News and current topics from various practice areas and industries

e 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.

On 24 February 2026, the Borgarting Court of Appeal, Norway’s second-highest level of courts, delivered its ruling in the widely followed Wolt case. By a majority of four to one, the court found that the bicycle couriers engaged through the digital platform Wolt are independent contractors, not employees, within the meaning of Section 1-8, first paragraph of the Norwegian Working Environment Act.

From January 1st, 2026, amendments to the Working Environment Act’s regulations on psychosocial working environments will come into force. The amendments clarify the employer’s obligation to ensure a fully acceptable psychosocial working environment in line with the physical working environment. Although the purpose is not to change current law, the clarifications will entail increased expectations for systematic prevention, documentation, and management practices.

Developers often face significant costs when they are required to finance municipal infrastructure such as roads, sidewalks, footpaths and cycle paths, roundabouts, and green areas. One of the biggest challenges is how to handle value added tax (VAT) so that it does not become a final cost in the development project. Proper handling of VAT can make a big difference to the profitability of the project.

In one year, a new mineral law will come into force. At present, it remains unclear whether the new law will be beneficial or detrimental to the development and upgrading of renewable energy production.

The EU Data Regulation, also known as the Data Act, will soon come into force in the EU. The regulation governs access to data from products and services connected to the internet, including cloud services. Operators offering services covered by the regulations, or who wish to access data covered by them, should familiarize themselves with what the regulation entails.

On July 1, 2025, several amendments to the Planning and Building Act and the Cadastre Act came into force. Many of the amendments concern new instruments to be used in planning densification and transformation under the Planning and Building Act. Among other things, the new system for landowner financing of infrastructure (often referred to as the “area model”) has come into force. The process leading up to the establishment of regulations for this has been long and subject to much discussion along the way.