Proud of our history
Our law firm dates back to 1870. As one of Norway’s oldest law firms, we have followed the legal and social developments in Norway for more than 150 years.
It was lawyer Carl Martin Hansen (1839-1922,) who was admitted to the Supreme Court of Norway, who started the legal practice in Oslo. He was a highly skilled lawyer and financier who was made a Knight of the Order of St Olav for his achievements. Eventually, Supreme Court lawyer Oscar de Besche (1903-2002) took over the administration of the law firm, whose name has become a legal trademark of good craftsmanship.
Photo: Oscar de Besche
Sven Arntzen (1897-1976), also a lawyer admitted to the Supreme Court of Norway, played a key role in the resistance movement during World War II. He was Norway's Director of Public Prosecutions during the early part of the great treason settlement after the war from 1945 to 1946. For this, he was made a Knight of the Order of St Olav and received Deltagermedaljen (a Norwegian military decoration) and Great Britain's King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom.
Photo: Sven Arntzen
Leif Ørnelund / Oslo Museum
Arntzen de Besche in its present form was established on 1 January 2001. The company leads the legacy from the law firm de Besche & Co. on one side, and the law firm Arntzen, Underland & Co. on the other side.
Photo to the left: Andreas Arntzen
Photo to the right: Ulf Underland
In 2009 we started a cooperation with Arntzen de Besche Trondheim AS (former Schjødt Law Firm Trondheim AS / Law firm Vaagland), and in 2011, Arntzen de Besche Stavanger DA (former Smedsvig Heitmann DA) joined the cooperation.
Today, we are one of the largest law firms in Norway. We cover the entire area of business law.
Photo: iStock / ilbusca
