Frithjof Herlofsen
Partner
Admitted to the Norwegian Supreme Court
Frithjof Herlofsen has more than 25 years of experience specialising in all aspects of shipping and transport law, including salvage, GA settlements, cargo claims, charter party disputes, bills of lading, MOAs, shipbuilding and repair contracts, marine insurance (cover disputes, P&I, FDD, H&M, cargo insurance etc), marine incidents, arrest, forced use and sales as well as tort and contract disputes.
Frithjof is admitted to the Norwegian Supreme Court. He was a member of the Norwegian Bar Association's Committee on Insurance Law from 2016 to 2024, and head of the Committee from 2022 to 2024.
Herlofsen has argued more than 100 cases in arbitrations and before the Norwegian courts, including seven cases before the Norwegian Supreme Court. Herlofsen is also frequently appointed as arbitrator, both in ad hoc arbitrations as well as under the NOMA Procedural Rules.
Frithjof is recognized as a market leading Norwegian offshore and shipping litigation lawyer and highly ranked in Legal 500 ("Recommended Individual"/"Hall of Fame") and Chambers and Partners (ranked in Band 1).
Professional Career
2022 - Present:
Partner at Gjelsten Herlofsen Advokatfirma AS
2013 - 2022 :
Partner at Advokatfirmaet Simonsen Vogt Wiig AS
2002 - 2013:
Partner at Advokatfirmaet Vogt & Wiig AS
1999 - 2002:
Senior Associate at Vogt & Co. DA/Vogt & Wiig AS
1994 - 1999:
Associate at Vogt & Co. DA
Education:
2008 Admitted to the Norwegian Supreme Court
1999 Qualified as Solicitor to the Supreme Court of England and Wales
1997 Practicing Certificate
1994 Cand. Jur. at University of Oslo
Frithjof has successfully represented clients in a number of reported cases, recently including:
MV "Cheshire"
Court of Appeal 2021
Norwegian Supreme Court 2020, on access to evidence
MV "Norrland"
Norwegian Supreme Court 2019
MV "Norrland" II
Court of Appeal 2020
Hustadkalk/Visnes Sameie
Norwegian Supreme Court 2019
MV "Hamburg"
Court of Appeal 2018
MV "Gloria Confidence"
Oslo City Court 2023
MV "Oralora"
Oslo City Court 2022
MV " Spar Gemini"
Oslo City Court 2021
Testimonials:
"He is very bright and able to create a clear structure for the most complex legal facts."
Chambers and Partners 2024 (Shipping: Dispute Resolution)
"He is a very knowledgeable lawyer who provides clear and actionable advice, and is an excellent litigator."
Chambers and Partners 2024 (Shipping: Dispute Resolution)
“Frithjof Herlofsen is a good mix of a pragmatic and highly sophisticated shipping lawyer. He displays a good understanding of the client's business and commercial goals, enabling him to tune his recommendations to a satisfactory outcome."
Chambers and Partners 2024 (Shipping: Dispute Resolution)
"Within his fields of expertise in maritime and insurance law, he is perhaps the best lawyer in Norway."
Chambers and Partners 2024 (Shipping: Dispute Resolution)
"He is able to quickly understand the commercial and technical aspects that are relevant to the case."
Chambers and Partners 2024 (Shipping: Dispute Resolution)
“Frithjof Herlofsen is a distinguished lawyer who is recognized among market commentators as a skilled shipping litigator. He has experience in complex cases that test Norwegian law on carriers' liability under multimodal transport contracts. Sources describe him as a super maritime lawyer.”
Chambers and Partners, 2022 (shipping litigation)
“Frithjof Herlofsen is a superb lawyer. His understanding of the Norwegian, Scandinavian and international shipping and cargo industries is first class.”
Legal 500, 2022 (maritime law)
“Frithjof Herlofsen is an exceptionally good lawyer, especially when it comes to disputes and litigation.”
Legal 500, 2022 (insurance)