Tore Bråthen er cand. jur. og dr. juris fra Universitetet i Oslo (doktoravhandling "Personklausuler i aksjeselskaper"). Han har vært ansatt som professor ved Institutt for rettsvitenskap og styring ved Handelshøyskolen BI siden 1998. Før dette arbeidet han som førsteamanuensis ved Det juridiske fakultet, Universitetet i Oslo. Han har siden 1998 også vært professor II ved Det juridiske fakultet, Universitetet i Tromsø.
Bråthens rettsvitenskapelige kompetanse ligger primært innenfor selskapsrett, hvor han har publisert en rekke bøker og fagartikler. Bråthen har også publisert forskningsartikler og lærebøker innen bl.a. eiendomsmegling og eiendomsmeglerrett, stiftelsesrett, verdipapirrett, kontraktsrett, forsikringsformidlingsrett, forvaltningsrett og statsforfatningsrett.
Siden 1997 har Bråthen vært redaktør for selskapsrett mv. i Norsk Lovkommentar (Norwegian Commentary on the Law) og i tillegg har han skrevet kommentarer til flere av lovene her. Han har vært redaktør for Nordisk Tidsskrift for Selskabsret (Nordic Journal of Company Law, NTS) siden 1999. Han har vært medlem av redaksjonsrådet for Tidsskrift for Eiendomsrett (Journal of Real Estate law) siden 2012.
Bråthen har vært medlem av flere regjeringsoppnevnte lovutvalg, og han ledet utvalgene som utarbeidet NOU 2006:1 Eiendomsmegling, NOU 2016:22 Aksjelovgivning for økt verdiskaping, og NOU 2023:2 Fremtidens apotek, samt utvalget som skrev utredningen «Gjeldsregister i Norge».
I perioden 2004-2014 var han leder av «Reklamasjonsnemnda for Eiendomsmeglingstjenester».
Bråthen har bred erfaring som voldgiftsdommer, og han har skrevet en rekke juridiske betenkninger for norske og utenlandske oppdragsgivere.
Bråthen underviser på flere ulike kurs og studieretninger ved BI. Han underviser også på studiet i rettsvitenskap ved Universitetet i Tromsø. Han veileder jevnlig masterstudenter ved UiO, UiB og UiT.
The article discusses the Norwegian judicial framework for the work by boards of limited liability companies with sustainability. Sustainability regulation is no longer a result of more or less targeted political initiatives, it largely presents as a coherent system of rules and it has in many ways indisputably been integrated into the field of company law in Norway. The starting point for the analysis is that the boards of Norwegian limited liability companies and public limited liability companies are expected to create value for their owners, but they are also expected to do this in a sustainable manner. Therefore, we firstly give a description of the ‘company interest’ and its central elements. The article seeks among other things to demonstrate the trade-off between profit seeking and the board’s right and duty to integrate sustainability in the management of the company. The board’s work on sustainability in limited liability companies and public limited liability companies must be carried out within the framework stipulated by company law and other legislation, the company’s articles of associa- tion, and the company’s other governing bodies. Neither the Limited Liability Companies Act nor the Public Limited Liability Companies Act includes any specific statutory regulation of sustainability. A starting point is, therefore, that the company law framework for the board’s work on sustainability is constituted by the general rules in the Com- panies Acts on the board’s right and duty to manage the company in accordance with the company interest. Nor- wegian company law is stakeholder-oriented and takes into account both shareholder interests and stakeholder interests. Company interest includes the interests of shareholders, employees, counterparties, creditors and society as a whole. As pointed out in the article, these interests include what can be described as ‘sustainability considerations’. The boards of limited liability companies and public limited liability companies must exercise their management of the company within the statutory framework. This framework also includes mandatory legislation other than the Companies Acts, for example the legislation dealing with sustainability matters. For public limited companies listed on the stock exchange, the Norwegian Code of Practice for Corporate Governance includes a specific expectation that the board must integrate sustainability into its governance of the company’s business activities. Another important question is to what extent the board can attach importance to sustainability considerations. It is a prerequisite for companies to be able to consider environmental and social considerations that they are financially sustainable. How- ever, it is conceivable that the profit motive can come into conflict with social and environmental considerations. The article discusses the balance between the profit motive and social and environmental considerations. One question deals with the board’s ability to attach weight to sustainability in the light of the company’s advertising and reputa- tion values (‘goodwill’). The article discusses also the relationship between sustainability and the company’s ability to make gifts.
Bråthen, Tore Kristian (2023)
HR-2023-1128-A (Kvinnherad Breiband): Utløses forkjøpsrett til aksjer av fusjon og fisjon?
This article discusses the Norwegian judicial framework for the Board’s work with sustainability. Sustainability regulation is no longer a result of more or less targeted political initiatives, it largely presents as a coherent system of rules.
The starting point for the analysis is the general principles in the LLC (Limited Liability Companies) Act on the Board’s duty to manage the company. We therefore firstly give a description of the "company interest" and its central elements. The article seeks among other things to demonstrate the trade-off between profit seeking and the Board’s right and duty to integrate sustainability in the management of the company.
Furthermore, the article discusses how central milestones, such as the EU taxonomy, accounting and reporting regulation, the Transparency Act, and the EU Commission’s proposal for a Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), impact the Board’s sustainability work.
Several of these rules are characterised by strict requirements applicable to a relatively small number of companies. These companies, however, will, in order to meet these requirements, often have to place demands on their contractual parties. The legal framework will thus have important ramifications for a larger number of companies and the Board’s work in these companies. A lack of knowledge about sustainability may have substantial legal and economic consequences.
Bråthen, Tore (2021)
The Myth of Shareholder Ownership – the Norwegian Legal Perspective
, s. 231- 258.
Bråthen, Tore (2020)
Regulering av avtaler mellom selskapet og tilknyttede parter i norsk aksjeselskapsrett
The Norwegian regulation of Related Parties Transactions (RPT) has been developed through a total of five phases. The development startet with the EEA-adaption of the former Limited Liability Act of 1976 in 1995. Originally, a rule on «Nachgrundung» in public limited companies was enacted. The General Assembley had to approve specified agreements for them to be valid. The statutory provision largely coincided with the requirements of the EU’s Second Company Law Directive. With The Limited Companies Acts of 1997 the rule was significantly extended to include agreements on both limited companies’ and public limited companies’ acquisitions from shareholders as well as from natural and legal persons treated as shareholders. The provisions made exceptions for, amongst others, commercial agreements. Later the provision was extended to cover all types of agreements (acquisitions as well as disposals, etc.) with an expanding circle of natural and legal persons. Attempts were made to precisely define the exception for commercial agreements and additional exceptions were introduced. By amendments in 2019, the Public Limited Companies Act was adapted to the requirements of SRD II. For limited liability companies and for non-listed public limited companies substantial amendments were enacted. The number of agreements that should apply with the procedural rules was in reality significantly reduced, attempts were made to further specify the exception for commercial agreements, the necessary resolutions shall be made by the Board of Directors and not any longer by the General Assembley, and the invalidity rule was softended. The paper reviews the development of the Norwegian rules on RPTs and the circumstances leading to the various amendments of these rules. Furthermore, it includes an analysis of the new rules on RPTs applicable to limited companies and non-listed public limited companies.
Bråthen, Tore & Kristensen, Roy K (2020)
Ulvesund-dommen (HR-2017-2375-A) og norsk regnskapsrett
The State is not like any other owner. No other owner both owns firms and legislates. Notwithstanding great improvements in corporate governance and the Norwegian Parliament's white papers over the years, substantial legal issues still remain unclear. Role overlap, financial liability, exercise of control over firm's board, management, actions, and structure still remain unresolved.
Nye norske regler om utarbeidelse og oppbevaring av selskapsdokumentasjon og kommunikasjon mellom aksjonærer og selskap
(2/3) , s. 104- 115.
Bråthen, Tore (2017)
Den norske aksjelovreformen - 1. etappe 2017
(1) , s. 70- 86.
Bråthen, Tore (2017)
Ny litteratur
(2/3) , s. 145- 147.
Anderssen, Harald B & Bråthen, Tore (2016)
Moderne Forretningsjus III
Bråthen, Tore (2016)
Ugyldighet når styret, firmategner eller daglig leder i aksjeselskaper overskrider sin myndighet - betydningen av "redelighetskravet" i aksjeloven § 6-33
, s. 107- 126.
Bråthen, Tore (2016)
Inhabilitet på generalforsamlingen i aksjeselskaper
