SKARP aims to be among Norway’s leading firms in challenging the traditional model of legal practice.
Our approach seeks to align the interests of both clients and partners by identifying and eliminating inefficiencies inherent in the conventional law firm structure. Our model is based on what is internationally referred to as a distributed law firm. We call ourselves a modern, decentralized law firm — and we believe there are three key areas where we can create meaningful change with this model.

Remote Work
We believe that a law firm can be built entirely on remote work. This is the cornerstone of a decentralized legal practice. We reject the notion that legal services must be delivered from open-plan offices or private glass-walled offices in high-profile areas like Bjørvika, Aker Brygge, Tjuvholmen, or other central Oslo locations. At SKARP, we make it easy for talented lawyers to work with us — without the requirement to show up at a physical office at fixed hours. You are free to live and work wherever suits your lifestyle best, and that is a principle we will never compromise. In this way, our lawyers are “decentralized” — able to serve clients wherever they are, while enjoying the flexibility to work from wherever we are.

Billing Requirements
In traditional firms, partners are typically subject to strict billing targets and time quotas. At SKARP, we are clear: every lawyer manages their own time. Our model is built to offer the highest possible degree of flexibility and freedom — without billing requirements or hourly quotas.

Flat Structure
We have moved away from the traditional hierarchical pyramid seen in most law firms, where layers of associates and junior resources contribute to increased fixed costs. Our structure is lean, flat, and designed for efficiency and collaboration.

At SKARP, all partners are equals — with equal ownership in the firm.
Our compensation model is fully transparent, and each partner enjoys significant autonomy in pricing their services. We maintain a strong focus on minimizing administrative and operational overhead. This model eliminates the internal competition and hierarchical climb typically associated with traditional law firms, removing uncertainty around individual career development. With our compensation structure and the freedom built into our model, each lawyer has a high degree of control over their own income — directly tied to their personal efforts and results.

Team-Based Approach vs. Individual Practitioners
When we recruit, we look for new partners who embrace our concept and fit our philosophy. Professionally, we seek individuals whose expertise complements and strengthens our collective capabilities. We aim to build a culture where every lawyer takes on a role within a team — leveraging each other’s strengths to deliver the best possible results.

What Does This Mean for Our Clients?
Our decentralized partnership allows us to work from wherever we are, whenever our clients need us — without passing on the cost of expensive office space. Freed from geographical constraints, we can attract top-tier legal talent regardless of where they choose to live. This enables us to offer greater flexibility and competitive pricing.

We are open to exploring various fee structures — including fixed-price engagements, tiered pricing models, and retainer agreements — with a focus on cost predictability wherever possible. Due to current regulations governing legal practice in Norway, we are not permitted to accept percent-based success fees, and we don’t take on assignments on “no cure-no pay” basis.

Our clients also benefit from our team-oriented culture. Our objective is always to assign the lawyer best suited — and available — to handle the specific tasks and challenges our clients face.