I have been highly ranked by both Chambers and Legal 500 for a number of years. The last decade or so my focus has been on dispute resolution, particularly as a legal expert, mediator, and arbitrator, - both in Norway and internationally. I have for years been genuinely interested in alternative dispute resolution and have worked successfully to reduce the level of conflict in major and minor contractual relationships.
I work both as an arbitrator and mediator.
As a mediator, I am engaged either ad hoc by the parties directly or by the courts. In the latter cases I serve as a court mediator or co-mediator together with a judge.
I have been appointed arbitrator in a great number of cases. Often I am appointed by the parties in accordance with Chapter 4 of the Norwegian Arbitration Act, but I have also been appointed by institutes such as the Oslo Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Institute (OCC) or the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
Furthermore, I take part in and chair several large project-integrated mediations (PRIME) where I sit together with two other specialists colleagues in a mediation team. Here we are involved in the implementation of the contract throughout the entire contract period. One intention or goal with our work i to identify any possible problems and reasons for disagreements between the parties and discuss them as early as possible. Thus we, through a dialogue and subsequenbt clarifications, may establish a shared and common view on how such situations may be followed up to avoid disputes between the parties.
In addition, I am appointed as a legal expert i.a. in connection with major infrastructure contracts. Here I give advice on how specific disputes and claims can be resolved and processed. Latelely, in June 2022 I was appointed as a member of the Expert Council in the project E18 Vestkorridoren, Strand - Ramstadsletta by the parties, - the Norwegian Public Roads Administration Development and Skanska Norge AS, and also in the fall of 2022 I was appointed to a smilar position regarding the Sotra Link Project,- one of the largest bridge-, tunnel- and road-projects in Norway.
I have extensive experience assessing and preparing cases and litigation strategies. Based on my professional overview and vast network of contacts, I offer advice and help put together capable litigation teams and to some extent also participate in the follow-up of these teams. I no longer take extensive independent litigation assignments as counsel.
My activities are organised in the law firm Advokat Harald S. Kobbe AS and I am co- located and cooperate with the law firm Harris in Bergen.
Certified mediator by Norsk Mekling (www.mekling.no) in the fields of construction, real estate and contracts
Listed and recommended arbitrator by the Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
Institute of the Oslo Chamber of Commerce (www.chamber.no)
Member of and recommended arbitrator by the Norwegian Oil and Energy
Arbitration Association (www.noeaa.no)
Chair of Byggebransjens Faglig Juridiske Råd (The Norwegian legal advice
council for the building- and construction industry) from 2008 until 2022 (www.bfjr.no)
Listed legal expert by Standard Norway to be appointed by the parties in
accordance with NS 8405 Article 43 and NS 8507 Article 50.
I was recently appointed to chair a new PRIME, this time in Northern Norway. Nye Veier AS and Leonard Nilsens Sønner AS have entered into a major contract consisting i.a. of two long tunnels to make E6 Kvænangsfjellet more safe and open also during winter. Here from the first site inspection in June 2022.
Harald S. Kobbe – Advocate, admitted to the Supreme Court, LL.M Harvard Law School
