Advokatfirmaet Gjessing AS

Number of partners: 7

Number of lawyers: 13

Languages: English, French, German, Italian, the Scandinavian languages

Firm Overview:

Gjessing is a boutique law firm specializing in IP, Tech, Sport, Media & Entertainment – the first and only of its kind in Norway. Gjessing is regularly recognized in leading national and international rankings within our core practice areas. Our firm and our lawyers have achieved top-tier recognition since our establishment, reflecting our strong expertise and reputation in these fields. The firm’s lawyers collaborate with IP/tech Sport, Media & Entertainment specialist lawyers in a number of jurisdictions, but the firm is independent and is not a member of any exclusive network or referral arrangement.

Main Areas of Practice:

Intellectual Property

TMT & Data Protection

Sport, Media & Entertainment

Regulatory

Commercial

Dispute Resolution

IP:

The partners have comprehensive experience in litigation and non-contentious work in all fields of IP and neighbouring fields of the law, such as unfair competition and marketing law. The firm’s counselling work spans from helping clients develop IP strategies to advising on and negotiating technology transfer contracts and commercial contracts, in which intellectual property rights are almost always important, to performing IP due diligence.

TMT & Data Protection:

The two partners that specialise in the areas of TMT and Data protection have worked with technology and media companies, as outside counsel as well as in-house. They assist technology companies as well as companies on the customer side in connection with IT procurements and other technology projects, and frequently assist clients in contract negotiations and dispute resolution. Gjessing also handles regulatory issues relating to the telecommunications industry and other regulated industries, and in recent years, an increasing number of issues relating to the processing of personal data under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) across all business sectors. The firm has expertise within digitalisation, e-commerce, digital signatures, digital content services and domain names. Two of the partners are members of the Norwegian Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee for the country code Top Level Domain .no. The firm advises several right holders organisations and has substantial experience relating to copyright and the use of protected materials on the Internet, anti-piracy and platform liability.

Media, Sport & Entertainment:

We provide tailored legal and commercial advice to Norwegian and international rights-holders, companies and industy organisations. We work across music, film and TV, theatre, gaming, advertising, live events and the performing arts, advsing on both legal and commercial aspects of projects. The team is recognised as lading within its field, regularly handling complex cross-border matters, including international project financing, and litigating high-stakes IP disputes in the entertainment industry. For international film and TV productions, we act as a one-stop shop, providing services such as clearances, negotiation checks, and legal guidance throughout all key stages of the production process. Our lawyers combine deep industry knowledge with extensive hands-on experience, delivering strong commercial insight and dedicated expertise across film&TV, events, theatre and music.

Regulatory:

Many industry sectors are heavily regulated, and it is critical for businesses not just to be compliant but to develop compliance strategies that give them a competitive advantage. Several lawyers in Gjessing have first-hand knowledge and experience from relevant sectors and regulatory bodies.

Commercial:

The firm provides strategic advice to clients on commercial matters, especially where IP rights and the access to and control of technology are important, and also advises in neighbouring areas, such as unfair competition law, marketing law, franchising and distributorship matters. Its practice spans across a number of sectors, but there is a concentration around consumer goods/retail and the pharmaceutical, the oil and gas services and the aquaculture industries, the last two being the most important industries in Norway.

Dispute Resolution:

Gjessing represents clients before all Norwegian courts. Several partners also have experience from alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation and arbitration.

IP Litigation:

The lawyers of Gjessing have litigated a significant share of the patent and trademark cases in Norway in recent years, and this is an area for which the firm’s lawyers are particularly well known. The partners and associates are used to working closely with foreign clients and their foreign counsel. They understand the importance of developing and implementing IP and litigation strategies that are consistent across multiple jurisdictions.

Commercial Litigation:

The firm’s litigation practice also includes representing clients in commercial disputes that concern intellectual property rights, e.g. disputes about the interpretation of contracts, or disputes relating to statutory employee inventors’ rights.