News and current topics from various practice areas and industries

The Norwegian Data Protection Authority has imposed a fine of NOK 20 million on the electronics retailer Elkjøp for the unlawful processing of personal data. Many other businesses in the retail sector make similar mistakes. Retailers with loyalty schemes and other reward programmes should review their processing of customer data and ensure GDPR compliance. Otherwise, they risk not only administrative fines, but worst case also having to delete previously collected customer data.

On 30 April, the European Commission published its new draft Merger Control Guidelines. The revised guidelines will in practice also be applied by the Norwegian Competition Authority’s (NCA) under the Norwegian Competition Act.

Hjort has advised Fenix Outdoor International AG on its acquisition of the remaining 35% minority stake in Devold of Norway AS. Following completion of the transaction, Fenix Outdoor owns 100% of Devold of Norway.

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Lawyers Pål Sverre Hernæs and Astrid Skorge Fisher secured a full judgment in favor of their client in a case concerning personal liability under section 17-1 of the Norwegian Companies Act (aksjeloven). Asker og Bærum District Court ordered three individuals — the chairman of the board, a board member, and a passive shareholder of a start-up company — to pay NOK 2,162,500 in damages on a joint and several basis, with default interest accruing from 4 August 2022. By the time judgment was handed down, the accrued interest exceeded NOK 900,000. The defendants were also ordered to pay NOK 772,962 in legal costs.

In autumn 2025, the Supreme Court of Norway provided clarifications on the scope of the evidentiary prohibition in the Dispute Act (tvisteloven) Section 22-5, particularly where confidential infor-mation has also been disclosed to third parties.