Wiersholm - specialist legal counsel in defence and security

The defence sector is of fundamental importance to national security and international relations, and the legal issues arising in this context are significant. The regulatory and contractual landscape is complex and encompasses a broad range of matters, including ESG, contract law, public procurement, international regulatory compliance, export control, and intellectual property.

Wiersholm's lawyers are recognised as leading practitioners in this field. We combine technical excellence with a pragmatic, commercially focused approach, tailored to the needs of each client.

Robust legal frameworks are essential to ensure that all parties of the defence sector operate effectively and efficiently, while safeguarding national interests and enabling technological innovation. Regulation is also critical to maintaining an appropriate balance between security considerations and ethical responsibility, as well as to preventing unlawful trade in and the proliferation of military technology. Accordingly, legal work within the defence sector is not merely necessary to uphold the rule of law. It is also a key contribution to national and international security.

Our team has extensive experience advising Norwegian and international stakeholders across the defence, emergency preparedness, and security sectors. We support clients across the full range of relevant legal disciplines. Several of our lawyers have industry experience, and we provide advice that is pragmatic, commercially attuned, and focused on delivering workable solutions.

Our services include:

• Support with the preparation and execution of risk assessments
• Strategic counsel on the evolving threat and risk landscape, including identification of commercial opportunities and advice on market positioning
• Compliance with the Norwegian National Security Act, including the provisions relating to preventive security work, information security and information systems security, asset and infrastructure security, and personnel security
• Assistance in defence procurements and other security-classified procurement processes
• Advice to ensure that IT projects comply with relevant national and international security requirements
• Cybersecurity and data protection
• Drafting and negotiation support in relation to license agreements, assignment and transfer agreements, and R&D agreements
• Supply chain and integrity due diligence (IDD) of business partners and other third parties, including compliance with the Norwegian Transparency Act
• Bespoke contractual advice for complex defence contracting, including support throughout contract negotiations
• Strategic advice on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) screening requirements, transaction-specific security risk assessments, and the risk of governmental intervention on national security grounds