Kristian advises clients operating or having interests in the technology, trade and oil & gas sectors. He advises clients on M&A, restructuring and general company law. He has extensive experience with negotiating and setting up cross-border joint ventures and other business combinations between shareholders.
Legal 500 has ranked Kristian as one of Norway’s most prominent lawyers on mergers and acquisitions.
Awards, Work experience, Memberships and Education
- Highly regarded, IFLR1000, M&A, 2024
- Up and Coming, Chambers Europe, Corporate/M&A, 2024
- Up and Comping, Chambers Global, Corporate/M&A, 2024
- Up and Coming, Chambers Global, Corporate/M&A, 2023
- Up and Coming, Chambers Europe, Corporate/M&A, 2023
- Highly regarded, IFLR1000, M&A, 2023
- Partner, Wiersholm, 2017
- Managing Associate, Wiersholm, 2013
- Secondment, Slaughter and May, 2011
- Senior Associate, Wiersholm, 2010
- Associate, Wiersholm, 2007
- Research Assistant, Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law, University of Oslo, 2006
- Master of Laws, University of Oslo, 2006
Selected projects
Assistance to Alussa Energi in connection with the company's acquisition of the Norwegian battery manufacturer Freyr AS, which through the transaction will create Freyr Battery SA, listed on the New York Stock Exchange. To our knowledge, this is the first time a SPAC invests in a Norwegian company and is possibly one of the first SPAC transactions in Europe. The transaction was signed and completed in 2021.
Assistance to the shareholders of Motimate AS in connection with the sale of all the shares to Kahoot! AS. The transaction was signed and completed in 2021.
Assistance to the shareholders of BioBag International AS, a world leader in the biodegradable plastic market, in connection with the sale of all the shares in the company to Navamont AS. The transaction was signed in 2020, and completed in 2021.
Assistance to listed Norwegian contractor group Kværner ASA on the merger between Kværner ASA and Norwegian listed oil services group Aker Solutions ASA. The combined company will have about 15 000 employees in more than 50 locations around the world. It will have about 8 000 employees in Norway. Combined 2019 revenues for the companies were NOK 38 billion, with an EBITDA of NOK 2.7 billion (including special items). The combined market cap on announcement of the two companies was MNOK 6,400. The merger was signed and completed in 2020.
Assistance to Hedmarksvegen AS and Skanska in connection with the PPP project Rv. 3/25. The assistance included, inter alia, the responsibility for company law structuring, all equity documents and shareholder agreements.
Assistance to the private-equity firm Verdane in connection with their acquisition of controlling interest in Porterbuddy. Verdane acquired approximately 70% of the shares in the company, partially through subscription of new shares and warrants, and partially through a purchase of shares from existing shareholders. The transaction was signed and completed in 2020.