Helge Morten has extensive litigation experience from both the Office of the Attorney General and Wiersholm. In particular, he has provided litigation advice and assistance in major contracting disputes, especially offshore (FPSOs, platforms, rigs etc.), but also in relation to onshore activities. He is also an energy and real estate law specialist.
Helge Morten is ranked amongst Norway’s most prominent lawyers in his areas of expertise. He is ranked as highly recommended in the categories Dispute Resolution, Energy/Electricity and Real Estate/Construction in Chambers Global, Chambers Europe and Legal 500. He is ranked as Senior Statesman in Dispute Resolution (Legal 500) and in Construction (Chambers). He is also ranked as leading in the categories Oil and Gas and Renewable Energy in the Norwegian Financial Daily’s lawyers survey.
Mr. Svarva has been voted “Lawyer of the Year” in the categories Arbitration, Construction Law, Energy Law – Electricity, Litigation, Real Estate Law in Best Lawyers.
In the Bar Associations overview of 2021 over 100 lawyers which have contributed to change Norway, Helge Morten is highlighted as one who has litigated most disputes before the Supreme Court in modern time.
Helge Morten is often used as an arbitrator, and is an authorised mediator.
Awards, Work experience, Memberships and Education
- Senior Statespeople, Chambers Europe, Construction, 2024
- Senior Statespeople, Chambers Europe, Construction, 2023
- Senior Statespeople , Chambers Europe , Construction , 2022
- Leading individuals, Legal 500, Construction, 2021
- Senior Statesperson, Chambers Europe, Construction – Norway, 2021
- Leading individuals, Legal 500, Construction, 2020
- Senior Statesperson, Chambers Europe, Construction , 2020
- Senior Counsel, Wiersholm, 2023
- Partner, Wiersholm, 1990
- Lawyer, Office of the Attorney-General, 1983
- Associate, Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, 1983
- Scholarship for Young European Lawyers, British Council, 1986
- Cand. Jur., University of Oslo, 1982
Selected projects
Assistance to AF in connection with the disputes between AF and the Municipality of Oslo regarding the construction of Oset Water Treatment Facility (WTP) and an elevated reservoir at Vettakollen. The matters concerned several construction law issues, and the amount in dispute was several hundred million Norwegian kroner. Both cases was successfully settled through out of court-sponsored mediation.
Assistance to Eie 1 AS in connection with a dispute between Eie 1 AS (Selvaag, Aspelin Ramm and Vedal) and Helse Sør-Øst (HSØ) related to a development property of 92 daa at Brakerøya in Drammen. HSØ acquired the property under threat of expropriation, and the consideration must be determined in accordance with the principles of expropriation law. In particular, the case raises the question of the utility value alternative and consideration for development profits in addition to the site value – a question that is partly unresolved in case law. The amount in dispute exceeds NOK 1 billion. The case will be brought before Borgarting Court of Appeal in the spring of 2022.
Helge Morten has been involved in a number of cases within various areas of the energy sector, including acquisitions and value assessments of power rights and power transmission lines (also for Statnett) and licencing right issues of various kinds.