Public Procurement
The total cost of public procurement for goods and services in Norway is approximately NOK 400 billion. In awarding these contracts, contracting authorities and companies bidding and doing business with them are dependent on expert legal advice. Public procurement rules are changing. The transposition of the 2014 EU Public Procurement Directives to Norwegian law makes it key for suppliers and contracting authorities to have support from highly qualified legal expertise. For contracting authorities, non-compliance with the procurement rules can have very serious commercial consequences. For suppliers, our assistance can make the difference in winning a critical contract.
They always take a business approach to legal issues. Our experience is that the team is solution-oriented and to-the-point. In addition to knowing the law inside out, the team has solid knowledge of the industry’s dynamics and challenges and is therefore a valuable adviser.
- Client, Legal 500, 2020
SANDS has one of the market’s most competent teams in the area of public procurement law, and is considered a key provider of best practice and know-how in the field. Highly qualified expertise in all the commercial law disciplines combined with a strong presence in all the major commercial and financial cities and regions in Norway gives us a unique position to provide legally sound and commercially smart advice to our clients. Public procurement law has strong links to administrative law, construction law, competition law and EU/EEA law in general. Our procurement team can rely on expert assistance from SANDS teams in all these areas of law. In addition, we have some of Norway’s most highly ranked lawyers working on compliance, anti-corruption and white-collar crime.
Our services include:
Our lawyers represent public and private sector entities on a wide range of matters. For general advice, clients rely on us to anticipate potential issues and prepare suitable strategies and to assist in commercial assessments. We assist contracting authorities throughout all stages of the procurement process – from market consultations, drawing up procurement documents and contract drafting, negotiations, dispute resolution and through the performance of contracts. For contracting authorities and utilities operators whose tendering processes have come under attack, or for disappointed tenderers seeking to challenge the award of a public contract, we help to resolve disputes and to litigate. The experience to address public procurement issues from the perspective of all those involved in the procurement process, enables us to provide precise and insightful advice in any situation.
Our procurement lawyers are attractive speakers in conferences and workshops. We provide tailored courses for specific entities, sectors or for specific problems.