Plesner > Copenhagen, Denmark > Firm Profile

Plesner > The Legal 500 Rankings

Denmark > Banking and finance Tier 1

Rated by clients as ‘the best banking and finance team in Denmark‘, Plesner utilises its ‘expert knowledge‘ to advise numerous banks and international institutional investors on financial regulatory requirements and infrastructure finance work. Practice head Søren Thyssen Valerius often dispenses advice to financial institutions on corporate lending matters and investigations by Financial Stabilitet. Rasmus Mandøe Jensen focuses on advising Nordic sponsors, direct lenders and banks on multi-layered transactions and private placements, while Henrik Kure handles cross-border finance transactions; Jakob Echwald Sevel is also a key name to note.

Denmark > Capital markets Tier 1

Plesner‘s practice assists a varied client base with the full spectrum of capital markets matters, including accelerated book-builds, IPOs, and securities listings. Thomas Holst Laursen and Nicolai Ørsted lead the equity capital markets side of the practice, while Søren Thyssen Valerius leads the debt capital markets side. Laursen and Ørsted customarily advise blue-chip corporates and private equity funds on cross-border IPOs, takeovers, and rights issuances, while Valerius has broad financial regulatory expertise and handles financings. Henrik Laursen has extensive expertise in advising domestic investment banks, and senior associate Janus Jepsen is exceptionally experienced in public takeovers.

Denmark > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Plesner‘s practice utilises the wealth of experience across its many teams to advise US and UK-based private equity houses and venture capital entities in the pharmaceuticals, construction and shipping sectors. Hans Hedegaard leads the corporate M&A team alongside Lars Bunch, who also handles private fund-related matters; Jacob Ørskov Rasmussen advises on commercial and international trade issues; and Simon Krogh heads up the private investment funds team. Thomas Holst Laursen and Christian Kjølbye regularly advise large corporates, with Kjølbye focusing on transactional disputes and post-M&A claims. Henrik Laursen acts in significant privatisations for the Danish State, while Tina Kang advises on stakeholder management and cross-border transactions, and Henrik Rossing Lønberg focuses on corporate finance work.

Denmark > Data privacy and data protection Tier 1

Plesner fields a ‘genuinely passionate‘ team which advises on operational compliance matters, including personal data issues. The team serves a varied client base of non-profit organisations, and insititutions in the energy, transport and IT sectors. Practice head Michael Hopp advises domestic and overseas technology companies, banks and mortgage providers on whistleblower hotlines, employee monitoring issues and international data transfers, while employment specialist Tina Brøgger Sørensen excels in personal data mandates. Associate Peter Østerby Mønsted is a data protection and operational compliance specialist, and associate Jesper Husmer Vang advises public, semi-public and private clients on the full range of data protection issues at a national and EU level.

Denmark > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Plesner‘s dispute resolution practice remains a market leader, often acting in international arbitrations, in addition to handling contentious matters before the European Court of Justice and the Supreme Court. Peter Schradieck leads the practice with 20 years’ experience in representing clients in domestic and international arbitrations and disputes, particularly concerning general commercial liability, distribution, construction and agency issues. The team regularly represents and advises a varied client base which includes energy companies, Finansiel Stabilitet, and cosmetics corporates. Jimmy Skjold Hansen is a ‘very smart young lawyer‘ who has ample experience in commercial and investment arbitration proceedings on an international scale, while Torben Bondrop contributes his specialist knowledge in insurance and tort law, with a distinct emphasis on product, D&O, and consultants’ liability claims.

Denmark > Energy Tier 1

Plesner‘s energy and infrastructure practice is known for its skill in advising on PPAs for offshore wind farms, the redevelopment of gas-hubs, and the development and divestment of solar projects. ‘First-class, trusted adviser‘ Niklas Korsgaard Christensen leads the team and dispenses advice on offshore wind parks, power-to-x projects and oil and gas platforms. Esben Kjær advises on project development agreements for energy infrastructure and overseas repowering projects, in addition to serving numerous utility companies.

Denmark > EU, competition and public procurement Tier 1

Plesner’s team is ‘second to none‘ in representing clients in abuse and cartel cases, and has a great deal of experience in advising on tenders relating to large infrastructure projects and investments. The team regularly appears before the Complaints Board for Public Procurement has also begun focusing on foreign direct investment screenings. The ‘highly qualified‘ Gitte Holtsø leads the team and has broad knowledge of advising on gun jumping issues, horizontal price fixing work and filing merger notifications, and represents clients in criminal investigations before the Danish Public Prosecutor. ‘Star of the department‘ Daniel Barry focuses on handling contentious matters concerning cartel and abuse claims, and cross-border follow-on damages cases. Christian Karhula Lauridsen often participates in the European Commission’s leniency programme and settlement procedures; and Rie Paving Mortensen is particularly skilled in economic analysis, and focuses on phase II mergers and state aid work, and often advises contracting authorities on evaluation models.

Denmark > Information technology Tier 1

The integrated data protection and privacy, IT and outsourcing team at Plesner has ‘mastered the art of creating major outsourcing contracts‘, and also has varied expertise in cloud computing technology and the regulatory prerequisites for financial businesses. Practice head Niels Christian Ellegaard is adept at handling IT contracts and project related disputes, while Michael Hur Bertelsen combines his expertise in M&A and technology to lead on large technology projects. Associate Stefan Cyron is ‘talented and diligent‘ and regularly advises multinational technology companies on the drafting and negotiation of IT agreements. Associate Nina Bech Damgaard Pedersen is ‘the perfect combination of thorough and pragmatic‘ when advising blue-chip financial institutions on outsourcing arrangements and software solutions.

Denmark > Insurance Tier 1

Plesner‘s insurance and pension law practice has ‘great knowledge‘ in assisting blue-chip companies with insurance for loss of earning capacity, technical engineer liability mandates, and commercial liability issues. Praised for his ‘unique professional skills‘, Torben Bondrop leads the team with his experience in advising on consultants’ liability, D&O liability, and general commercial liability, often appearing before the Supreme Court. The ‘exceptionally good‘ Charlotte Hasseriis Iversen has notable expertise in advising domestic and overseas insurance and pension corporates on regulatory issues, business formations and portfolio transfers.

Denmark > Intellectual property Tier 1

Rated by clients as ‘undoubtedly the top team‘, Plesner represents a variety of clients including pharma originators and major technology companies, with some notable clients being Lego, Nintendo, and Ferrari. The team regularly dispenses advice on expropriation and preliminary injunction proceedings, in addition to handling the full range of disputes concerning trade mark right enforcement. Kasper Frahm heads up the practice and has extensive experience in advising on administrative cases concerning domain names, trade marks and designs. The ‘fearless‘ Sture Rygaard regularly advises biotech, medical device and pharmaceuticals clients on preliminary injunction procedures concerning patent infringements; and Peter-Ulrik Plesner, who is rated by clients as ‘the most knowledgeable and experienced patent lawyer in Denmark‘,  has copious amounts of contentious expertise, and represents pharmaceuticals originator companies in patent disputes.

Denmark > Media and entertainment Tier 1

Plesner‘s IP, marketing and media law practice handles the full range of matters, including game development work, negotiations with publication authorities, and the implementation of and compliance with domestic and EU directives on publisher’s rights. The ‘very impressive‘ Emil Jurcenoks heads up the practice and advises large international media companies on commercial and contentious matter, while Kasper Frahm has broad contentious expertise and frequently represent domestic film and TV production companies and computer game developers in disputes.

Denmark > Real estate and construction

Plesner‘s ‘confident and friendly‘ team assists contractors, asset management companies, real estate investment companies and pension funds on construction and infrastructure projects, and joint ventures. Niklas Korsgaard Christensen heads up the construction side of the practice, and Mads Berg leads the real estate side. Benjamin Bunnage is a commercial lease expert, handling the sale and transfer of property portfolios and assets, and Lasse Stjernholm Detlevsen dispenses ‘excellent‘ advice to investors on transactional matters and project developments. Anders Hermansen joined the group in January 2023 and excels in real estate transactional work.

Denmark > Tax Tier 1

Known for having the ‘best track record for tax litigation in Denmark‘, Plesner advises a diverse client base of international companies, high-net-worth individuals, real estate groups and data companies on estate planning issues and tax abuse cases. Practice head Lasse Esbjerg Christensen and Tom Kári Kristjánsson have notable contentious expertise, and represent taxpayers in disputes concerning VAT and payroll calculations in the High Court and Supreme Court. Hans Severin Hansen is very experienced in handling disputes concerning beneficial owners, and Jef Nymand Hounsgaard dispenses advice to private equity fund managers and global companies on the tax repercussions of cross-border M&A transactions. Søren Lehmann Nielsen excels in tax litigation.

Denmark > Telecoms Tier 1

Plesner‘s practice is known for handling both transactional and regulatory matters within the telecoms sector, and regularly advises energy companies on the expansion of fibre networks, in addition to disputes and contractual matters. Niels Christian Ellegaard leads the team and frequently advises large domestic and international telecoms providers on fibre network issues, mobile activities and financial matters, while Michael Hur Bertelsen focuses on telecoms projects and often dispenses advice to network owners on the administration of fibre networks, in addition to outsourcing-related matters.

Denmark > Insolvency Tier 2

Plesner‘s team utilises its ‘very good knowledge‘ of insolvency law to advise on large corporate insolvencies, and assist a number of banks, investors and creditors. Lars Skanvig leads the practice and often acts for international companies on the full range of insolvency matters, including compulsory dissolutions, voluntary arrangements, and notified restructuring proceedings. Michala Roepstorff is an ‘excellent lawyer‘ who regularly handles the insolvencies of real estate investment companies.

Denmark > Employment Tier 3

Plesner‘s employment and labour law team demonstrates ‘exceptionally good knowledge‘ of public and private employment issues. The team handles a variety of mandates concerning whistleblower schemes and collective redundancy procedures. Tina Brøgger Sørensen leads the practice with her extensive expertise in data protection and employment law, and regularly advises employers on senior management issues, discrimination claims and restructurings. Lise Høy Falsner is experienced in handling contentious matters before the Labour and Disciplinary Courts, and often dispenses advice on collective bargaining agreements and mass redundancies.

Denmark > Environment Tier 3

Plesner‘s team advises municipalities, energy companies and waste management companies on matters concerning expropriation, the development of environmentally regulated projects, and the acquisition of domestic environmentally regulated companies. Niklas Korsgaard Christensen jointly leads the practice alongside associate Marcus Elskaer Mollerup. Christensen is an energy specialist who advises on the environment related permitting processes for energy and infrastructure projects, and Mollerup often assists public authorities and international corporates with regulatory matters.

Denmark > Shipping and transport Tier 3

Plesner‘s practice is known for its transactional and ship finance expertise, and often advises financiers, ship owners and charterers on ship registrations and offshore installations. The team also handles insolvencies, with notable clients being Maersk, Metro Service and Arriva Denmark. Practice head Peter Fogh regularly advises domestic and foreign shipyards and shipping corproates on international contracts, ship financings, and building projects. Niklas Korsgaard Christensen has profound knowledge of the transport sector, with a particular emphasis on harbours and the construction of international airports. Esben Kjær has notable experience in advising on the commercial side of the public transport market including regulatory issues.

Greenland > Foreign firms

Plesner Advokatpartnerselskab’s cross-practice group leverages the firm’s extensive experience in handling construction and infrastructure projects to advise on major projects in Greenland; this expertise is particularly demonstrated through the group’s recent involvement in the construction and financing of three new international airports in Greenland. The group is also recognised for its mining expertise and counts Greenland Minerals and KoBold Metals as clients. Managing partner Niklas Korsgaard Christensen and Frants Dalgaard-Knudsen jointly lead the practice, specialising in energy and mining issues respectively. Jimmy Skjold Hansen is the key contact for contentious work and Esben Kjær focuses on corporate mandates in the energy, infrastructure and transport sectors.