IP and tech boutique ADVOKATFIRMAET GJESSINGREIMERS AS is hailed by clients for its ‘unique‘ knowledge of the full range of intellectual property matters, including copyrights, trade marks, and patents. With notable strength in the life sciences, energy, and consumer goods sectors, the team is routinely instructed by prominent international and domestic corporations. Felix Reimers oversees the group, handling contentious and non-contentious trade mark, patent and trade secret work. Seasoned litigator Ida Gjessing has a focus on patent and trade mark litigation and is currently acting as lead counsel for Welltec in the Welltec-Altus Intervention patent case, working alongside Yngve Øyehaug Opsvik. Amund Brede Svendsen has a notable focus on patent work for clients in the pharma and oil and gas services industries.

With notable strength in the pharma, aquaculture, and fisheries industries, Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS fields a ‘young and talented’ team that sits within the firm’s broader technology, media, and IP department. Vebjørn Krag Iversen oversees the group and has a substantial IP practice that covers patent litigation, trade secrets work, and product imitations. Working alongside Iversen, Andreas Bernt acts primarily for clients in the media and entertainment sectors. The team also includes the ‘extremely experienced’ Håkon Bleken and Håkon Austdal, who are key contacts for contentious matters, particularly in the pharma, food, and life sciences sectors.

Noted for its strength in patent, trade mark, and copyright disputes, Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS also routinely advises clients on the IP aspects of transactions as well as regulatory matters. The team is overseen by Camilla Vislie, who focuses on contentious matters and is described by clients as ‘one of the most outstanding IP lawyers in Norway’. Eirik W Raanes is the key name for clients in the oil and gas, renewables, and entertainment industries, while ‘legal encyclopaedia‘ Magnus Hauge Greaker also handles contentious mandates, representing clients in major patent litigation within the pharma, energy, and collective rights sectors. Julie Rasmussen Solli is praised for her ‘outstanding overview and understanding of the field‘.

Wiersholm’s ‘best in town’ IP practice stands out for its broad expertise across the full spectrum of intellectual property matters, advising clients across a broad range of industries on copyright issues, patent litigation, trade mark matters, and trade secrets work. The ‘excellent‘ Hans Erik Johnsen has a broad practice with a notable emphasis on the broadcasting, media, and sports sectors. Rune Opdahl specialises in contentious and non-contentious copyright, trade mark, and patent matters, while seasoned IP litigator Anne Marie Sejersted has extensive experience acting for clients in the life sciences, offshore, and renewables industries; the trio jointly oversees the team. At associate level, Kristiane Aarvik and Dina Brask are also recommended.

Lauded by clients as ‘one of Norway’s strongest‘, Wikborg Rein’s intellectual property offering spans all core areas of IP law, with notable emphasis on contentious matters, particularly patent litigation. Hanna Beyer Olaussen heads up the ‘stellar‘ team, which sits within the firm’s broader tech and digitalisation practice, led by Lars Erik Steinkjer. Olaussen advises start-ups and large multinational corporations on intellectual property rights related to emerging technology, while Steinkjer has particular experience handling complex patent disputes in the offshore, aquaculture, and pharma sectors. The core team also includes Gunnar Meyer, who is ‘one of Norway’s most experienced patent litigators‘, as well as the ‘highly competent‘ Nora Bratheim.

BAHR has a solid track record advising multinational pharma companies, as well as clients in the energy, media, and telecoms sectors, on patent litigation and major IP transactions. The ‘very skilled‘ Eirik Basmo Ellingsen was promoted to partner in 2023 and now heads up the team, while seasoned litigator Gunnar Sørlie has extensive experience handling high-profile patent disputes. Jacob A. Møller joined the team in March 2023; he leads the firm’s overall technology group and advises clients in the tech sector on various IP issues. Senior associate Anja Stensrud Elverum is another core name here. Are Stenvik left the firm in 2023 to become a Supreme Court justice.

The ‘effective and thorough‘ Marie Vaale-Hallberg heads up Kvale Advokatfirma DA’s intellectual property offering, which attracts praise for its ‘unique‘ industry knowledge. The group has notable expertise in advising leading food and beverage companies on trade mark matters, counting leading Norwegian agricultural cooperatives Tine and Nortura among its clients. The team also has a presence in the tech industry, as well as the life sciences and offshore sectors. Ingvild Hanssen-Bauer takes point on contentious matters and has a strong track record in advising on patent litigation in the pharma space.

Recent work highlights for the intellectual property team at Advokatfirmaet Schjødt AS include successfully representing Rottefella AS and Madshus AS in a high-profile patent and trade mark infringement case. The ‘very dedicated and responsive‘ team is overseen by Thomas Hagen and also includes Halvor Manshaus, a seasoned litigator with significant expertise advising on patent disputes for clients in the media sector. Other key names include Knut Sverre Skurdal Andresen and Øyvind Eidissen, who focus on patent disputes and licence agreements, respectively.

The ‘very reliable and committed‘ team at Advokatfirmaet Simonsen Vogt Wiig regularly handles contentious and non-contentious copyright matters for clients in the culture and sports industries. Practice head Rune Ljostad has extensive experience in advising media, entertainment, and life sciences companies on copyright and trade mark issues, while Espen Tøndel, praised for his ‘unmatched knowledge and dedication‘, advises on IP strategy and commercialisation. At associate level, the ‘exceptional‘ Nicholas Foss Barbantonis handles trade mark disputes and IP transactions, while the ‘brilliant’ Hedda Baumann Heier is recommended for her copyright expertise.

Tommy Dahlen oversees Arntzen de Besche’s intellectual property team, which continues to advise on the IP aspects of large transactions, particularly for start-ups and established clients in the tech industry. Dahlen takes point on non-contentious mandates and has particular expertise in advising on the preparation and implementation of protection strategies. He is ably assisted by the ‘constructive, pragmatic and responsive‘ Christopher Hestnes; both are based in Trondheim.

Julius Berg Kaasin attracts praise for his ‘excellent commercial understanding‘ and leads the growing intellectual property practice at Brækhus Advokatfirma DA. With significant in-house experience from the retail and technology industries, Kaasin is well-placed to advise on the full range of IP matters, with notable emphasis on trade secrets issues. The group handles all aspects of IP work, including copyright, industrial property rights, and patent litigation, collaborating closely with the firm’s technology department. At associate level, Karna Fog and Ingvild Aarskog are the key names to note.

Closely cooperating with the firm’s TMT practice, the intellectual property and marketing team at Bull & Co Advokatfirma AS acts for a diverse roster of clients across the media, television, and arts and culture sectors on both contentious and non-contentious matters. Practice head Lisa Digernes is dual-qualified in Norway and New York and has significant experience advising on cross-border IP matters, including strategies and protection work. Tom G Eilertsen focuses on intellectual property rights in the film industry, while Jan Morten Evertsen handles copyright work across a range of industries. For clients in the consumer goods industry, Rune Nordengen and Cathrine Grundvig are the key contacts to note. Bente Holmvang left the firm in 2023.

Under the leadership of Stephan Brodschöll and the ‘very knowledgeable and pragmatic‘ Hanne Heltne, Advokatfirmaet CLP DA advises technology companies, software clients, and media houses on disputes, transactions, and portfolio restructurings. Brödscholl handles both contentious and non-contentious mandates for clients in the IT industry, while Heltne draws on in-house experience from both the energy and media industry to advise on movie rights, copyright licensing, and the IP aspects of transactions.

Clients in the music industry regularly seek the counsel of CMS Kluge’s intellectual property team, described as the ‘best team in Norway when it comes to licensing of music and media rights’. Marte Thorsby, who has extensive in-house experience from the music industry, is the key name here. Practice head Thomas Rieber-Mohn focuses on copyright and trade marks, while Kyrre Tangen Andersen takes point on technology-related IP work.

Monica Syrdal leads Advokatfirmaet Hjort’s intellectual property team, which routinely assists clients in the telecoms and media sectors, with a notable focus on copyright-related issues. Syrdal is the key contact for clients in the media industry, assisting with copyright, trade mark, and regulatory issues. Working alongside her is Rolf Chr. Trolle Andersen, a seasoned litigator with a solid track record in advising on contentious IP matters. At managing associate level, Øivind K. Foss attracts praise for his contentious trade mark and domain name expertise.

Handling a high volume of contentious matters, SANDS advises international and domestic clients on trade mark and trade secrets disputes as well as non-contentious trade mark protection work. The ‘highly skilled’ Katrine Malmer-Høvik leads the team and has a broad practice that spans the full range of IP work. The group also includes John Steffen Gulbrandsen, who takes point on IP work in the publishing and media industry, as well as senior associate Henriette Wiker, who ably assists on contentious matters.

DLA Piper routinely assists clients with trade mark protection, intellectual property management, and IP disputes. Lill Anita Grimstad now leads the team, having joined from an in-house position in 2022; Grimstad’s practice spans both contentious and non-contentious work, with particular emphasis on IP protection strategy development. Another new hire is Ketil Sellæg Ramberg, who handles IP matters for clients in the tech space. Petter Bjerke left the firm in 2023 and is now at SANDS.

Leveraging the firm’s strength across the tech sector, Advokatfirmaet Føyen AS routinely advises major industry players on trade mark and copyright issues. Knut Glad leads the IP team, which sits within the firm’s broader ICT department and focuses on IP in the digital space. The group recently strengthened its copyright offering with the recruitment of Vebjørn Søndersrød from Ræder Bing in May 2023.