Bech-Bruun > Copenhagen, Denmark > Firm Profile

Bech-Bruun > The Legal 500 Rankings

Denmark > Banking and finance Tier 1

Domestic deals, asset transactions, real estate finance work, and renewable and other energy project financings are among the core competencies of Bech-Bruun in the banking and finance space. The group is well-known for its robust asset finance practice, particularly handling transactions involving complex structures concerning ships, aircraft, rolling stock and real property. Head of team Thomas Thordal Sevelsted remains a leading practitioner on aviation finance matters, while also devoting much of his practice to complex fund subscription facilities transactions. Of the associates, Jacob Voss Bjerre is another important point of contact for financing work. Morten Krogsgaard departed to join Moalem Weitemeyer in October 2023.

Denmark > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Bech-Bruun remains among the Danish market leaders for corporate, commercial and M&A work and the group’s focuses include advising on private equity transactions, M&A within the energy, life sciences and technology sectors, and complex venture capital work. The ‘very dedicated’ Simon Milthers, Jakob Kristensen and Claus Aagaard Nielsen jointly head up the practice group; Milthers is a highly experienced expert in M&A and company law, while Kristensen is routinely engaged on both buy and sell-side M&A mandates, particularly in the renewable energy space, and Aagaard Nielsen spearheads many of the team’s major domestic and international transactions. Pre-eminent M&A practitioner Jacob Hjortshøj is a leading name for advising private equity funds. Other key names to note include company law expert Søren Kamp Nørbæk, as well as Andreas Nielsen and Christian Eichen, who both arrived from Bruun & Hjejle in January 2023.

Denmark > Data privacy and data protection Tier 1

The team at Bech-Bruun is known for its ‘deep expertise in all aspects of data protection’ and is praised for offering clients ‘practical, fit-for-purpose legal and compliance counsel’. The team’s advisory work spans the development and implementation of data protection compliance programmes, mock-up inspections, GDPR court cases, international data transfers, security breaches and cybersecurity incidents, among others. Mikkel Friis Rossa heads up the department, and is experienced in GDPR, contesting fines levied by authorities, and international data transfer matters, with particular experience with complex data protection compliance. Managing associate Egil Husum advises both public authorities and private companies on the full array of data protection matters. Charlotte Bagger Tranberg left the firm in January 2023 and Susanne Stougaard departed in February 2024.

Denmark > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Bech-Bruun’s large-scale dispute resolution practice is frequently involved in complex, high-profile and cross-border litigation, with noted strength in the full spectrum of commercial disputes, international arbitration and D&O liability cases. Seasoned litigator and ‘class act’ Johannes Grove Nielsen leads the team, with extensive experience across US Chapter 11 and Chapter 15 rules, as well as post-M&A disputes, D&O liability claims, injunction matters and all aspects of shipping and logistics disputes, among others. Pre-eminent practitioner Søren Lundsgaard is known as ‘a beacon in the Copenhagen disputes arena’ and routinely lends his considerable expertise to post-M&A disputes, W&I insurance, D&O liability and professional liability mandates. The ‘technically excellent’ Anne Buhl Bjelke is a go-to name for cases regarding insurance coverage and liability for damages, as well as insurance and re-insurance matters. At associate level, Daniel Myhre Engell is focused on post-M&A disputes.

Denmark > Employment Tier 1

Bech-Bruun’s employment practice group remains one of the strongest in the domestic market, offering expertise across management restructuring, remuneration policies, including share-based incentive schemes, litigation, mass redundancies, outside counsel investigations, trade secrets infringements and collective bargaining agreements. The group also holds a particular specialism in public sector employment law matters, including the defence of public servants. Practice leader Lise Lauridsen is highly regarded for advising domestic and international companies in relation to reorganisations, protection of trade secrets, outside counsel investigations, whistleblower schemes, hiring and termination of executive-level employees, among others. Of counsel and labour law specialist Morten Ulrich chiefly works with employers, with his practice covering both private and public sector labour matters, as well as pension funds. Sandro Ratkovic is a key contact for cross-border employment matters including protection of trade secrets, business immigration, incentive schemes and collective dismissals.

Denmark > Energy Tier 1

Bech-Bruun’s full-service energy department has extensive knowledge within the solar and wind industries and is highly specialised in other renewable energy mandates including power-to-X and carbon capture projects. The team also provides advice on large-scale energy infrastructure projects, and matters in the utility and oil and gas sectors, covering transactional, regulatory and contentious work. Johan Weihe leads the team and has significant experience in regulatory matters in the energy and public sectors, including advising on the liberalisation of the waste-to-energy sector as well as carbon capture projects. Per Hemmer is a key name in all areas of energy law, while Rania Kassis focuses on regulatory and contractual mandates.

Denmark > EU, competition and public procurement Tier 1

Bech-Bruun’s EU and competition practice group works across a wide range of industry sectors, including transport, media and entertainment, energy, waste, pharmaceuticals, payment solutions, agriculture, infrastructure and retail. The group frequently acts as merger clearance counsel on significant corporate transactions, as well as handling major procurement mandates including contentious procurement proceedings. Practice head Jesper Kaltoft is an expert within competition law, EU law, merger control and public procurement issues. Experienced litigator Peter Stig Jakobsen is a go-to name for EU, competition, public procurement, contract and state aid issues. Jakobsen comes recommended for his ‘ability and competence to explain extremely complex legal matters also to people without legal background’.

Denmark > Information technology Tier 1

Bech-Bruun comes highly recommended for its ‘expert knowledge combined with high level of pragmatism and commercial understanding’ in the IT arena. The team’s core work encompasses the entire spectrum of IT matters, including IT system development and supply agreements, software licensing and IT operational services agreements concerning traditional hosting and outsourcing services, alongside emerging technologies such as IoT, AI and blockchain media and formats, such as SaaS-, IaaS- and PaaS-based IT services. Niels M. Andersen advises on public and private procurement, outsourcing, transfers, licence agreements and due diligence arising out of transactions in the IT sector. Andersen co-leads the department with Mikkel Friis Rossa who is an expert on matters which involve data protection and cybersecurity, including marketing and complex digital transformation projects. Joachim Nydam Bjerregaard handles contractual and regulatory issues pertaining to IT and telecommunications.

Denmark > Insurance Tier 1

Bech-Bruun ‘combines a broad knowledge of insurance law with excellent client service’, and is well-regarded for its advice on a full range of insurance disputes, with experience in litigation concerning professional indemnity, D&O, all-risks insurance, product liability, marine insurance, personal injury, workers’ compensation, life insurance and coverage disputes. Anne Buhl Bjelke leads the team and is praised for her ‘unique expertise in the insurance field, with deep knowledge of insurance law and experience advising insurance companies’. Experienced litigator Søren Lundsgaard advises on policy conditions and assists in disputes between policyholders and insurance companies. Camilla Søgaard Hudson specialises in insurance law, with particular expertise in the maritime sector, and handles insurance claims, litigation and international arbitration.

Denmark > Intellectual property Tier 1

The team at Bech-Bruun has in-depth knowledge of IP, exemplified by Claus Barrett Christiansen, who leads the trade mark and design practice. Other key names include Mikkel Friis Rossa, who heads the data protection team; Martin Dræbye Gantzhorn, who heads the life science and healthcare practice group; and Klaus Ewald Madsen, who leads the patent litigation team. Jeppe Brinck-Jensen is a new addition to the team and regularly acts as a litigator in intellectual property proceedings; Dan Bjerg Geary's practice includes transactional work, and licensing issues across a range of industries; Senior associate Sisse Langberg Lassen is another key member of the team.

Denmark > Real estate and construction

Bech-Bruun retains its position among the Danish market leaders across both construction and real estate work. On the construction side, the team has a strong track record in undertaking major public and public-private partnership construction projects, especially complex and high-profile infrastructure projects, as well as handling a range of associated disputes that arise from such projects. On the real estate front, the practice is known for its involvement in landmark developments and logistics transactions, with noted strength in the hotel sector. Jens Hjortskov and Torben Brøgger head up the department out of Copenhagen and Aarhus, respectively; Hjortskov is an expert in construction matters, procurement law and project development work, while Brøgger advises construction consortiums and public authorities on PPP issues. Pre-eminent practitioner Claus Berg has over 30 years of experience in litigation and arbitration in the field of construction law, professional liability claims, and public tender disputes. Steen Puch Holm-Larsen and Sven Frode Frølund left the firm to join Gorrissen Federspiel.

Denmark > Shipping and transport Tier 1

Bech-Bruun acts on prominent mandates in the sector, handling both wet and dry shipping matters including bunker disputes, S&P and refinancing work, alongside contentious matters. The group also fields a dedicated cross-border insolvency shipping team in order to handle large-scale and complex insolvencies in the shipping industry. Practice group head Johannes Grove Nielsen comes highly recommended as ‘a clear leader in his field’ and is an expert in damages, commercial disputes and insolvency matters. Nielsen has also recently spent time representing shipping lines and crew management companies in relation to the Russian-Ukrainian War. ‘Superstar’ Camilla Søgaard Hudson advises on the full spectrum of maritime, transport and insurance law.

Denmark > Tax Tier 1

Bech-Bruun is well known for its coverage of the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious tax matters and specialisation across different tax areas, covering financial services and M&A taxes, tax disputes and indirect tax mandates, especially VAT issues. Leading the ‘highly skilled’ team is Thomas Frøbert, who often assists Danish and international companies, charitable institutions, NGO’s and political organisations with various tax issues, with focus on VAT and other indirect tax work. Jesper Buus is experienced in providing tax advice on complex cross-border M&A transactions, while Birka Wendy Mouritzen excels in VAT work.

Denmark > Capital markets Tier 2

Adept at both equity and debt transactions, Bech-Bruun has a strong history acting on domestic offerings, public-to-private transactions and regulatory issues, including EU Market Abuse Regulation; the group also has noted expertise in the full range of listed transactions, including handling buybacks, combined rights and market issuances for listed financial entities. Capital markets and regulatory expert David Moalem jointly leads the department with Steen Jensen, who is recommended for takeover bids and P2P transactions.

Denmark > Environment Tier 2

The large-scale team at Bech-Bruun represents both government entities and leading corporate clients on the full-suite of matters, with noted expertise in major infrastructure projects and high-profile environmental disputes at all levels of the Danish court system. Public and environmental law expert Jacob Schall Holberg leads the team and frequently acts for states, regions, municipalities and private companies. Hanne Mølbeck is the go-to name in the department for infrastructure projects, regularly representing public construction authorities and infrastructure owners.

Denmark > Insolvency Tier 2

Bech-Bruun’s cross-border insolvency experience sees the team undertake work across various jurisdictions, including Germany, Greenland and China, on behalf of a client list that counts major domestic banks, government funds, international lenders and debtor clients including Danish corporates. Practice head Anders Hoffmann Kønigsfeldt advises on all issues related to insolvency law, in addition to reorganising and restructuring of businesses with financial difficulties. Troels Tuxen is a key player when it comes to company restructurings, acting as trustee in bankruptcy estates, out of court suspension of payment procedures and creditor arrangements.

Denmark > Media and entertainment Tier 2

Bech-Bruun’s media and entertainment group possesses the bandwidth to handle the entire breadth of matters concerning social media, TV, film, music, gaming, entertainment, and rights administration, among others. Licensing matters, dispute resolution and transactional work are core specialisms of the ‘strong team’. ‘Outstanding expert’ Niels M. Andersen lends his extensive knowledge to all types of matters concerning IT, telecoms, technology and commercial contracts, as well as entertainment, film and music. Andersen jointly heads up the team alongside M&A specialist Claus Aagaard Nielsen, who is noted for his expertise in high-end transactions in the fashion, e-commerce and pharmaceutical industries, and the TMT and energy sectors.

Denmark > Telecoms Tier 2

Bech-Bruun’s telecoms practice group advises clients on the full breadth of mandates in the sector, and benefits from its close connection to the firm’s IT and data protection practice. Niels M. Andersen leads the team and has extensive experience in advising Danish and foreign enterprises on all types of issues concerning IT, telecoms, technology and commercial contracts as well as transactions related to these fields. Joachim Nydam Bjerregaard has a particular focus on the correlation between technology and commercial issues.

Greenland > Foreign firms Tier 2

Bech-Bruun utilises its energy and mining sector expertise to advise clients on obtaining mineral resource licenses, public law issues and matters arising from energy and infrastructure projects. The practice has a diverse client roster including the Government of Greenland and government-owned entities, private companies, foreign corporates and local municipalities. Johan Weihe, who is head of the firm’s Greenland energy department, has extensive knowledge of mineral resource law and public issues in Greenland; he works closely with Per Hemmer and the duo are noted for their energy sector and climate knowledge, which is focused on renewable energy projects and regulatory issues.