SPECIAL EXPERTISE

We offer specialist legal knowledge and expertise in a wide range of shipping and offshore services.

All Nordisk lawyers are experienced in our core area of business, which is shipping and offshore related contract law. Nordisk has recognised that shipping markets and legal frameworks have become more specialised and have, therefore, established three distinct expert practice groups. These are litigation, offshore and energy and transactions. The boundaries between these groups are flexible and most Nordisk lawyers work within all these fields or groups from time to time.

 

Nordisk Legal Services is Nordisk’s legal case handling arm.
It is a separate division
within the association to which the actual handling of cases is entrusted

THE LITIGATION GROUP

THE LITIGATION GROUP

As a defence club Nordisk is heavily involved both in pursuing contractual claims on behalf of our members and in defending members against such claims. Hence litigation in the widest sense has always been a core activity of Nordisk lawyers and one where our expertise is widely recognised.

Since most shipping-related contracts are subject to English or American law, Nordisk has for many years employed in-house lawyers with English and American qualifications. Historically most arbitrations have taken place in London and, to a lesser extent, New York, although recently we have seen an increase in Singapore arbitrations. Accordingly we are well equipped to handle cases in London and New York or, with the development of Nordisk’s presence in Singapore, in the latter jurisdiction also. In general, this means we do not need to instruct external local solicitors or attorneys. In a wider sense, litigation involves more than appearing before courts and arbitration tribunals to argue cases. It also involves preventing disputes from arising. To that end, lawyers in our litigation group are well qualified to assist in the evaluation, drafting and negotiation of most shipping-related contracts, such as shipbuilding, repair or conversion contracts, charterparties, contracts for the sale and purchase of vessels, pooling agreements, agency agreements etc.

Brochure

Contact person

Michael Brooks, Tel: +47 915 35 605, Email:

THE OFFSHORE AND ENERGY GROUP

THE OFFSHORE AND ENERGY GROUP

Ever since offshore activities started in the North Sea in the early 1970s, Nordisk has been closely involved in the offshore industry.

From the early days dominated by exploration drilling and field developments in the North Sea, the scope of the industry has developed gradually. Thus our members are now involved in all kinds of offshore activities, including sophisticated sub-sea and well services, pipelaying, floating production and so on, both in the North Sea and worldwide.

In recognition of the specialised nature of the offshore sector, as well of as the sector’s substantial growth, Nordisk has established a separate group of lawyers focusing particularly on offshore work. The lawyers in our offshore and energy group, joined to some extent by other Nordisk lawyers, work closely with our offshore members and clients on matters such as tendering processes, contract drafting and negotiations, dispute resolution and so on within all segments of the offshore sector.

Given our extensive experience and broad membership base in this area, we are well equipped to provide legal assistance to owners and operators of all kinds of offshore vessels and units.

Brochure

Contact person

Knut Erling Øyehaug, Tel: +47 915 35 613, Email:

THE TRANSACTIONS GROUP

THE TRANSACTIONS GROUP

Recently Nordisk has experienced a considerable increase in transactional work in addition to our basic FD&D work. In response we have established a group of lawyers who (besides dealing with FD&D matters) are particularly interested and competent in this type of work.

Currently our services include assistance relating to:

  • asset-based transactions, such as sale and purchase of all or part of a company’s assets, including secondhand vessels and newbuildings, as well as sale-and-leaseback and other leasing arrangements;
  • share-based transactions, including sale and purchase of all or a portion of a company’s shares, as well as establishing joint ventures and other corporate structures;
  • financing, including both equity financing and bank loans as well as bond loans and other mezzanine financing;
  • all aspects of corporate work.

The group has specialised in assisting on projects that typically involve all the above-mentioned types of work, e.g., negotiating the contracts and facilitating closings of vessel purchases, establishing ownership and management structures and incorporating the relevant companies, and capitalisation of the owning company through equity and debt.

Brochure

Contact person

Mats E. Sæther, Tel: +47 900 37 314, Email: