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Liv Zimmermann

Partner

Liv Zimmermann specializes in planning and construction law.

Liv has over thirty years of experience with real estate matters.  Before she began practicing real estate law in 2005, she spent 15 years working with development and construction cases in the public sector, including as head of department and assistant director at Oslo Planning and Building Authority.

Liv has been appointed to several legislative committees, contributing proposals for amendments to the construction portion of the current Planning and Building Act and the Ownership of Property Units Act. She also chaired the Norwegian Bar Association’s building and zoning law committee.

Liv advises construction clients and contractors on a wide range of planning and construction issues, including the implementation of planning processes, negotiation of development agreements, land acquisition, reimbursement claims, building permits, completion certificates and post-sale issues. She frequently collaborates with architects, engineers, real estate agents and other consultants to secure the best possible outcome for her clients. 

Her in-depth knowledge of the public administration and political decision processes enable Liv to contribute both professionally and strategically to planning and construction processes. She advises municipalities and other public sector clients on a broad range of property law matters, including on-going consultancy, quality assurance of administrative decisions, investigation of complicated issues and litigation. She also assists private clients.

Liv is regularly invited to lecture on planning and building law. Since 2013, Liv has lectured her fellow market colleagues on updates in case law at the annual planning and building law conference organized by the Center for Continuing Legal Education. In recent years, she has also given several lectures on environmental law, including on the EU’s taxonomy and climate and environmental requirements in land-use plans.

Together with fellow Hjort partner Frode A. Innjord, Liv has co-edited and co-authored Gyldendal’s commentary on the Planning and Building Act (2nd edition).

lzi@hjort.no

+47 99 44 82 73

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Relevant experience

Liv regularly lectures and gives courses on planning and building law, administrative law and management/administration.

Professional Experience
2018
Head of the real estate and construction law practice area, Advokatfirmaet Hjort
2013
Partner, Advokatfirmaet Hjort
2010
Partner, Bull & Co.
2005
Partner, Advokatfirmaet Vodal Zimmermann & Co. AS
2005
Attorney, Bull & Co.
2004
Drafting member of the Building Law Commission, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development/Building Law Commission
1995
Deputy Director/Departmental Director/Head of Section/Special Advisor, Oslo City Council, Planning and Building Authority
1994
Deputy Judge, the Office of the District Judge in Vinger and Odal
1989
Senior Executive Officer/Consultant, County Governor of Oslo and Akershus
Education
1989
Candidate in Jurisprudence, The University of Oslo
1988
Project forum for organisation and management, The University of Oslo
Membership | Honoraries

The Norwegian Bar Association

Board Member, Advokatfirmaet Hjort AS

2015 – Leader, The Norwegian Bar Association’s Committee for Building and Zoning Law

2013 – 2014 Member, Owner’s Association Committee

2007 – Board member, Skaara Arkitekter AS

2008 – 2010 Board member, Filmparken AS

Zimmermann is recommended by The Legal 500 in both Construction and Real estate.

“Both cases require much more than knowing the paragraphs of law, and both Mrs. Zimmerman and Mr. Gaup Stadigs have shown strategic and tactical skills that have given both cases positive outcomes for our company. Both of them are easy to work with and are very knowledgeable and professional.” – The Legal 500 in Construction.

“We have had the privilege to work with both Ailu Gaup Stadigs and Liv Zimmerman of Advokatfirmaet Hjort. They have both been assisting us on complex real estate and construction issues. Both are very professional and skilled, and we are very satisfied with their work.” – The Legal 500 in Construction.

“Liv Zimmermann is a very skilled person, who makes the people around her even better. Erik Gjævenes, is professionally very good. Has done an outstanding job for us.” – The Legal 500 in Construction.

‘The assessments have been delivered on time and with clear conclusions/recommendations. We would like to highlight Erik Gjævenes and Liv Zimmermann as good partners.” – The Legal 500 in Construction

“Liv Zimmermann is very professionally qualified to take on the tasks we wanted her to do for us. She solved a very difficult situation.” – The Legal 500 in Real estate.

Chambers & Partners has recognized that Liv is “highly skilled and very professional”. Furthermore clients state that Liv “has a very strong expertise in planning and building law, strategy, and legal assessments”.

“Liv Zimmermann leverages her former experience in the public sector in her real estate practice. She is especially recognised for her adept handling of zoning issues.” – Chambers and Partners.

“She has demonstrated proactive, clear communication and a collaborative style that ensures our objectives are always prioritised.” – Chambers and Partners.

“I particularly value her responsiveness, clarity of communication and ability to remain calm and focused under pressure.” – Chambers and Partners.

Publications

Article in the Journal for Real Estate Law (02/2018): «Forholdet mellom opparbeidelsesplikten og refusjonsreglene i plan- og bygningsloven: Går veiplikten lenger enn retten til refusjon?»

Co-author and co-editor of Gyldendals kommentarutgave til plan- og bygningsloven (2. utgave)

Refusjon: krav om private bidrag ved opparbeidelse av vei og legging av vann- og avløpsledninger, September 2015, Byggeindustrien nr. 12 2015

Bruksendring – En innføring i plan- og bygningsloven for praktikere (Senter for eiendomsjus 2012)

 

Expertise

Related articles
03.07.2025  Business law

New rules in the Planning and Building Act and the Land Registry Act – Important for Anyone involved in Real Estate Development

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.
05.02.2025  Business law

Sequencing Requirements and Development Agreements – Continuation of Development Tax

The use of sequencing requirements and development agreements has been contentious for a long time. Previously, there was significant criticism of private developers contributing to the financing of public infrastructure. However, there is now broad acceptance that it is reasonable to help address the needs created by development. More problematic is the lack of connection between the required measures and the development itself—there remains significant disagreement about what the Planning and Building Act practically allows.