The Legal 500

Bech-Bruun’s ‘exceptional’ team advises prestigious clients such as Bonnier Publications, Electronic Arts and Warner Bros. Group head Niels Andersen advises The Music Business Organisation and Arly Carlquist advises the Danish Game Producers’ Association, whereas Ole Borch focuses on sports law and sponsorship. Highlights for the group included assisting SF Film with the acquisition of a film catalogue from Nimbus Film and advising MTG on broadcasting rights to Champions League, Premier League and Danish Football League matches. Music industry expert Peer Petersen joined from Philip Law Firm.

Johan Schlüter Law Firm’s expertise spans television, radio, music, publishing and distribution, and sports law. Johan Schlüter handles entertainment work, and Katrine Schierbeck specialises in film financing and distribution. Sports law specialist Lars Hallgreen advises the National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark (DIF), including handles sports-related litigation and arbitrations.

Lassen Ricard’s Peter Lambert combines ‘refined legal expertise and indispensable commonsense’. Along with Henrik Schütze and Steen Lassen, Lambert enjoys an excellent reputation in media and broadcasting law, and advises Sony Music, Warner Music, and the BBC. They represented TV2 in a test case regarding music in television programme trailers and are advising TV2 Sport on Denmark’s new online gambling legislation. Other clients include publishing houses and artists.

Horten’s recent instructions include advising global online gaming companies on the liberalisation of the Danish gaming market, and assisting regional TV2 stations with IP aspects of satellite and cable redistribution. Nina Henningsen has ‘extensive industry knowledge and experience’. Jens Jakob Bugge represents Sparta Athletics Club. Recently promoted partner Heidi Steen Jensen is advising FDIM (The Association of Danish Interactive Media) on the EU cookie regulations. Hans Abildstrøm advises on computer gaming.

Kromann Reumert’s practice head Martin Dahl Pedersen successfully represented publisher Gyldendal in a high-profile dispute over artistic freedom in novels, and is representing the Danish Association of Newspapers (DDF) before the Supreme Court and the ECJ against Infopaq regarding scanning of newspaper articles. The firm also represents various sporting bodies.

Nielsen Nørager’s Ole Finn Nielsen represents longstanding clients in the movie, theatre and television industries.

Plesner’s ‘first-class’ team represents film distributors, cinemas and film production companies, as well as computer, music, press and sports industry clients. Michael Vilhelm Nielsen, who has ‘broad legal and industry experience’, successfully represented Warner/Chappell Music Denmark in a breach of contract dispute. Together with Per Håkon Schmidt and Michael Hopp, Nielsen is representing Nordisk Copyright Bureau in a pilot case before the ECJ instituted by DR and TV2. Gitte Holtsø assisted Canal Digital and its parent company, Telenor, in two competition matters relating to sports rights. Hopp advises computer games developer IO Interactive.

Bruun & Hjejle’s Henrik Dahl, Morten Stadil and Erik Kjær-Hansen assist Danish newspapers and TV stations, notably TV2, with defamation and privacy cases, complaints to the Danish Press Council, IP rights and marketing matters. Stadil is the main external legal adviser for the Berlingske Group.

Lett Law Firm advises sports clubs and entertainment companies. Susanne Mark represents the Danish Cable Television Association, and Kolding-based Henrik Norsk Hoffman advises sports betting, poker and online gambling operators on the liberalisation of online gaming. Peter Rønnow in Aarhus represents musicians including Nephew and singer-songwriter Tina Dickow. Jon Stefanson represents handball team Kolding KIF.

At MAQS Law Firm, Jeppe Brogaard Clausen and Anders Torbøl advise on film and TV production and financing. Clausen acted for ITV Entertainment in a major case concerning format rights. Torbøl advises Bonnier Publications on media distribution. Former musician Kåre Wanscher’s music industry clients include singer Camille Jones.

At Accura Advokatpartnerselskab, Jeppe Brinck-Jensen’s media and entertainment group advises TV production companies and newspapers, representing SDI Media Group in a dispute over subtitle rights. Marie Balle-Christiansen is assisting Claus Meyer Holding in negotiations with a TV production company; and Bezzerwizzer Nordic with a new online gaming website.

Clients appreciate Brandt & Lauritzen’s ‘business acumen’ and ‘fair and transparent pricing’ for IP and marketing matters. Michael Brandt represented Infopaq in IP disputes with media. Pop group Aqua is another client.

Delacour Dania Law Firm’s Asger Heine Jensen represents several computer games developers, and advised Dam Things Holding, the owner of the Good Luck Troll, on a global movie deal with DreamWorks Animation.

Gorrissen Federspiel’s Lasse Søndergaard Christensen is representing the Danish Chamber of Commerce in a dispute concerning the MPEG4 broadcasting standard. Janne Glæsel is helping search and directory provider Eniro Denmark to prevent circulation of fake guides. Christian Alsøe is assisting the collective right holders’ society Gramex. Martin Dittmer represents DR, and is advising the Danish Football League on broadcasting rights to Danish club football.

Knop & Co Advokater’s media litigator Nikolaj Linneballe provides ‘brilliant service and value for money’ to entertainment industry clients including Prime, KML Group and Danish Dee Jay Awards.

Moalem Weitemeyer Bendtsen is prominent in the online gaming sector, where Kim David Lexner and Claus Molbech Bendtsen’s clients include 888, Pokerstars and Casino-on-Net and new client Bonniers. Pernille Nørkær represents PARKEN Sport & Entertainment, Lalandia, Fitnessdk, Limpopo, and Danish football clubs including FC Copenhagen.

Sandel, Løje & Wallberg represents major advertising agencies. Johan Løje is the Danish member of the Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance and has participated in many clearance projects.

Viltoft represents the Danish Actor’s Association. TV2 is a key client.