Christel heads Wiersholms employment law team and has extensive experience within employment law and dispute resolution. She assists Norwegian and international clients with processes such as reorganisation and downsizing, business transfers, hiring and termination of employment, whistleblowercases and discrimination issues as well as litigation and negotiations.
Chambers and Partners and the Norwegian Financial Daily have ranked Christel as one of Norway’s leading employment lawyers.
Awards, Work experience, Memberships and Education
- Top 10, Advokatundersøkelsen, Finansavisen, Employment, 2024
- Leading Individuals, Legal 500, Employment, 2024
- Band 2, Chambers Europe, Employment, 2024
- Band 2, Chambers Europe, Employment, 2023
- Top 10, Advokatundersøkelsen, Finansavisen, Employment Law, 2023
- Band 2, Chambers Europe, Employment, 2022
- Band 3, Chambers Europe, Employment – Norway, 2021
- Band 3, Chambers Europe, Employment, 2020
- Partner, Wiersholm, 2018
- Managing Associate, Wiersholm, 2014
- Senior Associate, Wiersholm, 2012
- Deputy Judge, Asker and Bærum District Court, 2010
- Associate, Wiersholm, 2008
- Co-editor, Gyldendal Rettsdata – Employment law
- Leader, JUS Fagforum within employment law, 2018
- Board member, Norsk Arbeidsrettslig Forening, 2016
- Master of Laws, University of Oslo, 2007
- Cand.mag., University of Trondheim, 2001
- Social Work, College of Tør-Trøndelag, 2001
- One-year foundation level subject in social economics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 1999
Selected projects
Adviser for public activities in notification and personnel matters. Advice related to investigation of warnings, assessment of measures and follow-up of retaliation claims
Assistance to Dagbladet AS in connection with a dismissal case regarding transfer of undertakings and the employer's liability in a group of companies. Dagbladet won the case in Oslo District Court and in the Court of Appeal.
Represented Lorentzen & Stemoco AS in a high-profile lawsuit concerning a substantial claim for bonus payment from a former employee. Oslo District Court ruled in favour of Lorentzen & Stemoco AS. The case was appealed to Borgarting Court of Appeal, where an oral hearing was held at the end of April 2019. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and found that the District Court's judgment was correct. Both courts concluded that the employer had the right to manage and decide the terms and conditions for bonus payments at its own discretion. The employer had not waived its prerogative and the employee had no legal basis for his claim. The case raised important and general legal issues regarding the employer's managerial prerogative related to bonus and incentive schemes. The judgments are in line with similar cases from the Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court, and provide further guidance for employers using bonus schemes for its employees. Oslo city court gave its judgement in favour of Lorentzen & Stemoco AS. The court concluded that the employer had the right to manage and decide the terms and conditions for bonus payments at its own discretion. The employer had not waived its prerogative in this particular case and the employee had no legal basis for his claim. The case thus raised important and general legal questions regarding the employer's managerial prerogative related to bonus and incentive schemes. The judgement is in line with similar cases from the High courts and the Supreme Court, and provides further guidance for employers using bonus schemes for its employees. The employee has appealed the judgement, and the case is listed for hearing in the High Court in the end of April 2019.
Assisted Schibsted ASA in a large-scale automation project where the Schibsted group has automated their different employment contracts using Wiersholms Smart Template solution. Schibsted has achieved increased quality and reduced time spent internally from managers and HR on preparing and signing employment contracts. Close cooperation between Wiersholms lawyers and programmers and Schibsted as client has been important to ensure automated contracts still tailored to Schibsteds needs and practices and high standard of compliance.