Odin Breidvik
Managing Associate
Authorisation: Advokat
Odin is a leading specialist in the field of dispute resolution and is the co-head of Wiersholm’s Dispute Resolution department. His area of practice is litigation and dispute resolution, a practice which includes cases related to complex technology disputes, IT-projects, construction cases, real property, company law as well as contract law and tort law. Odin also works with contract law and specialises in project development contracts.
Odin has co-litigated the largest and most complex IT-matter that has ever been heard in Norwegian Courts (the Grindgut matter), winning the case with legal costs for Wiersholm’s client.
Legal 500 (2025) rates Odin as a Recommended Lawyer, and “an excellent lawyer and litigator”.
Awards, Work experience, Positions and Education
- Managing Associate, Wiersholm, 2019
- Senior Associate, Wiersholm, 2015
- Legal Counsel, Rolls Royce Marine AS, 2012
- Associate, Wiersholm, 2011
- Master of Laws, University of Oslo, 2011
- Bachelor of History, University of Bergen, 2006
- International Baccalaureate, United World College of the Adriatic, 2003
Selected projects
Assistance to International Business Machines AS (IBM) in connection with one of the largest IT contract disputes in Norwegian legal history, against the Norwegian Public Roads Administration ("NPRA" – "SVV" in Norwegian). On 20 December 2013, IBM and NPRA entered into a major agreement on delivery of a new ICT solution for toll road payment in Norway. NPRA declared termination of the agreement on 27 July 2015 and claimed damages (over 400 MNOK). IBM considered the termination unjustified. The matter raises specific questions related to interpretations of IT contracts and damages. The case was first heard over 14 weeks in Oslo District Court in March to June 2019. In its judgment given in January 2020, Oslo District Court found in favour of IBM. IBM was acquitted from NPRA's claim for damages. Instead, NRPA was ordered to pay IBM a total of 234 MNOK (approx. 22 MUSD) for work performed and damages, incl. full legal costs. NPRA has filed an appeal to Borgarting Court of Appeal, and the case was heard over 17 weeks in Borgarting Court of Appeal in 2022. In its judgement given in October 2022, Borgarting Court of Appeal also found in favour of IBM. Wiersholm lawyers Magnus Hellesylt and Odin Breidvik argued the case for IBM. IBM was acquitted from NPRA's claim for damages (increased to over 400 MNOK). Instead, NRPA was ordered to pay IBM a total of 370 MNOK (approx. 35 MUSD) for work performed and damages, incl. full legal costs. The judgement is final.
Odin Breidvik was co-counsel of DNV in the court proceedings initiated by the Norwegian Minisrty of Defense claiming DNV was liable for the full loss of the frigate KNM Helge Ingstad – an alleged loss of more than 15 billion NOK. The Ministry gave up their claim and judgement was given in favour of DNV.
A case concerning real property and the question of whether a right of first refusal was triggered.