The Legal 500

At Kromann Reumert, practice head Jens Munk Plum and his ‘strong, well-aligned team’ assisted Scandinavian Tobacco Group in obtaining merger clearance in connection with the establishment of the new group, incorporating the Swedish Match cigar and pipe tobacco business. Erik Bertelsen, who demonstrates ‘industry knowledge and experience’, successfully represented Danish Energy in its complaint to the European Commission (EC) concerning market foreclosure by Swedish TSO Statkraft, and is representing DONG Energy in the Supreme Court in Denmark’s largest excessive pricing case. Morten Kofmann is representing SAS Cargo in an EC cartel investigation. The public procurement group assisted pension fund LD with one of the Danish financial sector’s largest outsourcings.

Bech-Bruun is praised for ‘great industry knowledge’ and ‘quick, precise’ advice on state aid, anti-competitive practices, merger control and public procurement. Group head Simon Evers Kalsmose-Hjelmborg, who has ‘overall strength in EU matters’, and the ‘top-class’ Michael Honoré act for Energinet.dk and DSB in complex state aid cases. The ‘competent, responsive’ Peter Stig Jakobsen successfully represented Viasat UK Broadcasting against TV 2 in the Supreme Court. Jesper Kaltoft is representing 1,106 claimants seeking €590m from DONG Energy for abuse of dominance and excessive pricing.

Jan-Erik Svensson’s ‘excellent, well-respected’ team at Gorrissen Federspiel has the ‘ability to deliver on time’. Recent mandates include representing FLSmidth in the industrial bags cartel proceedings; KMD in a Danish Competition Authority case concerning alleged abuse of dominance; and TeliaSonera Denmark in the Supreme Court against TDC. Martin Dittmer shows ‘accessibility, drive and enthusiasm’. Aarhus-based Henrik Holtse joined from Bech-Bruun.

Plesner’s ‘professional, competent, precise’ competition group includes the ‘highly knowlegeable’ practice head Christian Lauridsen and Bo Vesterdorf, a former president of the Court of First Instance. Gitte Holtsø is also recommended. Lauridsen is representing DONG Energy in long-running cases concerning alleged excessive pricing. Other recent instructions include advising Danfoss in the refrigeration compressor cartel investigations. The team was strengthened by recruiting Mogens Aarestrup Vind from Eversheds LLP and economist Rie Paving Mortensen from DONG Energy.

Accura Advokatpartnerselskab’s ‘competent, dedicated’ team is headed by Jesper Fabricius, ‘a top expert who dares to challenge the rules’, who is assisting Stofa with merger filing for its acquisition of Canal Digital Danmark’s cable TV business. Christina Heiberg-Grevy successfully represented Falck Danmark against two municipalities regarding procurement of firefighting services, and handled the merger filing for Lundbeckfond Invest and KIRKBI Invest’s joint acquisition of Falck.

Bruun & Hjejle team is commended for its ‘expertise and experience’. Group head Olaf Koktvedgaard, who has ‘particular expertise on state aid’, assisted TV2 in gaining EC approval of rescue and restructuring aid, overturning a previous finding of overcompensation amounting to more than DKK600m; and is representing DONG Energy in a case about long-term gas supply contracts. Erik Kjær-Hansen represents pension fund ATP.

Andreas Christensen’s team at Horten advises on public procurement, competition and other regulatory matters, free movement of goods and EU funding. Clients include municipalities and public utilities. Susie Stærk Ekstrand took an in-house post, but Rikke Søgaard Berth joined from Bruun & Hjejle and public procurement specialist Thomas Thomas Grønkær arrived from Rambøll Management.

At Lett Law Firm, public procurement head and ‘competition law superman’ René Offersen acted for TDC against Telenor in the Supreme Court. Torkil Høg’s clients include the Capital Region of Copenhagen, and Karen Dyekjær is representing Lise Aagaard Copenhagen in a €50m Supreme Court case. Søren Zinck joined from Lind Cadovius.

MAQS Law Firm provides ‘quick response times and value for money’, and has substantially strengthened its ranks: the ‘astute, practical’ Anders Torbøl, and the ‘competent, commited and helpful’ Thomas Ryhl were joined by Christian Vinding Thomsen, Morten Bruus, and life sciences specialist Rasmus Lund from Nordia Advokatfirma, as well as Nina Esbjerg from the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority. Ryhl represented the EC against the Kingdom of Denmark regarding a €100m claim for agricultural funds. Other clients include Philips, Aker Kvaerner, VELUX, Hempel and Danone, and pharmaceuticals companies Merial, Ferring and AstraZeneca.

Nielsen Nørager’s Henrik Peytz handles litigation and arbitration, representing challengers as well as defending public authorities, companies and trade associations. Clients include SBS TV/ProSiebenSat1, Talpa Radio and Torghatten/Norwegian Car Carriers. Lotte Hummelshøj, who is ‘a competent lawyer, with an in-depth knowledge of competition law’, joined from Lind Cadovius.

Peter Dann Jørgensen and Majse Jarlov at Bender von Haller Dragsted advise the municipality of Copenhagen on EU tenders. The firm also assisted Copenhagen Airports with litigation and procurement, and KOMBIT with complex IT tenders.

Delacour Dania Law Firm’s Rune Hamborg has particular expertise in regulatory matters, notably advising Copenhagen Airports on new low-cost terminal CPH Go. Pharmaceuticals distributor Tjellesen Max Jenne (part of Celesio Group is also a client.

Eversheds LLP handles international antitrust filing assessments for international clients, such as the merger filing of Alfa Laval’s DKK4bn acquisition of Aalborg Industries in China. Anders Lykke Pedersen is the new practice head, having been recruited from Brandt & Lauritzen; he is advising the Danish Fashion and Textile Association. Former practice head Mogens Aarestrup Vind joined Plesner.

Mazanti-Andersen, Korsø Jensen & Partnere’s Kirsten Frijs handles litigation and anti-monopoly cases. Philip Thorsen is a ‘brilliant negotiator’. Lise Høgh handles European Court cases, and recently represented the Danish Fur Breeders Association.

Viltoft is ‘highly experienced in legal issues related to EU tendering’. It is advising Metroselskabet on Copenhagen Metro construction projects. Michael Gjedde-Nielsen and Jakob Juul are recommended.