News

Kristin Nordland Brattli

Wikborg Rein på Arendalsuka 2025

08/05/2025

WR ESG Alert: EU 'Stop the Clock' Directive enters into force, whilst Supreme Court overturns decision on interim relief in landmark climate change case

In this month's ESG alert, we highlight the EU 'Stop the Clock' Directive which entered into force on 17 April 2025, and the recent judgement from the Supreme Court of Norway on the interpretation of the rules on interim measures under the Norwegian Dispute Act.

25/04/2025

Further US Trade Restrictions and Export Controls Amidst Ongoing Trade War with China

On March 25, 2025, the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) added 80 entities from China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), South Africa, Iran, Taiwan, and other countries to the Entity List for activities deemed contrary to US national security and foreign policy. This represents another measure in the ongoing trade war between the US and China.

25/04/2025

Navigating Tariffs, Geopolitical Shifts and Changing Business Landscapes

In this update, we provide a key overview of the recent developments within tariffs and trade restrictions, in light of the current geopolitical landscape and discuss implications for businesses, alongside strategies for navigating these challenges moving forward.

27/02/2025

EU Omnibus package proposes significant simplifications, while the first Transparency Act penalty is overturned

In this month's ESG alert, we highlight the EU Commission's Omnibus package, which proposes significant simplifications to EU legislation on sustainability and human rights. We also describe the overturn of the first infringement penalty issued under the Transparency Act, and the proposed implementation of the EU Regulation on Waste Shipments into Norwegian law.

30/01/2025

WR ESG Alert: New rules on sustainability reporting in Norway, while simplification, postponement and evaluation are on the horizon

In this month's ESG alert, we highlight the entry into force of the reporting requirements of the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive in Norway, and look into the Omnibus Simplification Package and the postponement of the Deforestation Regulation from the EU, as well as a recently published report evaluating the Norwegian Transparency Act.

24/01/2025

Invitation to the Sanctions and Money Laundering Day 2025

On February 13, we are opening the doors of the National Museum in Oslo for the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Day - featuring authorities, experts, and key industry players on stage. The seminar will also be streamed live.

01/11/2024

WR ESG Alert: Norway commits to implement CBAM, while the first penalty under the Transparency Act is imposed

In this month's ESG alert, we highlight the first infringement penalty imposed under the Transparency Act, the implementation of the EU CSRD into Norwegian law, the Norwegian government's decision to implement CBAM into Norwegian law, EU restrictions on a sub-group of PFAS chemicals, and the latest decision from the Borgarting Court of Appeal regarding an injunction appeal from two environmental organisations.

17/10/2024

First infringement penalty for failing to comply with the Transparency Act – and it bites!

The Norwegian Consumer Authority has on 25 September 2024 issued what appears to be the first infringement penalty for a failure to comply with the Norwegian Transparency Act. For not responding to two information requests on time, the Authority has imposed a penalty on a retail company of 450,000 NOK.

01/10/2024

The obligation to register beneficial owners in Norwegian companies comes into effect today, 1 October 2024

Since 1 November 2021, legal entities have been required to identify and maintain documented, up-to-date information about their ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs). As of 1 October 2024, Norwegian entities must also register their UBOs in the Brønnøysund Register pursuant to the Norwegian Act on the Beneficial Owners Registry. This means that entities must report who ultimately controls and/or owns the entity to the authorities. There is a phase-in period of 10 months, with the final registration deadline being 31 July 2025. After this date, companies that fail to register may be subject to coercive fines.

05/04/2024

WR ESG Alert: Shell appeals landmark climate ruling while EU members agree on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive

In this month's ESG alert, we describe Shell's appeal against a landmark climate ruling, the approval by EU members of a revised version of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive as well as recent EU climate initiatives and proposals to align Norwegian climate regulations with EU standards

19/03/2024

EU Council and Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament approves amended draft of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive

On 15 March 2024, the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) of the Council of the European Union (the "Council") surprisingly approved an amended draft of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (the "CS3D"). On 19 March, the amended draft of the CS3D was approved by the Legal Affairs Committee (JURI) of the European Parliament.

01/03/2024

WR ESG Alert: The EU Council fails to endorse the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, leaving the future of the Directive hanging in the balance

In this month's ESG alert, we highlight the EU Council's failure to endorse the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the European Parliament's efforts to combat gender-based violence, and provide an update on various environmental developments at the EU and Norwegian levels.

15/02/2024

China expands legislation for private sector corruption

China has amended its criminal law for the 12th time with effect from 1 March 2024 by increasing penalties and adding employees of private companies to some bribery and corruption offences that currently only apply to employees of state-owned enterprises.

15/02/2024

Expansion of the UK’s corporate criminal liability regime

The UK Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (“the ECCTA”) was formally approved on 26 October 2023. Among the most significant reforms introduced by the ECCTA are the establishment of ‘failure to prevent fraud’ as a new UK corporate criminal offence, and a reform of the UK identification doctrine expanding the extent of corporate criminal liability for economic crimes. In this article, we highlight the details of these two key aspects of the Act, and explain how they will affect Norwegian companies with operations or subsidiaries in the UK.

02/02/2024

Invites to the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Day 2024

On February 15th, we open the doors for the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Day 2024 in Oslo- with speakers including American sanction authorities (OFAC), American export control authorities (BIS), and the EU Commission.

31/01/2024

Working conditions at Turkish yards and the Norwegian Transparency Act

Norwegian media has recently published a number of stories on the alleged poor working conditions at Turkish shipyards. Norwegian shipowners contracting with foreign yards must be prepared to provide information on their efforts to ensure decent working conditions pursuant to the Norwegian Transparency Act.

05/01/2024

WR ESG Alert: EU agreement on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and updates to and expansion of a range of environmental obligations

In this month's ESG alert, we highlight that political agreement has been reached at EU level with respect to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation as well as new rules to strengthen the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. We also describe an expanded scope for sustainability disclosure obligations following a report by the European Supervisory Authorities and revisions to the Norwegian Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Act.

21/12/2023

EU agreement on corporate due diligence rules to safeguard human rights and environment

On 14 December 2023, the European Parliament and the European Council informally agreed on a new directive on corporate sustainability due diligence (the "CS3D" or the "directive") obliging firms to integrate their human rights and environmental impact into their management systems. The directive has been called a historic breakthrough in the way companies are now responsible for potential abuse in their value chain. Subsequent to the negotiations, the Lead MEP said that this was a starting point for shaping the economy of the future.

23/02/2023

Sanctions and money laundering on the agenda

On Thursday last week, we kicked off the first anniversary seminar of the year with our Sanctions and Money Laundering Day at the National Museum.

08/12/2022

European Commission announces ninth package of sanctions on Russia

On 7 December 2022, president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, outlined a proposal for a ninth package of sanctions.

17/10/2019

New US (and potential EU) sanctions on Turkey

Turkey's military offensive in north-east Syria has led to new US primary and secondary sanctions from the US and announcements of potential future sanctions from the EU.

30/09/2019

Companies Transacting with Chinese Shipowners Face New Sanctions Risks

Last week, the Trump Administration imposed sanctions against Chinese entities and individuals that it has determined have been trading in Iranian oil.

16/09/2019

OFAC announces changes in sanctions rules on Cuba

In previous Sanctions Alerts, we have discussed the Trump administration's shift in its sanctions policy against Cuba. Last week, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took additional steps intended to financially isolate the Cuban government.

05/09/2018

Privilege in the UK – a landmark decision

A High Court decision limiting privilege in relation to advice prepared for a company regarding claims of fraud and corruption has recently been overturned by the Court of Appeal in London. The decision widens the scope of protection for disclosing documents created by internal investigations and should give comfort to organisations facing such allegations.