News and current topics from various practice areas and industries

Rune Mykkeltvedt and Liv Zimmermann have revised the Karnov legal commentary on the Norwegian Outdoor Recreation Act.

Read about the Supreme Court’s 2024 verdict on the Karasjok case where Finnmarkseiendommen (FeFo) was acquitted in a significant land rights dispute.

A legislative amendment has granted the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority the power to impose significantly higher fines on businesses that violate the Working Environment Act. The fine, known as an administrative fee, can now be up to six million NOK or four percent of the company’s turnover. This change applies to all companies and enterprises.

The main rule in separation and divorce is that the spouses’ fortunes, which are joint property, should be divided equally. In a recent decision from the Supreme Court, it was clarified how a repurchase right for shares should be treated in a divorce settlement.

In a judgment issued on April 15, 2024, the Borgarting Court of Appeal addressed whether a law firm and the firm’s insurance company were liable for damages to a former client. The former client had received assistance in connection with two disputes that arose after purchasing an apartment in 2016. Both the law firm and the insurance company were acquitted and awarded legal costs with assistance from Hjort.

In August 2023, the government announced what is described as a “power and industry boost for Finnmark”. The government’s goal is for both more grid and new power production to be in place by 2030. On April 25, NVE held an information meeting where an update was given on NVE’s work to strengthen the grid and production capacity in Finnmark.

Investigations are an examination method used in situations where there have been allegations of reprehensible conduct or claims thereof. With an increased focus on ethics and work environment, the number of investigations has risen, and many of them receive significant media attention.

At the end of February 2024, the Borgarting Court of Appeal delivered a verdict on whether board members have personal liability for legal costs a company has been ordered to pay when the compa-ny later goes bankrupt. In this case, the Court of Appeal concluded that the board members could not be held liable. Hjort assisted the board members in this dispute against Berlevåg municipality.

Fortunately, the power situation in Norway is now far more reassuring than it was when the government announced the new control mechanism in the fall of 2022. Although power prices in southern Norway are higher than what we have previously been used to in Norway, NVE considers the resource situation to be good. Despite this, power producers are still subject to a separate reporting scheme until May 2024.