The firm primarily undertakes assignments in the following areas:
M&A – SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE BUSINESSES
Substandard processes or agreements for sale and purchase of businesses can destroy a good business idea or waste the fruits of a life’s work. The firm has the long experience necessary to secure achievement of the objects of a purchase or sale of every type of business, from single person companies to larger enterprises, in a simple and orderly fashion, without excessive risks or costs. We can also agree prices depending on whether a transaction goes through.
SHAREHOLDER- AND FAMILY AGREEMENTS; COMPLEX ESTATE SETTLEMENTS
It is demanding to draft a shareholders’ agreement or an agreement in respect of a future transfer to a new generation which in the best possible way prepares how to deal with situations where the parties involved later disagrees or in the context of an estate, in particular in “family companies”. The firm has long experience in handling agreements and settlements of this nature in a good way.
ASSISTANCE IN FINANCIAL RESTRUCTURING ACTING both for CREDITORS and for companies in FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES
The firm is among the most experienced and competent when it comes to finding solutions for businesses in financial difficulties, and to manage the necessary processes between the creditors and the company in a good way. Thus, businesses with the ability to return profits can survive for the benefit of owners and employees, and the losses of creditors can be limited. We possess both strong legal and financial/business competence and experience and are well known in banks and in the business community.
ENTERING INTO AND DISSOLVING LAWFIRMS AND OTHER BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS
Partnership between professionals is demanding. A good partnership agreement shall ensure good corporate governance and a reasonable division of the fruits of the joint labor, and to accomplish that is challenging. When the situation rises that the partnership wants to part ways with a partner, the situation is critical for the person standing alone, both financially and emotionally. The handling of many such situations has given us both competence and experience to secure the best possible exit.
DIRECTORSHIPS OR CRO POSITION IN BUSINESSES IN NEED OF CHANGE
In a financial restructuring or “crisis”, it may be useful and even necessary to employ a competent person independent of the owners and the current management (as a CRO) to carry the responsibility of the restructuring process and thereby free up time for management to take care of the regular business. Alternatively, such a person can join as a non-executive director or an observer in the board of directors. This will give the creditors added security.
We have the experience and can offer this service. A good example of this is when the Norwegian Government introduced the monopoly on lotteries and betting, and advocate Gisvold sat on the board of directors of Norsk Lotteridrift ASA for 1 ½ years on behalf of the bank. The process lead to the bank receiving full payment of its hundreds of millions in outstanding loans.
ARBITRATIONS AND SECOND OPINIONS
Marius Moursund Gisvold has 40 years of experience as a lawyer, including as managing partner of Norway’s largest lawfirm. He has served as an appeal court judge on two different Appeal Courts and as an arbitrator in many arbitrations in business areas such as industry, shipping, associations, and sport. He has an academic background from The Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law, University of Oslo. He also has extensive experience in evaluating cases conducted by other law firms prior to decisions to issue a writ or take other major decisions in court cases.