Look to Norway
The fast growing Chinese economy has given birth to a range of new business opportunities for commercial stakeholders, and Norways’ economic strength and stability make the country an attractive foreign investment market for Chinese companies.
Wiersholm, as a full service law firm, advice on all aspects of commercial law e.g. M&A transactions, company formation and taxation. We are able to tailor our services to meet our clients’ specific needs, and we aim to serve our clients’ changing requirements, through either acquisitions or incorporations.
Numerous foreign companies have used Wiersholm as an introductory point of contact for entry into the Norwegian market.
Please see below for talks with Wiersholms partner Jarle Kvam conserning this topic, and our publication: Doing Business in Norway
Article featured in "The Economic Observer China - July 2011"
Wiersholm: Expert Legal Services for Chinese-Norwegian Transactions
"At the heart of Scandinavia and well-positioned in Europe, Norway continues to be a major hub of business activity and capital flow. With so many complicated cross border transactions taking place, the demand for effective legal services and a firm with specialized expertise in international markets has never been greater.
Lawyers at Wiersholm, a leading Norwegian law firm, are providing valuable corporate legal services to both domestic and international clients. Wiersholm has authored an essential guide for “Doing Business in Norway”, written in English and widely used by international companies in setting up operations or acquiring companies in Norway as it contains all the pertinent information regarding local law and regulations.
Wiersholm has more than 140 lawyers located in Oslo, the capital city of Norway. As the leading Norwegian law firm within transactions, Wiersholm represents some of the most important players in Norway and abroad, including international companies like Statoil, Telenor, Cisco Inc., GE, Siemens, Frontline and Golden Ocean. Wiersholm’s excellent sector expertise, especially within Oil & Gas, Fishery, Energy, IT and Finance secures a steady deal flow and continuous development of experience. Wiersholm serves both industrial and financial investors, including the largest private equity funds in Scandinavia.
In a recent interview, Jarle Kvam, partner at Wiersholm, expressed the firm’s focus on international transactions and growing involvement with China: “When it comes to international connections and alliances, we are truly independent so we work with all top tier international law firms. We have first class connections in all the Scandinavian countries enabling us to work seamlessly across the borders. As the leading transaction law firm in Norway, we work with major deals both in Norway and abroad, the major part of these deals are cross border transactions for international companies. We also frequently assist clients doing business in with China, such as I.M. Skaugen, Frontline and Golden Ocean. Also, when it comes to China, we do a great deal of business moving products in and out of China. International trading and maritime shipping are essential to global economic prosperity, and that’s why we do our best to relate to a broad range of different countries.”
Wiersholm’s transaction team counts close to 60 lawyers, and has been growing steadily during the last years.
“We can deal with a lot of different issues and we work across many different practice areas,” Mr. Kvam explained.
Indeed, the firm’s breadth of experience and wide global reach make it an attractive partner for Norwegian companies looking to move into Asia as well. Through Wiersholm’s prestigious international network, the firm is able to provide legal assistance to clients not only in Norway, but also across Europe, Asia, Australia and North and South America.
During these uncertain global economic times, Norway’s strength and stability continue to make it an attractive foreign investment partner for Chinese companies. Numerous foreign companies have used Wiersholm as an introductory resource and point of contact for entry into the Norwegian Market, either through acquisitions or direct incorporation, and the firm continues to serve these clients’ changing requirements.
To meet the evolving needs of Chinese companies, as well as Norwegian companies looking to do business in China, Wiersholm is looking to open a designated China desk in Oslo. Furthermore, the partners are open to discuss new possibilities for cooperation, building relations with new firms in China.
“What we have started to focus on now is how we can better position ourselves to help Chinese companies who would like to invest in Norway,” Jarle Kvam said. Wiersholm is interested in not only connecting with the Chinese market, but sees it as equally important to contribute to an understanding between different business cultures to minimize transaction risks on cross border acquisitions.
Wiersholm’s brilliant team focuses on many aspects of law and can assist with legal/strategic advice in cross border acquisitions and/or investments, including banking and finance, in addition to the more traditional legal areas such as creation of contracts, corporate and commercial law, employment and benefits, energy and offshore, EU and competition law, governmental regulation, mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution, shipping, transport, restructuring, and insolvency. The firm also boasts wide experience in insurance and indemnity, intellectual property rights, IT & electronic communication, media, sport and culture, tax, real estate, and stock exchanging/securities."