

Miami

Minneapolis

New York

Northern Virginia

Philadelphia

Phoenix

Raleigh

Sacramento

San Diego

San Francisco

São Paulo

Seattle

Silicon Valley

Tampa

Washington, DC

Wilmington

ASIA PACIFIC

Auckland

Bangkok

Beijing

Brisbane

Canberra

Hong Kong

Melbourne

Perth

Seoul

Shanghai

Singapore

Sydney

Tokyo

Ulaanbaatar

Wellington

EUROPE

Amsterdam

Ankara

Antwerp

Berlin

Birmingham

Bratislava

Brussels

Bucharest

Budapest

Cologne

Copenhagen

Dublin

Edinburgh

Frankfurt

Glasgow

Hamburg

Istanbul

Kyiv

Leeds

Lisbon

Liverpool

London

Madrid

Manchester

Milan

Moscow

Munich

Oslo

Paris

Prague

Rome

Sarajevo

Sheffield

St. Petersburg

Stockholm

Tbilisi

Vienna

Warsaw

Zagreb

MIDDLE EAST

Abu Dhabi

Doha

Dubai

Kuwait City

Manama

Muscat

Riyadh

OUR GLOBAL REACH


DLA Piper

MinneapolisNew YorkNorthern VirginiaPhiladelphiaPhoenixRaleighSacramentoSan DiegoSan FranciscoSão PauloSeattleSilicon ValleyTampaWashington, DCWilmington

LiverpoolLondonMadridManchesterMilanMoscowMunichOsloParisPragueRomeSarajevoShef eldSt. PetersburgStockholmTbilisiViennaWarsawZagreb

AlbanyAnnapolisAtlantaAtlantic City AustinBaltimoreBostonCaracasChicagoDallasFlorham ParkHoustonLa Jolla Los AngelesMexico CityMiami

AMERICASAFRICAAucklandBangkokBeijingBrisbaneCanberraHong KongMelbournePerthSeoulShanghaiSingaporeSydneyTokyoUlaanbaatarWellington

ASIA PACIFICAmsterdamAnkaraAntwerpBerlinBirminghamBratislavaBrusselsBucharestBudapestCologneCopenhagenDublinEdinburghFrankfurtGlasgowHamburgIstanbulKyivLeedsLisbon

Addis AbabaAccraCairoCape TownDar es SalaamJohannesburgGabaroneKampalaKigaliLusakaMwanzaNairobiPort Louis

EUROPEAbu DhabiDohaDubaiKuwait CityManamaMuscatRiyadh

MIDDLE EAST

Relationship FirmsDLA Piper

Relationship Firms

www.dlapiper.com

DLA Piper norway is part of DLA Piper, a global law firm operating through various separate and distinct legal entities.

Further details of these entities can be found at www.dlapiper.com | Switchboard +47 24 13 15 00.

Copyright © 2013 DLA Piper. All rights reserved. | SEP13 | 0250/KP

www.dlapiper.com/no/norway

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