Haavind’s history stretches back to the end of the 19th century. Since then, the firm has been through many extensive changes. Still, the influence of the firm’s history is apparent today.
The beginning
The company was established in 1893, when Jan Groos Helmer became Supreme Court Advocate and started his own practice. In 1899, the Supreme Court Advocate Kristen Johanssen joined him as partner.
Social orientation
The firm’s lawyers were active during and after World War II, both as members of the people’s resistance movement, as defenders for Norwegian patriots before the German court-martial and as prosecuting counsels against nazi supreme court judges and a number of the Quisling cabinet ministers. Jens Christian Hauge is the core person in this part of the firm’s history. He started is lawyering practice in 1954, after having been head of the people’s resistance movement during the war and later defence secretary and attorney general. In his practice as a lawyer, a great portion of his commissions were for public institutions, while also taking instructions from clients in trade and industry.
Professional standing
Haavind has always had focused on its professional standing. Approximately half of our partners are admitted to the Supreme Court. The firm’s partners are also active members of various official committees and special interest organisations.
A firm in progress
Haavind of today is the result of a merger in 2000 between the four law firms Haavind & Haga; Vislie, Ødegaard & Kolrud; Hauge & Co and Lowzow & Co. Earlier, the common practice of including the names of all new partners in the firm’s name was followed. Among the results were that one of the firms at one point in time had the fetching name "Advokatene Haavind, Haavind, Dahl, Bjelke, Arnesen, Ven & Torkildsen". A client calling the firm was first speechless, but then exclaimed: ”Oh my…well, my name is only Pettersen!”.
When from 2009 we use the simple and straightforward name Haavind, a development that signals our readiness to develop further and to meet a future filled with many new challenges.