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Thommessen is one of the largest law firms in Norway and has a very well regarded tax practice under department head Ståle Kristiansen. This year the firm has consolidated its tax practice in its Bergen office with the addition of former Ernst & Young ... [more]

Thommessen is one of the largest law firms in Norway and has a very well regarded tax practice under department head Ståle Kristiansen. This year the firm has consolidated its tax practice in its Bergen office with the addition of former Ernst & Young partner Ola Mæle there. This reflects the number of shipping companies relying on the firm for its tax advice, with Bergen being a hub for the shipping industry in Norway. The firm counts multinationals such as Dell and Wilh Wilhelmsen among the clients relying on its tax services as well as Nordic companies such as Telenor and Borgstein.

Much of the firm's recent work for its clients in the shipping industry has involved cross-border structuring and pre and post-acquisition restructuring to ensure efficient tax treatment for transactions and their corporate tax burdens. The firm has also been active in tax controversy and litigation and this year represented a client before the Supreme Court in a transfer pricing dispute. For tax controversy and transfer pricing, Christian Bruusgaard receives praise in the market. Thommessen is particularly distinguished in corporate and M&A tax advice and in those matters Sverre Koch is highly rated by his peers. Like other leading Norwegian tax practices the firm has many companies active in the oil sector among its clients. One competitor commented that for companies in that industry, "Thommessen is really the market leader for tax advice".