The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Bech-Bruun is a first tier firm,

Morten Krogsgaard and the ‘steadfast, dependable’ Steen Halmind and their team at Bech-Bruun combine ‘responsiveness and strong technical ability with a commercial approach’. Its clients include DnB NOR Bank, RBS, and Goldman Sachs International. Steen Jensen advised Faroese Eik Banki, which was taken over by Finansiel Stabilitet; and Sparekassen Lolland on its DKK730m acquisition of Eik Bank Danmark 2010. Jacob Østervang advised on wind farm and solar power project financings. Aviation finance specialist Thomas Thordal Sevelsted was promoted to partner. The recent merger with Philip Law Firm strengthened the group by adding Erik Malberg and Henning Hansen, although Jørgen Reimer Jensen joined Nordia Advokatfirma and Tue Ravnholt Frandsen joined Plesner.

Within Capital markets, Bech-Bruun is a second tier firm,

Bech-Bruun still attracts big-ticket deals, but it lost two key players: Peter Lyck to Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd and Jørgen Reimer Jensen to Nordia Advokatfirma. On the equity side, Regina Andersen and Steen Jensen advised Australian Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board on its proposed acquisition of a non-controlling interest in Copenhagen Airports. On the debt side, Jensen negotiated a DKK13.5bn guarantee for Amagerbanken under Bank Package II and the subsequent issuance of DKK13.5bn three-year notes.

Within Dispute resolution, Bech-Bruun is a second tier firm,

Jes Anker Mikkelsen leads Bech-Bruun’s practice, which includes former High Court judge Lars Lindencrone Petersen. The group notably represents insurers and reinsurers – including Zurich, AXA, and Codan – and large corporates such as A.P. Møller-Mærsk, Energinet.dk, TDC and Vestas. Aarhus-based Lars Svenning Andersen is representing 1,100 plaintiffs in a DKK4bn class action against DONG Energy. Henrik Valdorf-Hansen was an approved institutional arbitrator in the Xiamen Abitration Committee in China. Carsten Pedersen’s ‘analytic approach is second to none’, and Morten Ulrich is an ‘outstanding litigator’. Anne Buhl Bjelke was promoted to partner. Mogens Gaarden and employment and professional liability expert Steen Rode joined from Philip Law Firm.

Within EU and competition, Bech-Bruun is a second tier firm,

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.

Within Employment, Bech-Bruun is a first tier firm,

Clients appreciate Bech-Bruun’s five-partner practice for its ‘pragmatic approach, and negotiation and mediation strength’ across a range of issues. ‘Outstanding’ practice head Mette Klingsten assisted Clipper Group and Cimber Sterling with incentive programmes, and Bjarke Vejby represented Amagerbanken in the Supreme Court concerning claims by retired former employees. Morten Ulrich successfully represented TDC in the High Court regarding pension rights of secondees, and Mads Krarup successfully defended JS Danmark in a Supreme Court case regarding dismissal on grounds of language capability. Lars Svenning Andersen now handles legal matter for ADP Group. Steen Rode, who advises on employment disputes and incentive schemes, joined from Philip Law Firm, as did Jesper Rothe. Jette Ronøe left the firm.

Within Energy, Bech-Bruun is a second tier firm,

Per Hemmer and his energy and climate group at Bech-Bruun have ‘deep industry knowledge’ on transmission-related contractual and regulatory issues, and serve as principal legal counsel to Energinet.dk. Hemmer and the ‘excellent, trustworthy’ Jakob Østervang advised Himmerlands Elforsyning on buying the electricity distribution and supply activities of AKE Net and AKE Forsyning. Recently promoted partner Johan Weihe continues to advise Amagerforbrænding on a waste-to-energy plant in Copenhagen. Other clients include Vattenfall and Clean Energy Invest. Jesper Rothe and Jakob Kristensen joined from Philip Law Firm.

Within Environment, Bech-Bruun is a first tier firm,

Bech-Bruun wins praise for ‘quality solutions, and fantastic teamwork’. Practice head Jens Auken, Hanne Mølbeck and senior associate Anne Sophie Vilsbøll are advising Copenhagen Metro on the 2007-2018 Cityringen extension programme; and CPH City & Port Development on the Copenhagen port redevelopment. Mads Kobberø advises 50 municipalities on soil contamination, environmental permits and environmental law enforcement. The team recruited Håkun Djurhuus from Lind Cadovius, and Mogens Gaarden joined from Philip Law Firm.

Within Information technology, Bech-Bruun is a first tier firm,

Bech-Bruun’s ‘exceptional’ team advises on complex IT contracts, such as outsourcing and licensing agreements or systems integration, as well as compliance, e-commerce, and data protection matters. Practice heads Niels Andersen and Arly Carlquist assisted Nordea with outsourcing its payment services, and advised Microsoft and Business Software Alliance on illegal software copying and distribution. Other clients include Adobe, Dell and Bestseller. Jesper Rothe and Peer Petersen joined from Philip Law Firm.

Within Insolvency, Bech-Bruun is a first tier firm,

Bech-Bruun has Denmark’s largest insolvency practice, which acts across a range of matters including acting as trustee in bankruptcies, supervisor in suspensions of payments cases, and advises creditors’ committees and handles out-of-court arrangements. Clients appreciate the lawyers’ ‘reasonable response times and clever solutions’. Michael Serring, Karl Stephensen and the ‘effective, open-minded and friendly’ Ole Borch are appointed receivers at Copenhagen Bankruptcy Court. Practice head Troels Tuxen is one of three trustees of the Landic Group. The team is advising Essex Group, JMI Invest and Flexa Holding on restructuring. Erik Malberg and Henning Hansen were quality additions from joined from Philip Law Firm.

Within Insurance, Bech-Bruun is a second tier firm,

Jes Anker Mikkelsen and Henrik Valdorf-Hansen and the rest of Bech-Bruun’s ‘highly skilled, responsive’ team handle regulatory work, insurance portfolio transfers and high-value domestic and international disputes, including mediations and arbitrations. Mikkelsen is Danish counsel to Lloyd’s of London. Other clients include insurers such as Zurich, AIG, TrygVesta and If, and commercial clients Energinet.dk, Hewlett-Packard and Vestas. Anne Buhl Bjelke was promoted to partner.

Within Intellectual property, Bech-Bruun is a second tier firm,

Bech-Bruun’s sizeable team, led by Klaus Ewald Madsen, handles ‘complex, high-profile’ trade mark, design, patent and copyright cases before the Maritime and Commercial Court and the European Court of First Instance. Claus Barrett Christiansen represented Abercrombie & Fitch in multi-jurisdictional trade mark proceedings, and is defending trade mark rights in court for Elvis Presley Inc and Fender Musical Instruments. Other prominent clients include Philips, GlaxoSmithKline, Microsoft and Procter & Gamble. Lisbet Andersen, who heads the trade marks group, is ‘one step ahead of her opponents and two steps ahead of her client’. Peer Petersen, who joined from Philip Law Firm, has experience in copyright law and passing-off cases.

Within Legal market overview,

The Big Four firms – Kromann Reumert, Bech-Bruun, Plesner, and Gorrissen Federspiel – dominate the Danish legal market and are all based in Copenhagen, although Kromann Reumert is significantly larger than its competitors. Bech-Bruun expanded again with a merger with mid-size, full-service Philip Law Firm, thus moving the firm on from an earlier reduction in numbers and the loss of several partners (most notably to Hannes Snellman Attorneys at Law Ltd). All the Big Four except Plesner have offices in Aarhus in Jutland, Denmark’s industrial heartland. Leading Aarhus firms, such as Delacour Dania Law Firm, also maintain offices in Copenhagen. Lett Law Firm has offices in Copenhagen, Aarhus and Kolding. DAHL Advokatfirma has offices in Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Herning, Randers and Viborg. Focus Advokater (LLP) is based in Odense, with branches in Copenhagen and Hamburg.

Within Media and entertainment, Bech-Bruun is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Mergers and acquisitions, Bech-Bruun is a first tier firm,

Bech-Bruun fields a ‘strong, competent’ practice, as part of which Jacob Hjortshøj represented Altor 2003 Fund and LD Equity 1 K/S in the sale of Aalborg Industries to Alfa Laval. Together with Thomas Gjøl-Trønning, Hjortshøj also acted for IK Investment Partners and Ratos in the €240m sale of Superfos Industries. Steen Jensen and Regina Andersen advised Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board (OTPP) on acquiring a 39% stake in Brussels Airport and 30% in Copenhagen Airport from MAp Airports. The ‘skilful, efficient’ Monica Reib is also recommended, and Aarhus-based Claus Aagaard Nielsen was promoted to partner. However, a number of partners left the firm. The team was reinforced when Jesper Rothe, Steen Rode and Jakob Kristensen joined from Philip Law Firm.

Within Real estate and construction, Bech-Bruun is a first tier firm,

At Bech-Bruun, ‘competent, committed’ practice head Torben Schön and Andreas Antoniades assisted MGPA Europe Fund III LLP with the DKK1.5bn acquisition of Illum department store. Lars Kjær advised Aareal Bank AG, Helaba and Nykredit on the sale and refinancing of three property companies, which own the Magasin department stores. Thomas Stampe acted for Nordic Choice Hospitality Group on the sale of its Danish hotels portfolio. Jens Hjortskov and Sebastian Christmas Poulsen joined from Philip Law Firm.

Within Shipping and transport, Bech-Bruun is a first tier firm,

Bech-Bruun advises P&I clubs, shipowners, operators and carriers in the Maritime and Commercial Court and the Supreme Court. Clients include A.P. Møller – Maersk, Stena Line and Thomas Cook, and insurers such as TrygVesta and If P&C Insurance. Lines of work included an increase in detention disputes and the termination of charter party arrangements. Group head Jes Anker Mikkelsen is a certified mediator, whose expertise has brought instructions involving offshore energy and renewables. Henrik Valdorf-Hansen acted in international arbitrations concerning damage to wind turbine foundations in Germany and Austria. The team was strengthened by the addition of former Philip Law Firm partners Jen Hjortskov and Peer Petersen.

Within Tax, Bech-Bruun is a second tier firm,

Sys Rovsing leads Bech-Bruun’s five-partner tax team, as part of which Anders Oreby Hansen specialises in M&A-related tax planning, group restructuring and transfer pricing for clients including Danish and international banks. Carsten Pals provides ‘client-specific advice, combining tax and business issues’, and Aarhus-based Michael Serup specialises in changes in business ownership and company structure. The team maintains an excellent record in tax controversy cases. The team was strengthened by litigator Kaspar Bastian, who joined from Gorrissen Federspiel and Thomas Frøbert, who joined from Philip Law Firm.

Within Telecoms, Bech-Bruun is a first tier firm,

Bech-Bruun’s team, headed by Arly Carlquist and the ‘business-oriented’ Niels Andersen, represented Nordea in payment processing agreements covering the Nordic region, and acted for Global Connect in negotiations regarding the acquisition of Butlernetworks’ mast, fibre network and telecoms equipment. The team is strong in regulatory matters.