
Geir Sviggum
Geir is our Managing Partner. He headed the firm's Shanghai office from 2008 to 2013 and was Managing Partner International with overall responsibility for Wikborg Rein's international practice from 2012 to 2016. Geir has on a number of occasions, as late as 2022, been named International Lawyer of the Year in the Norwegian Financial Daily's annual lawyers survey. Legal 500 points to Geir as a Leading Individual within the Regulatory, Compliance and Investigations category, describing him as "the rock that you need in a crisis". Geir is also ranked Band 1 by Chambers Europe within the Compliance category. Geir's specialities are threefold: - Compliance with a particular focus on anti-bribery and crisis management, hereunder criminal law consequences and civil disputes triggered by potential misconduct. Geir's experience spans from a role as public defender in Norwegian courts to crisis management on behalf of listed Norwegian companies following suspected misconduct, preventive advisory work for Norwegian companies and public authorities in their anti-bribery work and lecturing on anti-bribery legislation at universities in several countries; - Dispute resolution focusing on larger disputes of international nature. Geir has significant experience from Norwegian courts as well as arbitration- and court processes in several countries; - Advisory work to medium-sized and large Norwegian industry- and technology enterprises in their international exposure, hereunder regulatory issues, sales contracts, distribution contracts, production contracts, agent contracts and risk preventive measures. Geir further has significant experience as legal advisor to Norwegian authorities with regard to Norway's various international exposure. During Geir’s time in China he was highlighted in local and regional rankings as among China’s "15 Rising Stars" in the legal profession for "impressive achievements" and among the 100 most influential lawyers in Asia. Geir is frequently used as speaker at universities, conferences and in other fora. · Wikborg Rein
About
Managing Partner at Wikborg Rein based in Norway with extensive experience in compliance (notably anti-bribery), crisis management, international dispute resolution and advisory work for industry and public authorities. Former head of the firm's Shanghai office (2008–2013) and Managing Partner International (2012–2016); repeatedly recognised in Legal 500 and Chambers and named International Lawyer of the Year in Norway's Finansavisen survey as recently as 2022.
Practice areas
Office
Expertise
Education
- "Leadership in law firms", research program, Harvard Law School (2015)
- Practising certificate (2005)
- Cand.jur., University of Bergen (2003)
- Optional subject, International Civil Law, Bond University, Australia (2002)
- Officer's Training School for the Infantry Regiment of Trøndelag County (1996)
Admissions
- Practising certificate (2005)