practice areas banking and finance

We are regularly used by leading Norwegian and foreign banks and financial institutions on all types of financing

We frequently assist all leading Norwegian and foreign banks and financial institutions, as well as Eksportfinans (the Norwegian export credit institution for Export Financing) on all types of financing, including bilateral and syndicated bank loans, project financing, acquisition financing and leasing.

Our finance team consists of 20 lawyers, based in Oslo, Bergen and Singapore. In addition, lawyers who primarily specializes in other fields of work are regularly included on our teams when their expertise is required.

Vogt & Wiig is specifically recognized as an expert within ship financing. Legal 500 write in their 2009 edition that "Vogt & Wiig AS is a market leader in maritime finance", and Chambers Europe 2009 state that the firm is "renowned as a powerhouse in shipping finance". We also assist financial institutions and borrowers with inter alia aviation financing, real estate financing and financing of company acquisitions.

The transactions in which we are involved are often international. As a result, we have gained a lot of knowledge of financing and the granting of security in various jurisdictions and have, among other things, sound experience of registering charges in most of the large international ship registers. In addition, we cooperate with several law firms in many countries so that we can always offer our clients qualified legal assistance in various jurisdictions.

Further, we have extensive experience in advising lenders and borrowers in connection with defaulted loans, hereunder renegotiating loan agreements, realization of securities, restructurings and negotiations with creditors/work-outs.

Our assistance in the field of banking and finance is often related to:

  • The borrower’s choice of ownership structures
  • The structuring of financing and execution of the transaction
  • The preparation and negotiation of loan documentation and security documentation
  • The registration of security in various jurisdictions
  • Sale and leaseback structures with the necessary formation of companies and preparation and negotiation of bodies of agreement
  • Newbuilding financing
  • Guarantee facilities
  • Export credits
  • Restructuring, debt collection, cancellation of charterparties/withdrawals of vessels and arrest/seizure orders