Schjødt moves up to tier one in patent contentious. Each of the top firms has found an edge in one particular area and Schjødt's edge is the experience of its IP litigation team as a unit and the reputation of head IP lawyer Halvor Manshaus. "Manshaus is the hands-down best lawyer I have worked with," says one client, "he is truly unique in his ability to understand the big picture, including everything from high-level business strategy and tactics to technological detail that may be relevant to the case".
Partner Sigurd Holter Torp also has a well-established practice and the firm has been working to promote its up-and-comers, namely recently hired senior associate Inger Berg Ørstavik and associate Åsmund Øvsthus, who one client recommends as "hard-working and diligent". According to a competitor: "Ørstavik has a Phd (still not common) in law, patents and innovation processes, and many law firms were waiting to hire her and she went to Schjødt". A client comments: "The firm is very good to work with and worked with us in a collaborative and pragmatic manner. The quality of legal advice is impeccable as far as I can judge, but where Schjødt really stands out is on business and strategic awareness."
In 2010, the firm represented Aker against Transocean in an international patent dispute regarding offshore oil drilling. The firm has so far won the case for Aker before the Oslo District Court, Appeal Court and Supreme Court and is now advising before the EPO and NPO. Generic companies Hexal and Sandoz also hired the firm in a patent challenge against AstraZeneca for its drug Omeprazol, and a third case saw the firm advise General Electric against Rainpower in an IP and know-how dispute.