Plesner > Copenhagen, Denmark > Firm Profile

Plesner > The Legal 500 Rankings

Denmark > Banking and finance Tier 1

Plesner‘s ‘highly skilled’ banking and finance practice group is well-known for advising on acquisition financings and cross-border transactions involving Danish targets, and assisting banks, financial institutions and investment funds with financial regulatory requirements and infrastructure finance work. Søren Thyssen Valerius heads up the team and focuses on lending and capital market transactions, including acquisition financings, corporate lending, infrastructure, project and asset finance matters and financial restructurings. Banking and finance specialist Jakob Echwald Sevel is a go-to name for financing arrangements, products and complex transactional work, while Rasmus Mandøe Jensen‘s demonstrable experience in the space includes handling multi-layered, high-yield and leveraged transactions and debt capital markets work. Henrik Kure, who has been notably active in green and renewables financing, and associate Emil Hedegaard Mikkelsen are additional important ports of call within the group.

Denmark > Capital markets Tier 1

Praised as an ‘outstanding’ capital markets team, Plesner acts on the full suite of both issuer and underwriter-side mandates including accelerated book-builds, IPOs, and securities listings. ‘Incredible lawyer’ Thomas Holst Laursen and M&A expert Nicolai Ørsted jointly head up the equity side of the practice and are key points of contact for IPOs, public takeovers, ABBs, PIPEs, rights issuances and corporate governance work. For debt capital markets transactions, Søren Thyssen Valerius and Jakob Echwald Sevel lead in conjunction with Henrik Kure. Henrik Laursen comes recommended for his cross-border ECM practice, which emphasises IPOs and public M&A. Janus Jepsen was promoted to the partnership in early 2023.

Denmark > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Plesner acts on a broad suite of transactions encompassing all aspects of corporate, commercial and M&A work, emphasising cross-border issues and commercial contracts; the group is also active in acting for private equity houses. Hans Hedegaard heads up the M&A and private equity team; Lars Bunch leads for private funds & corporate work; Jacob Ørskov Rasmussen handles commercial, franchise and international trade mandates; and Simon Krogh heads up the private investment funds team. Thomas Holst Laursen is a key name for all aspects of M&A and capital markets work, while Christian Th. Kjølbye is an important point of contact for restructurings, disagreements between owners and shareholders, post-M&A claims under warranties, earn-out disputes, non-compete obligations and purchase price adjustment claims. Henrik Rossing Lønberg remains in-demand by private equity funds and blue-chip corporate clients, while Tina Kang is another name to note within the group for all aspects of transactional work.

Denmark > Data privacy and data protection Tier 1

Plesner is frequently engaged on the entire spectrum of data protection work and is highly praised for being ‘excellent at combining specialist data protection knowledge with good common sense and business understanding to propose commercially viable data protection solutions’. Practice head and data privacy specialist Michael Hopp has substantial experience in the space and comes recommended as ‘extremely knowledgeable and responsive’. Peter Østerby Mønsted specialises in data privacy, data protection and operational compliance work, acting for private entities and public authorities.

Denmark > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Plesner’s large-scale dispute resolution group handles large-scale, complex disputes and arbitration proceedings at both a domestic and international level, including commercial and construction-related litigation, white-collar crime matters, criminal investigations and administrative sanctions, among others. Practice head Peter Schradieck has extensive experience in the space, and lends his considerable expertise to cases concerning general commercial liability, distribution, construction and agency issues. Seasoned litigator Torben Bondrop is highly specialised in insurance and tort law, as well as acting in mandates pertaining to consultant liability, product liability, D&O liability, general commercial liability and reinsurance issues. Jimmy Skjold Hansen spearheads the group’s arbitration work regarding international and expropriation issues within the energy sector.

Denmark > Energy Tier 1

Plesner is highly regarded for the depth of its expertise in large projects and transactions within the energy sector, especially those involving the newest renewable energy technologies. The practice group is led by the ‘exceptional’ Niklas Korsgaard Christensen, who specialises in large offshore oil and gas infrastructure development projects, energy transactions, power-to-x projects as well as dispute resolution in the energy sector. Esben Kjær is a key adviser for international investors and national developers on wind, project development, and M&A deals; while Kristoffer Thorborg regularly acts in construction-related litigation and arbitration proceedings. Maria Holst Levin joined the team in early 2024 and excels in project work and ESG mandates.

Denmark > EU, competition and public procurement Tier 1

Plesner retains a strong track record for abuse and cartel cases involving Danish companies, and those investigated by the Danish competition authorities. Public procurement law is also a core pillar of the group’s work and it has extensive experience advising both contracting authorities and tenderers on all aspects of EU and Danish public procurement law, particularly matters regarding tenders relating to large-scale infrastructure projects. Practice head Gitte Holtsø is vastly experienced on high-profile merger cases, as well as cases involving cartels, other horizontal cooperation agreements, vertical agreements, abuse of dominance and competition law compliance. Daniel Barry comes recommended as a ‘very accomplished antitrust lawyer – very knowledgeable and has control of all aspects and details of the case he works on’. Christian Karhula Lauridsen is a go-to name for contentious matters in the space, whilst head of the economic analysis team Rie Paving Mortensen is a key contact for all things pertaining to complex mergers, international cartels and abuse of dominant position issues.

Denmark > Information technology Tier 1

Plesner remains well-known in the Danish marketplace for its strong track record on both contentious and non-contentious matters, alongside specialist knowledge of cloud computing and regulatory requirements for financial businesses. The team is praised for providing ‘to-the-point, pragmatic and business-oriented advice’ and is spearheaded by Niels Christian Ellegaard, who excels at negotiating IT-contracts as well as assessment and handling of disputes relating to IT-projects. Tech-sector M&A expert Michael Hur Bertelsen frequently advises on large-scale IT project work.

Denmark > Insurance Tier 1

Plesner acts for Danish insurers and pension funds, in addition to blue-chip corporations, on key insurance-related mandates including claims for increased pension payments, insurance for loss of earning capacity, product liability, commercial liability, workers’ compensation, personal injury, among others. The group is also experienced in handling regulatory matters and disputes involving the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority. Insurance and tort law expert Torben Bondrop focuses on reinsurance, consultants’ liability, product liability, D&O liability and general commercial liability. Bondrop jointly leads the practice in conjunction with general insurance and regulatory expert Charlotte Hasseriis Iversen.

Denmark > Intellectual property Tier 1

Plesner is well-known in the industry for its strong trade mark prosecution practice, handling high-profile IP litigation and assisting in copyright, design, and trade mark matters. The department has an impressive portfolio of clients, especially well-known design businesses, and advises leading technology companies on copyright matters. The team also has strengths in marketing law, consumer law, and e-commerce law, advising on all aspects of online and offline marketing. Kasper Frahm heads the trade mark and design team and is an expert in trade mark law. Other key names to note are Sture Rygaard with vast experience in patent and trade mark litigation; litigator Mikkel Vittrup, whose work includes the enforcement of patents and regulatory rights; and Peter-Ulrik Plesner who has a history of representing blue-chip clients in patent, trade mark and marketing disputes.

Denmark > Media and entertainment Tier 1

Plesner’s large-scale IP, marketing and media law practice group handles the entire spectrum of media and entertainment work on behalf of a high-end client base that includes major film distribution companies and cinema owners, as well as both film and film advertising production companies. Practice head Emil Jurcenoks handles both contentious and transactional matters on behalf of media companies, whilst Kasper Frahm has experience litigating IP-related disputes for large media clients. At associate level, Joakim Pitt Winther has previously worked for the Danish Consumer Ombudsman and leverages that experience to assist clients with a full range of IP, marketing, media and consumer law issues.

Denmark > Real estate and construction

Plesner’s large-scale real estate and construction group continues to be involved in high-end, complex and cross-border mandates on behalf of a client base that counts large investment funds, international corporates and Danish pension funds. On the real estate side, the group is known for its expertise in high-value transactions, social housing and assisted living facilities matters, and asset management work. In terms of construction mandates, the group plays a significant role throughout the entire lifecycle of major infrastructure projects in Denmark; construction team leader Niklas Korsgaard Christensen is the key name for such matters, spearheading the group’s work in the space. Head of real estate Mads Berg focuses on high-end transactions and project development mandates. Other important points of contact include commercial lease expert Benjamin Bunnage, and Lasse Stjernholm Detlevsen, who predominantly advises institutional investors on transactional matters and project developments.

Denmark > Tax Tier 1

Advising blue-chip Danish and international clients on all aspects of Danish taxes, Plesner‘s tax department covers is particularly noted for its capabilities in high-profile tax litigation. The department is jointly led by Lasse Esbjerg Christensen, who has a ‘very strong capacity within tax litigation and transfer pricing’, and Tom Kári Kristjánsson who litigates cases relating to indirect taxes and duties, including VAT, customs duties, and excise duties. Hans Severin Hansen has extensive experience in Danish tax litigation alongside fellow litigator Søren Lehmann Nielsen. The ‘up-and-coming’ Jef Nymand Hounsgaard is also a key name to note.

Denmark > Telecoms Tier 1

Plesner‘s technology and outsourcing team has vast experience within the regulatory and transactional aspects of telecoms work, and is experienced in assisting with the expansion of fibre networks, handling telecoms outsourcing arrangements, and acting in telecoms disputes. While ‘extremely skilled’ co-head Niels Christian Ellegaard has extensive experience in regulatory telecoms work, co-head Michael Hur Bertelsen assists with telecoms and technology-related transactions and often leads on large telecoms projects. Nina Bech Damgaard Pedersen has extensive experience with drafting and negotiating all types of technology contracts, including telecoms agreements.

Denmark > Insolvency Tier 2

The ‘highly experienced’ team fielded by Plesner leverages its specific know-how to advise on the entire spectrum of restructuring and insolvency mandates, including large corporate insolvencies on behalf of major banks, investors and creditors. Lars Skanvig heads up the practice and is permanent trustee at the Maritime and Commercial High Court in Copenhagen. Skanvig's experience extends to domestic and cross-border bankruptcies, restructurings and liquidations. Michala Roepstorff has over 25 years' experience and comes recommended as an ‘excellent attorney and adviser’.

Denmark > Employment Tier 3

Plesner’s employment and labour law practice group is praised as ‘diligent and detail-oriented, always going the extra mile to help and assist’. The team handles a broad range of mandates concerning the cross-over between employment law and data protection, whistleblower schemes and collective redundancy procedures. Practice head and experienced practitioner Tina Brøgger Sørensen lends her expertise to drafting complex incentive schemes, as well as matters related to M&A transactions and IPOs.

Denmark > Environment Tier 3

Plesner provides full-service legal advice on large project development work, including environmental, planning and construction law. The team places particular emphasis on environmental work in the utilities and energy sector, and notably advises on the development of renewable energy projects. Niklas Korsgaard Christensen and associate Marcus Elskær Mollerup head up the team.

Denmark > Shipping and transport Tier 3

Plesner handles complex shipping and transport matters, including substantial bankruptcies, ship registrations and offshore installations. Niklas Korsgaard Christensen has extensive experience on major transportation projects, as well as in the harbour sector. He co-leads the practice in conjunction with Esben Kjær and Peter Fogh: Kjær is a go-to name in the public transport sector, whilst Fogh has vast experience regarding international shipping-related contracts concerning new building projects, ship financing and other types of financing.