Wiersholm continues to strengthen its position and competitiveness in the Trondheim region and appoints six new Trondheim-based partners. The change is intended to establish Wiersholm as the leading legal player in Central Norway.

Since the establishment of Wiersholm’s Trondheim office in 2022, the firm has succeeded in establishing a good position in the market in a relatively short time. Many of the firm’s clients have their headquarters in the region, which is characterised by a high level of activity – especially within aquaculture, renewable energy, technology, real estate, and tax.

“With our reinforced Trondheim team, we will not only strengthen our position in the local market, but also benefit from the new partners’ established relationships and recognition in the local community. This will give us a solid platform for further growth and development in the region,” says Stephan L. Jervell, Managing Partner at Wiersholm.

The goal is to establish a strong local environment that will become the region’s legal hub, with specialised expertise in all relevant legal fields.

“We are dedicated to providing excellent quality and availability to our clients. This involves thorough follow-up of all clients across the regions, as well as a proactive approach to client relationships. By combining broad legal expertise with a deep understanding of the regional market, we will, through close and seamless collaboration across Wiersholm, be able to offer all clients, also in Central Norway, full-fledged and comprehensive specialist expertise within all business legal market and professional fields,” Jervell continues.

Six new partners

The six new partners who have been admitted to the firm’s partnership are Terje Bjørndahl, Eirik Edvardsen, Frode Henning Antonsen, Morten Brandhaug, Martin Fevaag Larsen, and Bård Solem. They all come from SANDS’s office in Trondheim.

“Our new partners have a deep-rooted local culture and identity in Trondheim that they have built over time. In addition, they have good commercial flair and are first-rate professionals, which will strengthen and complement us further as a full-service law firm. Together we will build on our strengths, and develop a larger and more efficient firm, with a main focus on strong regional presence as a competitive advantage,” says Inge Ekker Bartnes, partner at Wiersholm.

Inge Ekker Bartnes becomes the new head of Wiersholm’s Trondheim office.

“We find that the culture that the new partners bring on board coincides with the fundamental values and attitudes that we value so highly at Wiersholm. Everyone is hardworking and are greatly esteemed by their clients – and they are also very likeable. This is an excellent starting point for creating a strong and unified firm. A common culture and set of values are crucial to succeed with our regional model,” continues Ekker Bartnes.

The new partners will join Wiersholm during 2024. By the end of the year, it is our aim that our Trondheim office has up to 40 employees. At the same time, we have the ambition that Wiersholm becomes the most attractive, largest, and most competent workplace by far for lawyers in Central Norway.

Continues to strengthen diversity work

“It is clearly a weakness that there are not more women that are admitted to the partnership. However, we believe that this should not be an obstacle to an otherwise sensible and commercially grounded decision, which is otherwise considered as clearly advantageous for the unity of the firm. In light of this, it is important that we continue to strengthen our diversity work,” says Jervell, adding:

“We know that there are several excellent local female lawyers in the region, who could be good partner candidates with us.”

Wiersholm sustains an overall goal of gender balance at all levels of the firm. This involves the ambition of having a minimum of 1/3 women in the partnership by 2028, and that at least 40 percent of each gender is represented at each assessment of promotions to a higher level, and to strive for gender balance in the board and management groups.”

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