Our history

These two attorneys had a number of reasons for establishing this partnership: they were about the same age, both grew up in Oslo and they had a well-established network of contacts with large sections of the city's business sector, including a number of commercial associations and organisations. In addition, Ræder and Blanck both had experience of being imprisoned by the Germans during the war, and they were both involved in the legal purges as part of their work with the Department of Enemy Property.

Establishing the business focus: legal commerce

Since it was established, Ræder Wisløff Aasland (previously known as Ræder Blanck Wisløff Aasland) has mainly focused its activities on the commercial legal sector. This has provided us with a platform for developing extensive legal and practical expertise in most areas dealing with trade and commerce. Our clients have mainly been small and medium-sized businesses, but have included, and still do, an ever-increasing number of major companies which are leaders in their respective sectors.

Supporter of Norwegian commerce accosiations

As a result of our work and the expertise we have demonstrated through it, we have also been involved for many years in carrying out administrative functions for various commercial associations, and we are currently acting as legal advisers to a number of associations and organisation.

From working in a wide-ranging, varied area such as commerce, we continually update our expertise in company and tax law, inheritance law and other disciplines. We have taken on assignments over the years acting as managing agents and advisers for a number of major developments, both residential and commercial. We have developed considerable expertise in contract law and in dealing with the problems which actually crop up on a regular basis during the purchase and development of properties at every stage of the process, from planning and design right through to completion.

Catching a head-start within the ICT sector

Thanks to our network of contacts, we managed to get involved early on in what is currently known as the ICT sector, an area which we have focused a great deal of effort in developing. We have been widely operating in this sector for a number of years, being involved in the process of setting up many of these companies, right through to their listing on the stock market.

Strengthening our profile

The merger of the two legal firms to become the current legal firm Ræder was prompted by the trend taking place in the economy, in other respects, towards larger, more efficient organisations. Ottesen & Co. DA had, just like Ræder Wisløff Aasland ANS, mainly operated in the commercial legal field, dealing with small and medium-sized commercial companies. Ottesen & Co. DA also had a large number of clients handling the management of commercial premises and acted as an adviser to family-owned property companies. The firm also dealt with civil law matters, involving inheritances and trusts.Although the merger was a response to current and hopefully, future challenges, we will still focus on preserving and enhancing further the experience and expertise which we have developed throughout the years.

Our client's best interest: business and personal

We still very much believe that, in our clients' best interests, it helps when we are providing assistance to get to know each other, both on a business and personal level. By doing this, it provides us with the opportunity to help develop business and avoid many problems which can occur. In our view, these historical traditions and experience we have acquired provide the best basis too for providing legal assistance now and in the future.