The Legal 500

Clients appreciate Bruun & Hjejle’s ‘fast responses and to-the-point advice’. Well-respected tax litigator Søren Lehmann Nielsen successfully represented TDC in the High Court regarding transfer pricing principles pertaining to capital gains. The case has been referred to the Supreme Court. Jan Steen Hansen, who provides ‘outstanding service and is a pleasure to work with’, advised PensionDanmark on an infrastructure project loan joint investment with JP Morgan worth DKK1.5bn.

Kromann Reumert’s 12-lawyer team includes corporate tax specialist Michael Nørremark, who assisted Saxo Bank with establishing a tax-efficient loan fund, and Mette Porskær Winther, who heads the private client team. Practice head Arne Møllin Ottosen, who is ‘a brilliant tax technician who knows about associated disciplines’, advised Agilent Technologies on the $2.2bn acquisition of Dako from EQT Partners. The group represents various multinationals in transfer pricing disputes.

Plesner’s 16-lawyer group is led by Hans Severin Hansen, who is permanent adviser to the Ministry of Taxation and the only lawyer on the government’s Tax Commission. Hansen, Svend Erik Holm and Tom Kári Kristjánsson advise on direct and indirect taxation. Hanne Søgaard Hansen joined from Grant Thornton. The team successfully represented FS Invest II in Denmark’s first case on beneficial ownership. Standalone tax clients include Nykredit, A.P. Møller – Mærsk and Danske Bank.

Bech-Bruun ‘balances commercial understanding and solid technical analysis’. The six-partner team is led by the ‘sharp, responsive and reliable’ Anders Oreby Hansen, who specialises in M&A-related tax planning, restructuring and transfer pricing, and advised Niam on a DKK1.3bn real estate investment. Arne Riis and Carsten Pals are ‘consistently reliable’, and Michael Serup specialises in changes in business ownership and company structure. Thomas Frøbert, who focuses on ‘corporate and tax issues’, advises Carnegie Bank. Kaspar Bastian heads the tax litigation practice.

Gorrissen Federspiel focuses on corporate reorganisations, transactional support, financial services and disputes, and recently advised National Oilwell Varco on tax aspects of its acquisition of NKT Flexibles. Practice heads Jakob Skaadstrup Andersen and Lars Fogh, who give ‘helpful, practical advice’, are representing Fidelity and Schroeders in a High Court case on the Danish rules for taxation of investment funds.

The ‘thorough, holistic’ Nicolai Thorsted heads Horten Law Firm’s seven-lawyer team, which also includes Sanne Camilla Jensen, who joined from KPMG, and international tax law specialist Niels Schiersing. The group handles domestic and cross-border taxation and complex restructurings, and has long public sector experience. Jakob Arrevad handles tax fraud cases, and Peter Ambus is also recommended.

LETT Law Firm P/S is first alternative for the Ministry of Taxation when Poul Schmith Law Firm is conflicted. Practice head Artur Bugsgang is advising Nykredit on bondholders’ tax obligations and the Association of Danish Car Importers on lobbying regarding the car registration tax. Bugsgang and Ulrik Bangsbo Hansen advised Abbott Laboratories on the tax implications of its demerger and restructuring.

Aarhus-based Advokatfirmaet Tommy V Christiansen’s 17-lawyer tax group enjoys an excellent reputation. Torben Bagge and leading 
tax litigator Tommy V Christiansen are recommended.

Nielsen Nørager’s Henrik Peytz, who recently won an important case in the ECJ concerning repayment of unlawful duties, is acting for the EC in a VAT infringement case against the Kingdom of Denmark. Jakob Mosegaard Larsen advises on the corporate tax planning of private equity structures.

Poul Schmith Law Firm’s participation in most major tax cases in Denmark is assured by its role as Kammeradvokaten (legal adviser to the Danish state).

Bente Møll Pedersen heads Ronne & Lundgren’s ‘excellent’ six-partner practice, which advises on transactions, tax planning, pensions and VAT, and undertakes Supreme Court cases. It recently advised the shareholders of SSG on tax issues relating to the transfer of shares to an equity fund. The ‘knowledgeable, precise and conservative’ Jan Hansen has a growing private client practice.

Herning-based Bent Ramskov leads DAHL Advokatfirma’s seven-lawyer team, which advises on tax law, VAT and customs duties, including tax planning and tax litigation.

Delacour Law Firm concentrates on indirect taxation, and primarily advises transport sector clients, trading companies, and professional and industry bodies. Practice head Anders Hedetoft is representing Hordafor DK in discussions with the Danish, Norwegian and Dutch customs authorities concerning the tariff classification of fish protein concentrate. He is also advising TrygVesta and Codan Forsikring on customs and freightforwarders’ customs liability. Hedetoft and Merete Andersen have ‘deep understanding of VAT issues’.

At Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd, tax litigator Nikolaj Bjørnholm and his ‘super team understand the business issues’ of corporate taxation, transactional support, and international and EU issues. Clients include Thomas Cook Airlines, P.O.A. Ejendomme and Symbion Capital.

At Johan Schlüter Law Firm, Jørn Qviste’s team handles cases before the administrative taxation authorities, the National Income Tax Tribunal, the High Courts, and the Supreme Court, and advises on national and international tax law, tax liability and estate planning.

Lars Lokdam’s team at MAQS Law Firm includes ‘skilled partners who understand commercial issues’, and advise Danish and international clients on restructuring, M&A, transfer pricing and indirect taxation.

Mazanti-Andersen, Korsø Jensen & Partnere’s Hanne Magnussen specialises in international tax planning, wills and inheritance issues and cross-border tax issues.

Moalem Weitemeyer Bendtsen advises on tax structures for private equity and venture capital fund formation and M&A transactions.

Lasse Dehn-Baltzer at Skau Reipurth Baltzer Liebach & Partners Law Firm handles litigation, restructuring and business succession planning, and often advises major shareholders. Clients include ING Investment Management and Summerbird.

Vistisen Tax Attorneys’ tax litigator Eduardo Vistisen shows ‘outstanding service and professional skill’. He recently represented HSH Nordbank in a DKK133m case against the Danish Tax Ministry and acted for Skako in a case concerning tax liability for severance pay.