The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Kromann Reumert is a first tier firm,

Kromann Reumert fields ‘many skilled, knowledgeable individuals who always deliver on time’. Kim Rasmussen and Jakob Bernhoft are assisting Finansiel Stabilitet with the takeover of ailing Danish banks Amagerbanken, Eik Bank Danmark and Eik Banki. Rasmussen also advised TDC on its €2.25bn unsecured bonds issue and Carlsberg Breweries on its €1bn seven-year Euronotes issue, and acted for a banking syndicate with Danske Bank as agent in a credit facilities extension to Sanistål. Jens Blomgren-Hansen advised on renewables financings internationally, and Christian Hennings and Thomas Kaas acted on five major ECA-based ship financings. Ian Tokley is recommended, as is Jeppe Buskov, who has the ‘ability to understand complex transactions’.

Within Capital markets, Kromann Reumert is a first tier firm,

Kromann Reumert’s clients commend its ‘high-calibre lawyers, strong ethics, high service levels and industry understanding’. This ‘capable team’ advised TDC and NTC on the €2.6bn secondary offering of shares in TDC and share buyback; Danske Bank on its €2.7bn rights offering; and Danske Markets and Jefferies International on Zealand Pharma’s €43m IPO. Other clients include Carlsberg and A.P. Møller – Mærsk. Christian Lundgren, Marianne Philip, Jørgen Kjergaard Madsen, Henrik Møgelmose, and Christina Bruun Geertsen are leading figures in the team. Jeppe Buskov was promoted to partner.

Within Dispute resolution, Kromann Reumert is a first tier firm,

Kromann Reumert’s litigation head Erling Borcher represented TDC in a Supreme Court case concerning a competitor’s termination fees. Jens Rostock-Jensen successfully represented Sydbank in the class action brought by the former bankTrelleborg’s minority shareholders. Carsten Raasteen represented a Swedish supplier of warehouse logistics systems in arbitration. This ‘highly professional’ team also features Lars Rosenberg Overby, Jakob Rosing, Frank Bøggild and Henrik Thal Jantzen.

Within EU and competition, Kromann Reumert is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Employment, Kromann Reumert is a first tier firm,

Kromann Reumert’s five-partner practice combines transactional support with standalone employment advice, which is ‘right on the mark’. Practice head Helene Amsinck recently won a significant Supreme Court case concerning employee compensation. Managing partner Claus Juel Hansen, who is ‘creative with good judgement’, successfully represented Hess Denmark in the High Court. Marianne Granhøj represents financial institutions, notably FIH. ‘Strong, perceptive’ litigator Jens Lund Mosbek successfully represented Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC). The ‘practical, pragmatic’ Tina Brøgger Sørensen was promoted to partner.

Within Energy, Kromann Reumert is a first tier firm,

Anders Stubbe Arndal and his team at Kromann Reumert provide ‘quick response times and good industry knowledge’. The group is advising DONG Energy on the sale of a 50% equity interest in the Nysted offshore wind farm and on the divestment of its oil terminals business to Canadian InterPipeline; and the Danish Energy Association on compliance. René Dejbjerg Pedersen is ‘service-minded, fast and responsive’, and Jens Blomgren-Hansen is ‘professional and commercial’.

Within Environment, Kromann Reumert is a second tier firm,

Kromann Reumert’s seven-lawyer team, led by Kim Trenskov, is representing Danish Crown and its subsidiaries in a principle dispute regarding wastewater discharge charges. The group also successfully represented municipal waste company Reno Djurs in a €3m Supreme Court case, and advised DONG Energy on the DKK2.6bn divestment of its oil terminal activity to Inter Pipeline Fund.

Within Information technology, Kromann Reumert is a first tier firm,

Søren Skibsted heads Kromann Reumert’s IT and outsourcing group, in which Lau Normann Jørgensen is a key figure. Additionally, Vagn Thorup and Torben Waage focus on transactional work, whereas litigator Carsten Raasteen handles high-end IT disputes. Highlights included advising ATP in the complex tripartite agreement between ATP, KMD and the municipalities of Denmark on outsourcing social and welfare payments in Denmark; Rejsekort on the DKK1.5bn contactless RFID smart card ticketing system; and TDC on 4G (LTE) equipment for the Scandinavian market.

Within Insolvency, Kromann Reumert is a first tier firm,

Søren Aamann Jensen and Lisa Bo Larsen head Kromann Reumert’s Copenhagen group while Christian Jul Madsen leads the Aarhus team. Commended for their ‘in-depth knowledge’, these lawyers are appointed trustees in high-profile bankruptcies – such as those of Ørbekker Group, Hans-Henrik Palm Group and Olicom Group – and assist in major restructurings, notably that of Essex Group. The team advises Danske Bank, Nordea Bank and Jyske Bank on risk management. Teis Gullitz-Wormslev and Louise Krarup Simonsen were promoted to partner.

Within Insurance, Kromann Reumert is a second tier firm,

Kromann Reumert’s ‘highly qualified’ team handles insurance company mergers, and advises international insurers entering Denmark. Jens Rostock-Jensen’s ‘insurance knowledge is second to none’. Together with Jakob Rosing, he is advising on compensation claims relating to Denmark’s first class action – the bankTrelleborg case. Lars Rosenberg Overby advises on insurance regulation, assessment of insurance products and transport-related insurance. Morten Samuelsson and Christina Neugebauer left to establish niche insurance and maritime boutique Samuelsson Neugebauer & Partnere.

Within Intellectual property, Kromann Reumert is a first tier firm,

Kromann Reumert’s 30-lawyer team maintains its leading reputation for ‘high work ethics and short response times’, particularly in patent and trade mark litigation. Nicolai Lindgreen sits on the Danish Patent Office’s advisory boards and is Assistant Reporter General of AIPPI. Frank Bøggild handled numerous IP cases in the High Court and Supreme Court in 2011. Supreme Court litigator Erling Borcher handles product imitation, design protection, marketing practices and trade mark cases. Pia Voldmester successfully represented Stokke in the Maritime and Commercial Court in a case involving Tripp Trapp highchairs and assisted DSB with a multi-franchise agreement with Reitan Servicehandel. Copyright lawyer Martin Dahl Pedersen is representing the Danish Association of Newspapers (DDF) against Infopaq in the Supreme Court and the European Court. He also won a case for Gyldendal concerning artistic freedom of expression. The ‘thorough, experienced’ Dorte Wahl handles complex patent law matters.

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, Kromann Reumert is a second tier firm,

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.

Within Mergers and acquisitions, Kromann Reumert is a first tier firm,

Kromann Reumert’s ‘solid, commercial’ team includes Christian Lundgren and Peter Ketelsen, who advised Danisco on DuPont’s DKK36bn recommended takeover offer. Henrik Møgelmose and Bent Kemplar represented Finansiel Stabilitet on the acquisition and subsequent sale of Amagerbanken. Anders Stubbe Arndal assisted DONG Energy in its DKK6bn sale of a 50 % equity interest in the 400MW Anholt offshore wind farm. Marianne Philip, Jørgen Kjergaard Madsen, Anders Lavesen, and Aarhus-based Poul Viggo Bartels Petersen are recommended, and Jeppe Buskov was promoted to partner.

Within Real estate and construction, Kromann Reumert is a first tier firm,

Kromann Reumert’s 40-lawyer real estate and construction team, led by Flemming Horn Andersen, assisted with the DKK2bn sale of the Bovista portfolio of 22 residential properties, and advised PensionDanmark on its DKK550m acquisition of EY Tower (the domicile of Ernst & Young) in Gladsaxe.

Within Shipping and transport, Kromann Reumert is a first tier firm,

Kromann Reumert’s ‘top-level practice’ assists shipowners and hull underwriters in collision cases; represented the owners of Danica White in a dispute arising from piracy; and advised SKULD Oslo on the acquisition and amalgamation of the Danish Defence Club. The team also assisted with chartering of specialised vessels, rigs for the construction of wind farms and tenders for road and sea transportation. Group head Henrik Thal Jantzen is ‘probably the top marine lawyer in Denmark’, and Lars Rosenberg Overby and the ‘responsive and reactive’ Jakob Rosing are also recommended.

Within Tax, Kromann Reumert is a first tier firm,

Kromann Reumert’s dedicated 12-lawyer team, led by Arne Møllin Ottosen, assisted with the pre-IPO restructuring of TDC and advised Danisco on its takeover by DuPont. Mette Porskær Winther heads the private client practice, while Lene Juel undertakes employee work. Henrik Stig Lauritsen focuses on stock options. The group represents multinationals in transfer pricing disputes. Corporate tax specialist Michael Nørremark was promoted to partner.

Within Telecoms, Kromann Reumert is a first tier firm,

At Kromann Reumert, Torben Waage and his team advised TDC and NTC on the combined, fully documented DKK20bn secondary offering of shares in TDC and share buyback. The group saw increased activity in the broadband sector, representing Lyse (Altibox), Net1 and Elro.