News

Shipping Offshore Update – October 2025

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07/05/2026

Navigating Intellectual Property Rights in Defence Procurements

In defence procurements, intellectual property rights often constitute one of the most central components of the procurement itself. The contract’s provisions regarding intellectual property rights can be decisive, not only for the contract value, but also for the parties' room to manoeuvre for many years to come. It is therefore essential for all parties involved to have full control over which rights are included in the contract and which are not.

29/04/2026

Eviny acquires the Bjerkreim Wind Farm Cluster

We assisted Luxcara with their divestment of the Bjerkreim wind farm cluster to Eviny.

Four well-dressed young adults smiling on a tall ship deck with Bergen, Norway harbor in background.

28/04/2026

Connecting students and industry: Insights from life at sea during One Ocean Week

Together with The Bergen Chamber of Commerce and Industry and YoungShip, we hosted an event at Statsraaden during One Ocean Week in Bergen. The event brought students and industry together to spotlight the maritime sector, and the importance of young perspectives in shaping its future.

A blurred Russian flag waving behind a chain-link fence against a clear blue sky.

24/04/2026

EU adopts its 20th package of sanctions against Russia

The long-awaited 20th package of sanctions was adopted by the EU on 23 April 2026, comprising 120 new individual listings along with wide-ranging economic measures targeting key sectors fuelling Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

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23/04/2026

Industrial Cooperation in the Defence Sector – Opportunities for Norwegian Industry

Given the significant defence procurements that have been initiated and are to be initiated in the coming years, the potential for Norwegian industrial participation is substantial. With thorough knowledge of the regulatory framework and early positioning vis-à-vis foreign suppliers, one is better equipped to seize the opportunities that arise.

21/04/2026

Standing with the Civilian Population in Ukraine

Wikborg Rein’s partner, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, documents atrocities and fights for the human rights of the civilian population in war-torn Ukraine. Through an insight into the committee's work, we hear of suffering and fear, but also of resilience, courage, and hope for a brighter future.

15/04/2026

Wikborg Rein continues to rank among the world’s leading arbitration practices

In the 2026 edition of Global Arbitration Review’s GAR 100, our arbitration team is once again the only Norwegian practice recognised. This recognition reflects our strength in complex cross-border disputes, where clients highlight our quality, strategic insight, and consistent performance.

09/04/2026

Defence investments and ownership control

Interest in Norwegian defence industry has never been greater. The supplier industry and technology companies are positioning themselves as defence suppliers, and investors are identifying the sector as an attractive segment. Norway does not currently have a general regime for investment screening for suppliers to the defence sector, but the regulatory landscape is more extensive than many expect and subject to pending legislative changes.

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26/03/2026

Amedia secures long-term strategic cooperation for distribution of newspapers

Amedia and HeltHjem Delivery have agreed to a new framework agreement for transport and distribution of newspapers from 2027

26/03/2026

Norway's Defence Boost – industry and investments

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 changed the European security landscape for the foreseeable future, and recent developments in the Middle East reinforce the picture of a world characterised by heightened geopolitical tensions. The significant role Norway has assumed through plans of major defence procurements necessitates significant contributions from industry and investors – and thus also presents significant opportunities. Wikborg Rein has one of Norway’s leading teams of specialist lawyers dedicated to assisting clients in the defence and security sector, and will be focusing on defence procurement and investment in a series of articles in the coming months.

25/03/2026

Great results across all 20 practice areas in Legal 500

We are delighted to announce the results of the Legal 500 EMEA 2026 ranking. Wikborg Rein have been recognised as Tier 1 in 11 areas, a testament to the dedication and expertise of our practice areas.

19/03/2026

Rejlers acquires Future Technology AS

We are pleased to have assisted Rejlers with their acquisition of Future Technology AS from its shareholders.

19/03/2026

Strongest Chambers Europe result in the firm's history

We celebrate a record-breaking performance in the prestigious Chambers Europe 2026 rankings, achieving a historically high 58 individual lawyer rankings.

13/03/2026

US sanctions relief on Russian oil following the war in the Middle East

Effective 12 March 2026, the US Department of Treasury imposes a 30-day waiver allowing for the sale and delivery of Russian origin oil currently stranded at sea. The waiver expands the authorisation granted 6 March 2026 concerning delivery of oil to refineries in India.

10/03/2026

Wikborg Rein supports Aker in connection with another milestone data centre transaction

We have had the pleasure of supporting the Aker group in a transaction where Aker invests another USD 350 million in cash into Nscale - a global hyperscaler engineered for enterprise-grade AI infrastructure - and rolls up its 50% stake in the parties' Narvik data centre JV.

10/03/2026

Shareholders divest KapitalKontroll AS to Danish private equity fund, Axcel

We are pleased to have assisted the shareholders with their divestment of KapitalKontroll AS to Axcel, a Danish private equity fund.

05/03/2026

The Middle East Conflict: In the Grip of the Peril?

As events have swiftly unfolded in the Middle East over the past few days and the Iranian conflict has rapidly widened to more territories, commercial assets and property have inevitably become trapped in the war zone. With large swathes of airspace closed and shipping lanes blockaded, in each case for a potentially lengthy but indeterminate period, attention has necessarily turned to insurance. A recent landmark decision in the English Commercial Court, concerning the detention of Western-leased aircraft in Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, revisited one of the key insurance law principles of likely relevance to present events, namely the 'grip of the peril' doctrine and its interaction with notices of cancellation.

27/02/2026

U.S. Supreme Court Judgment on Trump's Tariffs, Challenges to EU Ferroalloy Safeguards before the General Court of the European Union, and other Trade Developments

On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down a wide range of the reciprocal tariffs introduced by President Trump in 2025. The decision has been argued to be the most important loss Trump has faced during his second presidential term, and the decision's impacts on international trade remain in many respects uncertain. A few days later, an action for annulment of EU safeguard measures on ferroalloys was brought before the General Court of the European Union.

26/02/2026

Four years of war: the UK adopts sweeping sanctions as the EU struggles to reach agreement on the 20th package

On 6 February 2026, the EU Commission presented its proposal for the 20th package of sanctions against Russia. The package, intended to be formally adopted on the four-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, targeted Russia's energy sector and included new trade and financial restrictions. For the first time in four years, however, the EU failed to adopt new sanctions on the anniversary of Russia's invasion.

17/02/2026

US Maritime Action Plan – proposal for a new "universal fee" on all foreign built vessels

The Trump Administration has added further uncertainty to the already unclear future of fees to be imposed on vessels calling at US ports by proposing a new "universal infrastructure or security fee" to be imposed on all non US-built vessels.

17/02/2026

Monterro acquires majority stake in Qondor, the all-in-one platform for meetings & events management

We are pleased to have assisted Monterro in their acquisition of a majority stake in Qondor AS

12/02/2026

“The working day here is much more practically oriented than during my studies”

Liam Bjørnskau Wyke really enjoys his work an associate within our ESG, compliance and crisis management team. “One of the biggest challenges in my field is that the cases often concern areas of law I was not familiar with as a student.”

12/02/2026

Wikborg Rein top ranked in Chambers Global 2026

It is with great pleasure that we once again announce our top-tier ranking in the prestigious Chambers Global guide. This recognition is especially meaningful to us as it is based on feedback from our clients and confirms their view of us as a leading player in the industry.

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04/02/2026

"A traineeship is an excellent way to explore the work, the working style, and the environment"

Even Hatling and Lise Løtveit can confidently recommend starting your career at Wikborg Rein. Read more about their experiences as a trainee and associate with us.

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04/02/2026

UK Serious Fraud Office publishes "refreshed" guidance on evaluating a corporate compliance programme

On 26 November 2025, the UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) refreshed its Guidance on Evaluating a Corporate Compliance Programme (the "Guidance"). The key takeaway from the revised Guidance is that the SFO's assessment of a compliance programme's effectiveness is increasingly outcome-based, requiring companies to demonstrate that their paper policies and procedures translate into actual conduct in practice.

02/02/2026

Norwegian Chapter in the Chambers Life Sciences & Pharma IP Litigation 2026

Vebjørn Iversen, Nora Bratheim and Guro S. Kyrkjebø Nybø have contributed to the Norwegian chapter in the Chambers and Partners Life Sciences & Pharma IP Litigation 2025 Global Practice Guide.

26/01/2026

Founders divest a majority stake of the data-centre specialist NTC Services to Icon Capital

Together with Stratema, we are pleased to have assisted the founders and shareholders with their divestment of NTC Services AS to Icon Capital.

26/01/2026

Wikborg Rein Advises DWS Group on First Investment in Norway

Wikborg Rein has advised DWS Group on the acquisition of key Norwegian travel infrastructure assets, including Fjellheisen in Tromsø, Romsdalsgondolen, the Golden Train in Åndalsnes, and the Arctic Train in Narvik.

20/01/2026

HAVN Capital acquires majority stake in Spares in Motion B.V.

We are pleased to have assisted HAVN Capital in their acquisition of a majority stake in Spares in Motion B.V., a leading independent wind turbine spare parts provider.

13/01/2026

London office launches pro bono partnership with The Seafarers’ Charity

Wikborg Rein’s London office is pleased to announce that it has formally established a pro bono partnership with The Seafarers’ Charity, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to responsible business and meaningful engagement across the maritime sector.

jet engine and wing detail of military aircraft.

13/01/2026

New guidelines for procurement in the defence sector: Greater freedom of action and stricter sustainability requirements

From 1 January 2026, new guidelines for procurement in the defence sector (RAF) apply in Norway. The new rules replace the previous procurement guidelines (ARF) and apply to the Ministry of Defence and its subordinate agencies, including the Norwegian Armed Forces, the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency, the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency and the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment.

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13/01/2026

Update on US-Venezuela relations

The beginning of 2026 brought with it a dramatic US military intervention against Venezuela's president. The operation, which has sparked international debate, led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, who now faces criminal charges related to narcoterrorism and drug trafficking in the US.

13/01/2026

Norwegian Consumer Authority issues substantial updates to Transparency Act guidance

The Norwegian Consumer Authority (Forbrukertilsynet) has issued revised guidance on due diligence obligations under the Norwegian Transparency Act. Published in December 2025, the guidance is the most significant update since the Act entered into force and offers some useful pointers for how companies should continue to improve the design and implementation of their human rights due diligence.

12/01/2026

Fanos Theophani strengthens Wikborg Rein’s shipping practice

Wikborg Rein has appointed experienced dry shipping specialist Fanos Theophani as Partner in its London office, reinforcing the firm’s global shipping capabilities and expanding its market reach.

05/01/2026

New option for bond listings in Norway

The Oslo Stock Exchange has introduced Euronext ABM Fast Entry as a new bond listing segment. The Fast Entry segment lowers the barrier for bond issuers to enter the Norwegian market and comply with their listing obligations.

22/12/2025

Intensified sanctions targeting Russian and Iranian shadow fleets; EU agrees to phase out Russian gas imports

Recent weeks have seen significant sanctions activity across multiple jurisdictions, with particular focus on Russia's shadow fleet, and the EU has reached a landmark agreement to permanently phase out Russian gas imports.

04/12/2025

Three new Partners promoted internally in Norway

It is with great pleasure that we announce that, as of 1 January 2026, Karoline Stock Evje, Håkon Lagesen, and Stine H. Barstad are joining the partnership.

28/11/2025

Wikborg Rein advises Gimi MS on $1.2bn FLNG unit bank refinancing

Wikborg Rein is proud to have advised Gimi MS Corporation on the successful $1.2 billion refinancing of FLNG Gimi, a key floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) asset supporting BP, Kosmos Energy and the national oil companies of Mauritania and Senegal in the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project.

27/11/2025

Welcome, Heidi – our new Partner

We are delighted to announce that, as of Monday 1 December 2025, one of Norway's leading lawyers in her field, Heidi Jorkjend, will be joining the partnership at Wikborg Rein, further strengthening our Competition Law Team.

26/11/2025

Affiliates Rule Suspended as Dutch Nexperia Case Highlights Extraterritorial Impact

The US Department of Commerce has suspended its controversial Affiliates Rule for one year following negotiations with China, temporarily halting export controls that would have extended restrictions to thousands of foreign subsidiaries owned by listed entities. The suspension, effective through 9 November 2026, comes as part of a broader trade deal in which China has agreed to pause its expansive rare earth export controls. However, the Dutch government's extraordinary seizure of semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia demonstrates the far-reaching extraterritorial consequences of US-China trade tensions, with European companies and global supply chains caught in the crossfire.

31/10/2025

Wikborg Rein at the IBA Conference in Toronto

Wikborg Rein is participating at the International Bar Association's annual conference in Toronto next week. Our partners Ketil E. Bøe, Kaare A. Shetelig, Marie Nesvik, Oddbjørn Slinning and Tormod Ludvik Nilsen are joining more than 5000 fellow lawyers from all over the world for a week of professional development and networking.

29/10/2025

Assisting Norse Atlantic with strategic private placement

We are pleased to advise OSE-listed Norse Atlantic ASA ("Norse Atlantic") in connection with a successful private placement raising gross proceeds of approximately MNOK 114.

23/10/2025

EU adopts 19th sanctions package; UK and US target oil majors Lukoil and Rosneft

Last week, the UK designated Russia's largest oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft on the asset freeze list. Last night, the US followed suit, designating both entities on the SDN list. Today, the EU adopted its 19th sanctions package, targeting the Russian shadow fleet and LNG exports.

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22/10/2025

Five things you need to know about the Digital Security Act

The Digital Security Act and the Digital Security Regulation entered into force in Norway on 1 October 2025. They apply to parts of the shipping and offshore sector, including ports, port facilities and shipping companies that meet certain criteria. Here are the five key takeaways about the new rules.