The leading Norwegian law firm Wiersholm was established in 1875. The firm serves clients out of its Oslo office.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm has vast experience across several financial and corporate areas.
It has one of the market’s strongest banking and capital markets teams, owing to its relationships with Norwegian banks, and has conducted several large project financings and bond offerings in recent years.
The firm acts for issuers and underwriters on IPOs and acquirers and sellers in M&A deals, remaining among Norway’s most active firms across both areas.
The firm’s projects team takes on some of the market’s largest construction and renewable energy mandates and regularly acts for developers on energy and infrastructure projects.
Key clients
Key clients include Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, SpareBank 1 SR-Bank, DNB Bank, Nordea Bank, Danske Bank, ABG, Carnegie, Arctic Securities, Kongsberg Automotive, Volue, Pareto Securities, MPC Energy Solutions, Schibsted, SFL Corporation, Hurtigruten, Kistefos, Kverva, Orkla, Visma, Equinor, Total and Lundin Energy Norway.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
During the research period, the firm advised on deals in banking and finance, debt and equity capital markets, M&A and project development.
In banking and finance the firm received mandates mainly from the banking sector.
In terms of debt capital work, the firm worked on bond issuances in the banking, shipping and energy sectors.
On the equity side of capital markets, the firm worked for clients in the financial services, consumer goods and technology sectors.
In the M&A field the firm attracted clients from sectors such as energy, financial services and technology.
In project development the firm worked mainly for developers in energy, real estate and construction.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Apax Partners $446.5 million acquisition of EcoOnline
Cubera $81 million bond issue
RAK Petroleum $ 800 million secondary share offering
Yara International $250 million revolving credit facility
Client Feedback: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Asset finance
"Quick handling. Clear guidance."
Bank lending
"A very hands-on and service minded team, with very knowledgeable individuals.”
Capital markets
"Very clear and concise advice. Highly efficient and very responsive."
"Providing advise on insider rules, terms of derivatives contract and investor communication"
"Good project lead, responsive and fast returns on requests etc."
"They probably have the best team in Norway regarding equities."
"Extremely qualified, service-minded, efficient, strong team and timely delivery. In addition, they are generally pragmatic and knowledgeable with respect to the issuer’s industry and challenges unique to the sector."
"Top of the Line capital markets team. Extremely experienced and knowledgeable."
"High quality and time efficient legal advice."
Financial services regulatory
"Good and practical advice. In-depth knowledge of the industry and its regulations an excellent sparring partner with deep knowledge of our business."
"Deep legal and industry knowledge - complete overview of what works and not. Able to risk assess, not only «safe side». Pleasant people. Seems to not exploit its juniors."
"Extremely knowledgeable and have a very high standing with the Financial Supervisory Authority."
M&A
"Very skilled partners and senior lawyer. Extremely service oriented and maintain a huge working capacity."
Project development
"Knowledge, experience, ability to listen and develop strategy, customer mindset."
Atle Gabrielsen
"Quick feedback. Clear guidance."
"He is one of the best in the industry, service minded and very knowledgeable."
Anne Lise Gryte
"Excellent lawyer. Provides accurate, timely advice. Highly professional and works very well with other law firms / transaction counterparties."
"Hard-working, competent, discussion partner with focus on finding optimal solutions to the challenges on hand. Also very pleasant to work with and supremely responsive."
"High quality and time efficient legal advice."
Karsten Kreiling
"Extremely skilled and have the complete overview of the transaction at any point in time, with very high working capacity."
Hans Augun Parmann
"Knowledge, experience, calm and constructive attitude, ability to listen and formulate strategy, expresses himself very well in negotiations."
Sverre Sandvik
"Always high quality, commercially minded and responsive"
"Very knowledgeable, always has an answer to requests or questions, both on calls and on email. You can trust that Sverre has good advice on difficult problems."
"Always available. Extremely good to discuss problems with. Indebt knowledge of his field, probably the best one in Norway."
"Sverre is extremely knowledgeable and experienced, and you can always be sure you are getting top notch advice."
"Excellent knowledge of his field probably the best in Norway. always available. Good commercial understanding and practical advice."
Kjersti Trøbråten
"Very competent on regulatory issues, and she has a high standing with the Financial Supervisory Authority."
