Thommessen is a leading Norwegian law firm with offices in Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger and London. The firm’s history stretches back to 1856.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm ranks highly across all areas of financial and corporate law. Banking, renewable energy and technology are sectors where the firm consistently performs strongly.
In the banking area the firm generally advises on a range of issues including acquisition and project financing as well as on financial restructurings for various lenders and borrowers.
The firm is arguably the market leader in the capital markets space and consistently works across several of Norway’s largest mandates. On the debt side the firm acts for both managers and issuers. On the equity side the firm has represented either the issuers or the underwriters on many significant IPOs for the last ten years.
In M&A the firm works on a mix of acquisitions, mergers, investments and joint ventures for some of the country’s largest companies.
Project development is another source of strength for the firm, where it often advises on some of the most complex undertakings not just in renewable energy, but also in infrastructure and real estate.
Key clients
Key clients include Norsk Hydro, EQT, Goldman Sachs, Summa Equity, ABG Sundal Collier, Pareto Securities, DNB Bank, Carnegie, Danske Bank, Nordea Bank, Svenska Handelsbanken, GIEK (Norwegian Export Credit Guarantee Agency), Storebrand, Gabler Investments, Seadrill, Equinor, Lyse, Zephyr/GulesletteneVindkraft AS/Haram Kraft, Lutelandet Vindpark and Green Investment Group.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
During the research period, the firm was active in banking and finance, debt and equity capital, M&A and project development.
In terms of banking and finance work the firm’s clients have been from seafood industry, the financial services industry and the transport industry.
In the debt capital markets sphere, the firm has worked on bond and note issuances for companies in the banking and financial services sectors.
On the equity side the firm has attracted clients from the banking, financial services, consumer goods and healthcare sectors.
In M&A the firm worked on mandates from companies in the technology, financial services and fisheries sectors.
In project development the firm worked for some notable clients in the energy, public, utilities and manufacturing industries.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
FREYR battery cell production plant
Komplett $484m acquisition of NetOnNet
M Vest Energy $60 million senior secured bond issue
Shelf Drilling $130 million private placements
Velfra $84 million refinancing
Client Feedback: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Bank lending
"Thommessen has the largest banking and finance team in Norway with well and broad experienced lawyers. The team handles without problem everything from the most complicated syndicated financing structure case to a plain vanilla bilateral bank financing transaction. The composition of the team is also well balanced, i.e. the partner layer, the senior lawyer layer and the junior associate layer works and fits together efficiently. Thommessen is also very commercial and pragmatic and does not try to expand the work in an unecessary way that we might see from other firms."
"Very knowledgeable individuals, who knows the business."
Capital markets
"They offer the best legal expertise and case/ project management in their field."
"They are sharp in their analysis and clear in synthesizing complex problems."
"Thommessen is always very constructive, have deep knowledge and a very commercial mindset."
M&A
"They are pro-active and respond quickly on new drafts etc."
"Legal and practical solutions."
"Good resources and able to carry big workload."
"Apply all required resources immediately, work creatively, and understand the client's needs. In addition, absolute reliability on legal aspects."
"Excellent competence, industry knowledge, service and commercial savvy"
"Quality and accessibility of senior lawyers. Sector experience. Efficiency in providing services.
Understanding the client's requirements and objectives."
"Easy and flexible to work with. Good knowledge and experience in this area."
"Availability, skillset, positive attitude, efficiency.”
Project development
"Thommessen's assistance is characterized by their extensive experience with this type of legal support related to both wind turbines and civil contracts. In addition to legal expertise,
Thommessen also contributes with technical insight into this type of power developments."
"Knowledge and being effective in the way they work."
"Business focused / wholistic view."
"One stop shop. Competent and experienced with a strong personal sense & commitment."
"Good teams, great quality in their deliveries and always timely."
"They are top-tier, pragmatic and carries the right values. Deep industry insight."
"Very competent. Engaged. Quick to respond."
Thomas Abrahamsen
"He is very pro-active, pleasant to work with, knowledgeable, and responds quickly to requests."
Anders Arnkværn
"Accessible, knowledgeable and solution-oriented."
"Excellent knowledge, service and commercial & practical approach."
"Highly receptive and attentive to the customer's requests and objectives. Very efficient. Highly accessible. Intelligent balance of legal and commercial approach."
Jacob Bull
"He is knowledgeable about the energy industry and wind power development in particular, as well
legally competent. Always quick to respond and almost available 24/7."
"Good business understanding - utilizes a wholistic view."
"Always available - super service level and industry insights."
Bendik Christoffersen
"Extremely competent. Intelligent. Broad insight in the sector. Vast experience."
Lars Eirik Gåseide Røsås
"Is always available and solves problems."
Einar Grette
"Excellent legal services combined with in depth market knowledge."
"Very positive, always accesable and very commerical oriented."
Kristoffer Hegdal
"Strong project management, very strong team."
Ellen Teresa Heyerdahl
"She is one of the best in the business, service minded and very knowledgeable."
"Ellen is a hard-working, well experienced, service minded and top qualified lawyer. She delivers expert advice both individually and together with her team that stands out beacause of their ability to take into consideration both the law and the commercial side of a case as well as risks and strategic considerations."
Tore Mydske
"Extreme in-depth knowledge of financial regulatory issues."
Rune Steinsland
"Very constructive - not making up issues."
Audun Stornes
"He communicates very good. positive with good business understanding."
Lars Martin Sveen
"Good in explaining the juridical language to me as a client. Good in communicating process and content."
Henrik Torgrimsby
"Excellent at seeing the big picture and where he and his colleagues could help. The best "value for money" lawyer I ever worked with. Very competent in the renewable business and a super nice guy!"
