News and current topics from various practice areas and industries

Developers are constantly searching for attractive plots of land for development. The seller may, for example, be the owner of an agricultural property with a plot of land attached to the farm. The plot of land can be sold as undeveloped land or as more developed plots where the seller has incurred development costs.

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.

7th of May, the Faculty of Law at the University of Oslo organized a labor law lunch entitled “On the possibility of trade unions to exclude members.” University lecturer Niklas Selberg from Lund University gave the introductory speech, and lawyer Christopher Hansteen from Hjort gave a prepared commentary.

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.

Lawyers Monica Syrdal and Eivind Grimsø Moe have written a Norwegian legal commentary on the Digital Performance Act for Gyldendal Rettsdata.

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.

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.

On February 28, 2024, the Supreme Court issued a decision that helps to clarify the scope of an employer’s duty to exempt an employee from night shifts if the individual needs this for health, so-cial, or other significant welfare reasons. The case concerned the employee’s claim to retain their job, without night shifts.

After lengthy mediation, an agreement was signed on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 between Nord-Fosen siida and Roan Vind DA regarding the wind power plant at Roan. Before Christmas, an agreement was signed between Fosen Vind DA and Sør-Fosen sijte regarding the wind power plant at Storheia. Hjort has assisted Fosen Vind DA and Roan Vind DA in the mediation process.