Eirik Østerud

Eirik Østerud is a Professor at the Department of Private Law, Faculty of Law, University of Oslo, where he also serves as Acting Dean of Research. His academic career has been deeply rooted in competition law, with a focus on EU/EEA competition regulations and their application in Norwegian legal contexts.

Born in 1978, Østerud earned his Cand. jur. (Norwegian law degree) in 2005 and completed his Ph.D. in 2010 from the University of Oslo's Faculty of Law. His doctoral thesis, 'Identifying Exclusionary Abuses under Article 82 EC – the Spectrum of Tests,' examined the prohibition on abuse of market dominance in EU competition law. Prior to his permanent academic appointment, he worked at BA-HR law firm from 2010 to 2013.

Professor Østerud's research centers on competition law, with particular expertise in abuse of dominance, merger control, and the intersection of competition law with digital markets. His work addresses critical issues such as the application of competition rules to digital platforms, liability for competition law infringements, and the evolving regulatory landscape in Norway and the EEA. He has made significant contributions to understanding how traditional competition law principles apply to modern economic challenges, especially in data-driven markets.

His publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on practical applications of competition law, with numerous articles analyzing Norwegian competition authorities' approaches, Supreme Court decisions, and the harmonization of Norwegian competition law with EU/EEA frameworks. Recent work increasingly addresses digital economy challenges, reflecting the evolving nature of competition law in the 21st century.

Østerud is actively involved in the academic community through his participation in research groups including the Labor Law Group and the Market, Innovation and Competition (MIK) group at the University of Oslo. His work bridges theoretical competition law principles with practical enforcement considerations, making him a key contributor to Norway's competition law scholarship and practice.