Making Norwegian Labor Law Simple for Global Leaders
Leading a Scale-Up in Norway
Sven Brooks, a German CEO leading the Norwegian company ScanReach, splits his time between Germany and Bergen. ScanReach is a maritime IoT provider delivering wireless connectivity and IoT solutions for the shipping and offshore industries, with Onboard Wireless Connectivity (OWC) technology that supports safety, efficiency, and sustainability across offshore wind, offshore energy, and commercial shipping.
Balancing strategy and execution, Brooks drives company growth, manages investor and partner relations, and ensures that both technology and commercial teams deliver on operational and financial goals. In this role, questions of Norwegian labor law inevitably surface — and that’s where Lawai has become an important resource he turns to a couple of times a month.
“As a German CEO leading a Norwegian company, I sometimes need to interpret Norwegian laws, regulations, or labor requirements. Lawai gives me clear, structured answers in both English and Norwegian, which saves me from late nights trying to decode complex legal texts. It’s a real time-saver and allows me to focus on strategy and leadership rather than getting lost in legal details.”
"It’s a real time-saver and allows me to focus on strategy and leadership rather than getting lost in legal details.”
Innovation Meets Trust
For ScanReach, adopting new technology isn’t a leap of faith — it’s the default. That mindset made it easy to welcome Lawai into daily operations.
“We trusted Lawai from day one. As a DeepTech, tech-first company, we are used to innovation and AI-based products. I don’t ‘Google’ — I go straight to ChatGPT, and using Lawai felt like a natural extension of that mindset. There was no skepticism.”
That early confidence laid the foundation — but it was only after using Lawai in practice that the benefits became unmistakable.
Faster Answers, Stronger Decisions
The first benefit Brooks points to is time.
“What used to take days of back-and-forth with lawyers or internal debate now takes hours.”
But once in use, what stood out wasn’t just speed — it was the credibility and transparency behind every answer.
“What really impressed me was how it immediately provided answers that we could use in staff communications, our employee handbook, or policy updates. Even more importantly, it cites the actual legal articles and rules, giving full transparency and grounding every answer in reality. That combination of context and traceability creates a very high level of trust.”
For Brooks, the real value lies in that balance: the agility of AI combined with the assurance of seeing the legal source behind every recommendation.
“…it’s about confidence. I know that even without a legal team, I’m not missing critical risks. Lawai also improves the quality of work across the company because I can share insights with colleagues quickly and clearly.”
These gains in efficiency ripple beyond operations. Faster decisions and clearer communication help strengthen company culture, building the kind of organizational trust that makes adopting new technology feel natural.
Making Sense of Norwegian Labor Law
Compliance with the Norwegian Working Environment Act is one of Brooks’ biggest challenges. Without an HR or legal department, it can easily become a costly and confusing process.
“Lawai translates these complexities into clear, actionable insights, so I can ensure compliance without having to immediately consult external lawyers. This reduces both uncertainty and cost.”
For international leaders, the value goes even further.
“I’d particularly recommend it to anyone who isn’t fluent in Norwegian or doesn’t have deep knowledge of Norwegian labor law. Being able to query in your own language while still referencing the original Norwegian legislation makes Lawai a truly valuable asset.”
“I’d particularly recommend it to anyone who isn’t fluent in Norwegian or doesn’t have deep knowledge of Norwegian labor law."
By giving leaders the ability to respond to staff questions with clear, fact-based answers, Lawai helps build certainty and confidence across the organization. Employees feel supported, which directly contributes to retention. In this way, it acts not just as a legal assistant but as a tool that strengthens leadership credibility and enhances the employee experience.
A Solution That Grows With You
For a fast-growing DeepTech scale-up like ScanReach, the ability to act quickly without a large HR or legal team is essential. That’s exactly where Brooks sees Lawai delivering the most value.
"Lawai has become more than just a tool — it’s a trusted companion in how we operate."
As the company grows, he expects Lawai’s role to expand into contract negotiations, procurement agreements, and sector-specific compliance such as offshore crew management and safety regulations.
“I would recommend Lawai to any company — but especially to lean startups and scale-ups like ours, which don’t have an HR or legal department. It essentially puts the capability of a highly skilled HR manager or even a law firm into the hands of senior management.”
"It essentially puts the capability of a highly skilled HR manager or even a law firm into the hands of senior management.”
The benefits extend far beyond young companies.
“For larger organizations, it saves huge amounts of time and avoids the typical bottlenecks of waiting days for external consultants. If an employee asks a question — for example, about leave or termination rules — Lawai gives us the ability to respond immediately with confidence and accuracy.”
And his advice to anyone considering it is simple:
"For anyone considering it, my advice would be: don’t wait. You’ll quickly see the return in both time and money saved.”
