The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Gorrissen Federspiel is a first tier firm,

Gorrissen Federspiel is ‘among the best, if not the best in Denmark’, representing Finansiel Stabilitet and the Danish National Bank on the sale and transfer of a DKK6.5bn loan portfolio from the former Fionia Bank to Nordea Bank Danmark. ‘Seriously outstanding’ group head Michael Steen Jensen acted for joint arrangers Merrill Lynch International and Nykredit Bank on DanFin Funding’s $10bn secured note programme. Tobias Linde advised ISS Holding on its €127.5m issue. The team advised Danish banks obtaining hybrid core capital loans from the state and on EMTN Programmes.

Within Capital markets, Gorrissen Federspiel is a first tier firm,

Clients recommend Gorrissen Federspiel’s ‘first-class’ team. Klaus Søgaard wins praise for his ‘experience and high standard of work’, and Rikke Schiøtt Petersen advised the managers in the Chr Hansen Holding IPO. Tomas Haagen Jensen assisted the issuer in Jyske Bank’s DKK1.2bn rights issue. Finn Møller advised the issuer in DFDS’s DKK2.6bn transaction which involved a directed issue to the seller and a rights issue to existing shareholders. Henrik Thouber and Camilla Collet acted for the issuer in Jeudan’s DKK1bn rights issue.

Within Dispute resolution, Gorrissen Federspiel is a first tier firm,

Gorrissen Federspiel is commended for ‘high service and integrity’ and handles complex disputes and arbitrations, notably for Vestas, Novo Nordisk and Johnson Controls. Practice head Henrik Lind and Christian Alsøe are representing the former Roskilde Bank in its DKK1bn claim against its former management and auditors. Henriette Gernaa is singled out for praise.

Within EU and competition, Gorrissen Federspiel is a second tier firm,

Practice head Jan-Erik Svensson at Gorrissen Federspiel is ‘simply the best’, successfully representing transport trade organisation Dansk Transport og Logistik in a seminal case before the Danish Competition Appeals Tribunal. The ‘organised, knowledgeable’ Martin Dittmer represented DFDS in its acquisition of Norfolkline from A P Moller-Maersk. Other high-profile clients include Post Danmark and Nykredit. Michael Klöcker joined the team from TDC.

Within Employment, Gorrissen Federspiel is a third tier firm,

At Gorrissen Federspiel, Aarhus-based Jacob Sand and his team provide transactional support and standalone advice, recently assisting Danske Bank with IT outsourcing negotiations. Nina Wedsted represented Rae Systems in the Supreme Court.

Within Energy, Gorrissen Federspiel is a second tier firm,

At Gorrissen Federspiel, the ‘strong, solutions oriented’ Jan-Erik Svensson and his team focus on electricity, oil, gas and heating matters, advising RWE Dea on the closure of the SIRI North Sea oil platform. Anne Kirkegaard acted for Morsø Kommune on establishing a wind park under the new Danish renewable energy scheme, and Michael Meyer advised Energi Randers on electricity regulations

Within Information technology, Gorrissen Federspiel is a first tier firm,

Outsourcing specialist Ole Horsfeldt and his team at Gorrissen Federspiel advise on complex technology transactions. Jakob Skaadstrup Andersen handles transactional work and advises on data privacy and protection. The team advised Danske Bank and Carlsberg on infrastructure outsourcing arrangements with IBM. It assisted Carlsberg with global network procurement projects and advised Vestas and A P Moller-Maersk, on software licensing arrangements with Microsoft and SAP.

Within Insolvency, Gorrissen Federspiel is a first tier firm,

At Gorrissen Federspiel, group head Lars Grøngaard, Søren Fogh, Axel Kierkegaard and Anne Birgitte Gammeljord acted on high-profile bankruptcies including EBH-Fonden, Ejendomsselskabet Voldbrohus and Scandic Immobilien. The firm represents banks and financial institutions.

Within Insurance, Gorrissen Federspiel is a third tier firm,

The ‘analytical’ Henriette Gernaa and her ‘well qualified, competent’ team at Gorrissen Federspiel apply ‘excellent industry knowledge’ to contentious and regulatory work, notably relating to product recall and product liability. Peter Appel and Jens V Mathiasen handle marine insurance work, advising insurers and reinsurers, P&I clubs, underwriters, insurance brokers and agents, and charterers.

Within Intellectual property, Gorrissen Federspiel is a second tier firm,

Gorrissen Federspiel’s new clients include Bang & Olufsen, Carlsberg and Disney. Janne Glæsel, who ‘focuses on winning cases, is thorough and has an excellent knowledge of trade mark matters’, successfully represented TeliaSonera against Deutsche Telekom’s attempt to claim exclusive rights to the colour magenta in a case that has been postponed pending an appeal. Together with group head Lasse Søndergaard Christensen, Glæsel represents Budejovický Meštanský Pivovar in its ongoing battle against Anheuser-Busch over rights to the beer names Budweis and Budweiser. Jacob Orndrup successfully represented BASF in patent injunction proceedings against Makhteshim-Agan. Christian Kragelund, who joined from IPR consultancy Chas Hude, leads the trade marks group. Life science lawyer Tom Bork Petersen moved to Norrbom Vinding.

Within Legal market overview,

The Big Four firms – Kromann Reumert, Bech-Bruun, Plesner, and Gorrissen Federspiel – dominate the market. While top banking and finance firms remain busy dealing with the aftermath of the crisis, the financial sector has been relatively quiet. Full-service firms Lett Law Firm and Horten face increased competition for public sector work.

Within Media and entertainment, tier 4

Gorrissen Federspiel represents advertising agencies and publishers. Lasse Søndergaard Christensen is reprsenting the Danish Chamber of Commerce in a dispute concerning the MPEG4 broadcasting standard. Janne Glæsel is advising Nordic search company Eniro Denmark with stopping scam guides. Christian Alsøe is assisting the collective right holders society Gramex. Martin Dittmer is also recommended

Within Mergers and acquisitions, Gorrissen Federspiel is a first tier firm,

Gorrissen Federspiel provides ‘swift response times and cost-effective advice’. It focuses on big-ticket deals, handling seven M&A transactions with values exceeding DKK1bn. Department head Tomas Haagen Jensen and Niels Heering advised Nykredit on the DKK2.5bn sale of its insurance company Nykredit Forsikring. Finn Møller advised DFDS on its acquisition of Norfolk Line. Klaus Søgaard, whose ‘calm and relaxed tactics are much appreciated’, advised TeliaSonera on the DKK1.1bn sale of STOFA. Rikke Schiøtt Petersen and Camilla Collet are recommended.

Within Real estate and construction, Gorrissen Federspiel is a second tier firm,

Gorrissen Federspiel’s ‘serious, careful and professional’ Aarhus-based practice head Peter Sjøgreen and Søren Bruun are advising on Voldbrohus in bankruptcy. In Copenhagen, Hans Peter Jørgensen, who assisted Jeudan with the acquisition of Landic Properties, is assisting the consortium Alpine Bau – FCC Construccion with its tender for the Metro expansion project Cityringen, a joint project between the Danish government and the municipalities of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg.

Within Shipping and transport, Gorrissen Federspiel is a first tier firm,

Gorrissen Federspiel’s ‘strong, first-class’ team represents airline operators, banks, insurers and P&I clubs, shipowners – notably Clipper, Norden and Scandlines – and shipowners’ organisation BIMCO. Transactional work included advising Camillo Eitzen & Co on the sale of its major shareholding in Eitzen Bulk Shipping, and DFDS on its acquisition of Norfolk Line. Key names include the ‘well connected, excellent practitioner’ Peter Appel, Morten Lundqvist Jakobsen, who specialises in ship finance, aviation and rail advice, and ‘rising star’ Jens Mathiasen.

Within Tax, Gorrissen Federspiel is a third tier firm,

Gorrissen Federspiel hired Lars Fogh from Accura Advokatpartnerselskab. The practice focuses on corporate reorganisations, transactional support, financial services tax issues and disputes. The group, led by Jakob Skaadstrup Andersen, advised DFDS on tax issues in its acquisition of NorFolk Line, Banijay Entertainment SAS on its acquisition of Nordisk Film TV, and represented a global investment fund in tax litigation on withholding tax on dividends.

Within Telecoms, Gorrissen Federspiel is a second tier firm,

Gorrissen Federspiel provides ‘quick responses and appropriate advice’. Klaus Søgaard assisted by the telecoms team, represented TeliaSonera in the DKK1.1bn sale of STOFA to RATOS. Janne Glæsel’s clients include Savvis.