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"My experiences with Thommessen are very good. They are my preferred legal advisor," says one client. "They always give full partner attention – no associates but direct advice from the partners. I really appreciate that."

Thommessen has been active this year, with the economic downturn having a minimal effect on the firm. Rights offerings provided a lot of work for Thommessen, with the firm acting for the Oslo Børs-listed company Norwegian Property in its NKr2.5 billion (€283 million) rights offering in June 2008.

A team led by Kim Dobrowen advised SAS in its 2009 rights offering, worth almost SKr6 billion (€570 million). Thommessen advised Nordea Bank during its €2.5 billion rights offering in early 2009.

The rights offering of Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB), with a value of €1.5 billion, was done by the firm, and it also advised the Oslo Børs-listed company NorDiag on its rights offerings in 2008 and 2009. Thommessen also acted for Telenor in its proposed 2009 rights offering but this was cancelled.

"I recommend Anders Arnkævrn, he is very good. I see Thommessen almost daily, a very active practice," says one rival partner.

Thommessen acted for the underwriters in two proposed IPOs. Both Media Norge's IPO and Gjensidige's IPO were put on hold at a late stage in 2008, with Hans Cappelen Arnesen acting for both teams.

One client says: "I mostly work with Hans Cappelen Arnesen. He is hands-on, easy to approach and very quick in handling questions."

"I worked with Thommessen," says one client, "a very good firm. They have a large team of specialised people." Thommessen has managed to battle bravely through the economic storm, even though the work in the last 18 months has mainly consisted of focussing on existing deals.

In June 2008 Thommessen worked with Storebrand on the issuance of NKr3.5 billion (€400 million) in subordinated bonds. This followed on from a €600 million bridge facility provided to the company by JPMorgan and UBS.

Partner Sverre Tyrhaug worked on this deal and is respected by clients. "Tyrhaug is very good, very dedicated and a fairly young lawyer," says one client "He is a shipping and off-shore expert."

Thommessen assisted a syndicate led by DnB NOR Bank on an $800 million credit facility for Seadrill X for the construction of two drilling units. The same syndicate was represented by Thommessen in relation to a $775 million credit facility for Aker Drilling.

Hans Haugstad is starting to make a name for himself in the market. "A rising star," says one rival. "Keep an eye on him."

"I worked with Thommessen a few times," says one client. "I think they are skilled, to-the-point and very efficient. Absolutely one of the top firms for mergers. They know what they are doing and have a lot of experience." Thommessen can look back on a productive year where it attracted some big clients and worked some immense deals.

The firm assisted Microsoft when it acquired the Norwegian-listed company Fast Search and Transfer for €718 million in July 2008. The company STX Europe was represented in March 2008 by partners Baard Bale and Hans Cappelen Arnesen on its acquisition of Aker Yards, a Norwegian-listed company, for NKr4.3 billion (€490 million).

A team from Thommessen acted for the German oil and gas company Wintershall Holding when it acquired the Norwegian oil company Revus Energy in February 2009 for NKr5 billion (€570 million).

In December 2008, the firm was counsel to Austevoll Seafoods when it bought a large number of shares in Lerøy Seafood, making Austevoll the majority shareholder with a 75% stake. Lerøy is valued at NKr3.2 billion (€365 million).

"I recommend Anders Arnkværn," says one rival partner. "He is very good and has a lot of experience with big deals."