Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Headed up by Simon Milthers and Jakob Kristensen, Bech-Bruun is frequently instructed on a broad array of domestic and cross-border M&A transactions. A key area of focus for the ‘creative, strategic and commercial’ department is high-value corporate and capital markets transactions for energy and energy-related clients, as well as private equity transactions and corporate structuring matters. Steen Rode has vast experience advising private equity funds,  Jacob Hjortshøj is well versed in corporate law and stock exchange law, and Ole Nørgaard handles complex M&A transactions. The team also includes Claus Aagaard Nielsen and Søren Kamp Nørbæk.

Data privacy and data protection Tier 1

Bech-Bruun's expertise spans data compliance programmes and audits, gap analyses, international data transfers, cybersecurity incidents, outsourcing mandates, Data Protection Agency (DPA) notifications and data litigation. In 2019, the firm launched its DPA Service, a digital solution which facilitates clients’ compliance with GDPR requirements in relation to auditing data processors. Clients praise the department for its 'combination of traditional counsel in conjunction with an actual privacy tech tool, which saves a lot of time on the actual implementation of compliance'. Mikkel Friis Rossa heads up the practice, which also includes Susanne Stougaard, who handles vendor and buy-side due diligence work.

Dispute resolution Tier 1

Led by Carsten Pedersen, who is particularly adept at handling M&A and construction contract disputes, Bech-Bruun focuses on high-end commercial litigation. Especially active in the construction, insurance and financial services sectors, the group also fields experts in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution methods, including mediation and court-based mediation. Jes Anker Mikkelsen specialises in insolvency shipping disputes, senior associate Mogens Gaarden has substantial experience in financial mismanagement and post-financial crisis litigation, while Anne Buhl Bjelke primarily handles disputes in the insurance and reinsurance space. Henrik Valdorf retired from practice in 2019.

Employment Tier 1

Led by Lise Lauridsen, the practice at Bech-Bruun is recognised for handling complex, employment-related contentious work, including civil lawsuits, arbitration proceedings and industrial arbitrations. The group also fields non-contentious experts, who advise clients on management restructuring issues, mass redundancies, remuneration policies and collective bargaining agreements. Lauridsen also receives a steady flow of instructions related to transfer of undertakings, outsourcing issues and share-based incentive schemes, while Morten Ulrich specialises in public sector employment matters. Sandro Ratkovic is another key practitioner in the team. Thomas Christian Thune departed to Skau Reipurth & Partnere in 2020.

Energy Tier 1

With extensive experience in waste-to-energy, upstream oil and gas and natural gas work, Bech-Bruun’s energy practice incorporates a ‘dedicated’ renewable energy department, ‘which includes leading experts in both contract law and M&A’, as well as financing and project development mandates. Jointly led by Per Hemmer and Jakob Østervang, the group also regularly advises a range of energy companies, investors, project developers and municipalities on regulatory issues, energy project developments and contentious matters. Anders Hørlyck Jensen specialises in offshore wind matters.

Environment Tier 1

Singled out for its ‘hands-on knowledge of the relevant legal issues concerning environmental regulations’, Bech-Bruun is best known for handling environmental mandates involving major infrastructure projects in the energy and transport sectors. Håkun Djurhuus and Jacob Schall Holberg jointly lead the group, which has an extensive track record in environmental regulatory conduct cases, acting for private companies and public authorities. Noted for her ‘outstanding legal knowledge’, Hanne Mølbeck specialises in compulsory purchases, while senior associate Mark Christian Walters assists clients with large-scale environment-related projects. Former practice co-head Jacob Brandt departed to Codex Advokater in mid-2020.

EU and competition Tier 1

Bech-Bruun fields experts in competition, merger control, public procurement and general EU law. Peter Stig Jakobsen leads the group, which regularly represents large public sector and multinational clients in competition law proceedings before Danish regulatory bodies and the EU Commission. The group is also highly regarded for its handling of major procurement mandates, including contentious proceedings, tender procedures, tender drafts and tender optimisation work. Anne Bergholt Sommer, Jesper Kaltoft, Anders Birkelund Nielsen and Simon Evers Hjelmborg are the practitioners to note, along with managing associate Christian Monberg.

Information technology Tier 1

Bech-Bruun focuses on issues at the intersection between IT, data protection and IT security law. Key strengths include traditional IT system development and supply agreements, public and private procurement work, transfers, due diligence, and software licensing and IT operational services agreements concerning hosting and outsourcing services. In a recent highlight, the group assisted Energinet with a large outsourcing agreement, preparing and facilitating the bidding and contracting process involving data centres, infrastructure and IT systems. Niels M. Andersen and Mikkel Friis Rossa jointly head up the group.

Insolvency Tier 1

As 'one of Denmark's leading law firms within insolvency and reconstruction', Bech-Bruun notably leverages a digital solution, insolvensportal.dk, allowing creditors to follow bankruptcy proceedings and file claims. Morten Krogsgaard leads the group, which regularly acts as trustee of bankruptcy estates, liquidator and restructuring administrator, and is also instructed on contentious insolvency proceedings, formal restructurings, acquisitions of distressed assets, and out-of-court restructurings. Troels Tuxen, who is particularly skilled in Nordic and international insolvencies, is a key member of the team, which added Anders Hoffmann Kønigsfeldt from Skau Reipurth & Partnere to its ranks in 2020.

Insurance Tier 1

Bech-Bruun's team, which is led by Anne Buhl Bjelke, demonstrates strength across corporate and regulatory issues, reinsurance mandates and insurance-related mediation and litigation. The group is frequently instructed on high-value disputes spanning professional indemnity, all-risks insurance, product liability, marine insurance, personal injury, life insurance and coverage claims. In addition, Bjelke, who regularly assists international life and non-life insurance companies, handles cross-border insurance portfolio transfers. Jes Anker Mikkelsen has experience in cases before the Maritime and Commercial High Court, Danish High Courts and the Supreme Court, as well as disputes settled by mediation.

Intellectual property Tier 1

Bech-Bruun has a stellar reputation in the life sciences sector, where it advises high-profile clients on an array of trade mark and design, patent and regulatory matters. The group is jointly led by Claus Barrett Christiansen and Mikkel Friis Rossa; Christiansen is an experienced design and trade mark litigator noted for his Chinese multinational client roster. Klaus Ewald Madsen is praised for his patent infringement litigation track record, Christian Vinding Thomsen is ‘recognised as a leading life sciences specialist in Denmark’ and Martin Dræbye Gantzhorn demonstrates an ‘in-depth knowledge of patent and regulatory law’, while Dan Bjerg Geary focuses on licensing and IP strategies.

Media and entertainment Tier 1

Bech-Bruun primarily advises its high-profile client roster on issues concerning the distribution of film and music via radio, TV, cinema and online streaming methods. It has extensive experience in commercial contracts and IP, acting for individual right holders, record companies, broadcasters and advertising agencies; the group also handles industry agreements, licensing matters, dispute resolution and transactional work. Leading the practice, Niels M. Andersen specialises in the enforcement of IP rights, including copyrights in musical works, games and motion pictures. Other names to note include antitrust expert Simon Evers Hjelmborg and Claus Barrett Christiansen.

Real estate and construction Tier 1

Bech-Bruun's team, which is jointly led by Jens Hjortskov and Jesper Bøge Pedersen, primarily advises private and institutional investors, including real estate private equity funds, on large infrastructure and urban development projects. While it has construction expertise, the team is particularly active in the real estate market and regularly handles international sales and acquisitions of commercial and residential real estate portfolios. Steen Puch Holm-Larsen has particular experience in hotel-related work, while Per Bjerg Christensen focuses on assisting pension funds with major property development projects.

Shipping and transport Tier 1

Bech-Bruun has an enviable track record in high-profile shipping and transport cases including collisions, charter party disputes, cargo claims and major insurance matters. The team is headed up by Jes Anker Mikkelsen, who is an experienced maritime litigator and arbitrator who is also skilled at handling issues which arise under international trade, offshore, construction and insurance law. Louise Lundsby Wessel regularly drafts and negotiates carriage and logistics contracts, while Johannes Grove Nielsen is noted for his expertise in liability issues, general commercial disputes and insolvency matters.

Tax Tier 1

The team at Bech-Bruun, which is led by Thomas Frøbert, covers the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious tax matters. The group has recently seen an uptick in succession planning work, an area in which Michael Serup ‘is known as one of the best in Denmark’; this includes tax valuation analyses, private succession work and estate planning issues. Frøbert regularly advises clients on indirect taxes, including VAT, customs tax, energy duties and vehicle registration duties. The department also handles the tax aspects of M&A transactions and contentious proceedings including transfer pricing litigation.

Telecoms Tier 1

Niels M. Andersen leads the ‘incredibly skilled and very accessible’ telecoms team at Bech-Bruun, which is particularly adept at assisting domestic and international clients with regulatory issues, infrastructure agreements and data protection measures. The practice also advises on public and private procurements, M&A, reorganisations, outsourcings, transfers and licence agreements. Andersen also receives a steady flow of instructions related to consumer, insurance and marketing laws. Arly Carlquist is now a government ministry consultant.

Banking and finance Tier 2

Notably strong in the banking, renewable energy, aviation and manufacturing sectors, Bech-Bruun has a track record in asset financing, project financing, and acquisition financing mandates. Often working alongside the firm's other departments, the banking and finance group, led by Morten Krogsgaard, also handles real estate financing issues, private equity investments, bond work and syndicated loan agreements. Another key practitioner is asset finance specialist Thomas Thordal Sevelsted, who regularly advises on complex structures concerning ships, aircraft, rolling stock and real property.

Capital markets Tier 2

The capital markets group at Bech-Bruun, led by Morten Krogsgaard, is equally adept at handling equity transactions and complex regulatory issues. The regulatory practice combines traditional stock exchange regulation, corporate governance and market abuse expertise with bond and derivatives knowledge. It is also active in public-to-private transactions and has experience in IPOs, buy-backs, prospectuses and delistings. Names to note include M&A expert  Jacob Hjortshøj, compliance specialist David Moalem and Steen Jensen, who is noted for his takeover bid and peer-to-peer lending expertise.