{"id":23645,"date":"2026-01-20T10:58:47","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T09:58:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wiersholm.no\/en\/?post_type=newsletter&p=23645"},"modified":"2026-01-30T14:17:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T13:17:09","slug":"norway-international-update-q4-2025","status":"publish","type":"newsletter","link":"https:\/\/wiersholm.no\/en\/newsletters\/norway-international-update-q4-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Norway International Update Q4 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Norway International Update Q4 2025<\/h1>\n\n\n
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This quarterly update highlights key legal developments and market trends from the last quarter of 2025 across sectors of strategic importance to Norway, including ESG and Compliance, Tax, Financial Regulatory and Employment Law. In addition, we share selected business updates from Wiersholm, reflecting our continued commitment to delivering relevant insight and value to both international and domestic clients.<\/p>\n\n\n

Som highlights include:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

ESG and Compliance:<\/strong> In late 2025 and early 2026, Norway and the EU introduced several significant legal and regulatory developments, including Norway\u2019s incorporation of the UN CRPD into domestic law, new sanctions against Russia aligned with the EU\u2019s 18th package, the entry into force of the Marine Protection Act, updated Norwegian Transparency Act due diligence guidance, and a one-year postponement of the EUDR\u2019s application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tax:<\/strong> Key tax and VAT developments were adopted or initiated in late 2025 and early 2026, covering updated OECD guidance on home offices and permanent establishments, proposed changes to the tax treatment of paid-in capital, new tax rules for securities funds, amendments to Norway\u2019s Pillar 2 supplementary tax regime, and revised VAT rules for cross-border intra-entity services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Financial Regulatory:<\/strong> Recent financial regulatory developments include improved tax rules for Norwegian securities funds, a consultation on the national implementation of AIFMD II (with some proposed national adjustments), and an extension of the transitional deadline under MiCA for existing crypto-asset service providers to 30 June 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Employment Law<\/strong>: From 1 January 2026, amendments to the Norwegian Employment Act clarify employers\u2019 responsibility for ensuring a fully satisfactory psychosocial working environment, strengthening expectations related to preventive measures, internal control, governance and documentation, integration into HSE processes, cooperation with employee representatives, updated whistleblowing procedures, and training of managers and safety representatives\u2014without introducing materially new obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business Updates from Wiersholm<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the fourth quarter, Wiersholm continued its high level of activity across key practice areas, advising on complex transactions, regulatory matters and strategic assignments for leading Norwegian and international clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Note from Stephan<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Stephan L. Jervell, Managing Partner<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“The fourth quarter of 2025 has taken place against a global backdrop defined by persistent geopolitical fragmentation, constrained growth expectations and heightened regulatory intervention, conditions which have continued to influence capital allocation and strategic decision-making across markets. Within this environment, the Nordic region has demonstrated relative economic and institutional resilience, underpinned by strong governance frameworks, predictable legal systems and sustained public investment, while remaining exposed to global volatility through trade, energy markets and cross-border capital flows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For internationally active clients, operations and investments in the Nordic region during Q4 have therefore combined defensive qualities with strategic opportunity, particularly in sectors linked to energy transition, infrastructure, technology and critical industries. At the same time, expanded sustainability requirements, foreign investment scrutiny and evolving governance standards across Nordic jurisdictions have reinforced the importance of rigorous regulatory assessment and transaction structuring. As global uncertainty becomes increasingly structural rather than cyclical, the Nordic market continues to offer a stable but highly regulated operating environment in which informed legal judgement is integral to managing risk and securing long-term value. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the start of 2026, developments such as continued instability in Venezuela and heightened geopolitical competition in the Arctic around Greenland have reinforced the importance of robust legal risk assessment, particularly in relation to sanctions, regulatory compliance and cross-border investments. For Wiersholm, this environment highlights the importance of providing commercially driven, proactive legal counsel that helps clients navigate complexity while securing resilient, long-term outcomes” .<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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