Viltoft > Copenhagen, Denmark > Firm Profile

Viltoft
GOTHERSGADE 109
1123 COPENHAGEN K
Denmark

Denmark > Real estate and construction Tier 1

The ‘outstanding, professional, and skilled‘ group at Viltoft often represents building owners, technical consultants and contractors in disputes, and is known for its expertise in handling transport-related construction mandates. Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen and Henrik Hauge Andersen jointly lead the practice; Thommesen uses his ‘high standard of knowledge‘ to advise on PPP urban development projects and construction management work, Andersen has substantial contentious expertise, often acting for municipalities in disputes; and Hellmann assists property developers and real estate proprietors with professional negligence cases and construction projects. Morten Ruben Brage regularly advises on public procurement and real estate construction transactions, while Eva Olesen, who was promoted to the partnership in March 2022, has key knowledge of procurement contracts and disputes concerning delays and disruption to construction works. Steen Hellmann departed to Gorrissen Federspiel in 2023.

Practice head(s):

Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen; Henrik Hauge Andersen

Other key lawyers:

Michael Gjedde-Nielsen; Morten Ruben Brage; Hans Lykke Hansen; Eva Olesen

Testimonials

‘The highly competent and devoted team is outstanding, professional, and skilled. They have strong knowledge.’

‘Michael Gjedde-Nielsen is excellent.’

‘Peter Thommesen and Michael Gjedde-Nielsen both have a very high standard of knowledge and very good experience.’

‘Morten Ruben Brage is strongly engaged and is very good at explaining complicated matters in a simple language.’

Key clients

Metroselskabet

Hovedstadens Letbane

Mace

Roskilde Kommune

SH Installation A/S

LINK arkitektur A/S

Schmidt Hammer Lassen K/S

NNE A/S, Oluf Jørgensen A/S

Creo Arkitekter A/S

Brix & Kamp A/S

Region Sjælland – COWI

Tryg Forsikring

Municipality of Gladsaxe

The Copenhagen International School Property Fund

Per Aarsleff A/S

Odense Tramway P/S

NNE

Municipality of Brøndby

Munck Havne & Anlæg

Topdanmark

Work highlights

  • Representing Metroselskabet in a dispute with the consortium of Italian contractors (CMT) which performed the civil works on the Cityringen stage of the Copenhagen Metro. CMT has filed a number of large claims against Metroselskabet for alleged extra works and delays and disruption.
  • Representing a consortium of technical advisers/consultants, namely Sweco Architects, Midtconsult engineers, WSP engineers (UK) and AART Architects, which designed the new emergency hospital in Viborg, called Akutcenter Viborg.
  • Representing Rubow in a dispute regarding extra works, length of time and defects on both project and works.

Denmark > Dispute resolution Tier 2

Specialist construction and real estate boutique firm Viltoft houses a skilled team, which frequently represents public sector employers, insurance companies, contractors, and technical advisers in construction disputes involving delay and defect claims. ‘Stand-out partnerPeter Fauerholdt Thommesen heads up the practice following Steen Hellmann's departure to Gorrissen Federspiel. Henrik Hauge Andersen often represents consultants in construction-related disputes, while Morten Ruben Brage regularly appears before the Commercial High Court and the Danish Building and Construction Arbitration Board on behalf of subcontractors.

Practice head(s):

Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen

Testimonials

‘High level of commitment and trust, high skill level.’

‘Peter Thommesen is a high quality, stand-out partner.’

‘A robust and commerciel approach.’

Key clients

Metroselskabet

Tryg Forsikring

Copydan KulturPlus

Gladsaxe Municipality

Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects

HOFOR

COWI

Arkitema Architects

Rubow Architects

NNE (Novo Nordisk Engineering)

Danish Nurses’ Organisation

The Union of Communication and Language Professionals

Odense Tramway

Sweco

LINK arkitektur A/S

SH Installation A/S

Aarsleff

Topdanmark

Work highlights

  • Representing Metroselskabet (the public company in charge of building and operating the Copenhagen metro) against the Copenhagen Metro Team (CMT), which has filed a number of large claims totalling approx. €1bn against Metroselskabet, for alleged extra works, delay and disruption.
  • Representing Copydan KulturPlus in a lawsuit against the Danish state claiming approx. €180m in damages for Denmark’s failure to fully implement the EU Copyrights Directive into Danish law.
  • Representing Rubow Arkitekter in a dispute regarding extra works, length of time, and defects on a project, and works contracted by the Municipality of Hvidovre.

Denmark > EU, competition and public procurement Tier 2

Boutique firm Viltoft houses a team of ‘experts with broad knowledge‘, who dispense advice to a varied client roster of non-profit housing providers, public construction companies and utility companies. Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen leads the public procurement team alongside Eva Olesen. Thommesen has broad experience in public procurement mandates, particularly issues relating to large-scale projects. Olesen often advises public housing companies and energy companies on their participation in tenders.

Practice head(s):

Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen; Eva Olesen

Testimonials

‘They are supportive in a professional way and are experts with broad knowledge. They give hands on advice.’

‘The team deliver good, well-worked material. High quality advice and deliverables from the team.’

‘Eva Olesen excels at adapting her communication to clients. It is important that clients feel heard and understood. Eva masters both parts excellently.’

‘Peter Thommesen has wide ranging experience. He is an expert and provides valuable input regarding tactics and strategy concerning legal issues.’

Key clients

Metroselskabet

Odense Letbane

Ikano Bolig

Hovedstadens Letbane

Sbs Rådgivning A/S

Brøndby Boligselskab

D.S.I Tranemosegård

Arkitema Architects

Hofor

Fjernvarme Fyn

Bilfinger

Landbyggefonden

Civica

Boligforeningen 3B

Ballerup Municipality

Rubow Architects

Gottlieb Paludan Architects

Municipality of Vordingborg

Municipality of Roskilde

Region Sjælland

COWI A/S

Høje-Taastrup Municipality

European Energy A/S

Work highlights

  • Advised the two public housing companies Brøndby Boligselskab and D.S.I Tranemosegård on the joint call for tenders for an overall consultancy contract for the renovation and reconstruction of seven high-rise buildings in Brøndby Strand Parkerne.
  • Advising employer Hovedstadens Letbane on all construction and public procurement law issues relating to Letbane på Ring 3 (The Greater Copenhagen Light Rail), a 27 km light rail with 27 stations west of Copenhagen.
  • Represented Metroselskabet in a complaints case about the right of contracting authorities in EU tenders to allow changes in the composition of participating tenderers (consortia) within the limits of the applicable EU regulation.

The firm: VILTOFT is a boutique firm of highly-specialised lawyers, known in particular for their work in construction and real estate, public procurement and litigation and arbitration. Established in 1974, VILTOFT enjoys a reputation among clients and peers for being among the very best within its practice areas.

Areas of practice
Construction: For almost 50 years, VILTOFT has been a leading provider of legal services to the building and construction industry. The firm provides advice and representation to employers, contractors, architects, engineers, insurance companies and investors and has been involved in most of the significant construction and engineering projects in Denmark during the last several decades. VILTOFT’s team also advises clients on cross-border projects based on international standard contracts such as FIDIC.

Real estate: VILTOFT advises both public and private clients on development projects, public-private partnerships (PPPs) as well as sales and purchases of real estate.

Public procurement: VILTOFT advises public and private clients on all aspects of public procurement (both EU and domestic), from the designing and conducting of the tender process to the drafting of contracts and tender documents and representation in complaints procedures before the Danish Complaints Board for Public Procurement and courts. VILTOFT offers a team of leading experts on public procurement matters within the building and construction industry, including infrastructure projects and offshore projects. The firm’s services are also often sought by clients in other sectors such as energy, pharma and healthcare.

Dispute resolution: Being a core element of the firm’s practice, VILTOFT offers dispute resolution services within all of its practice areas. In real estate and construction, VILTOFT represents a variety of clients in some of the most high-profile disputes before the Danish courts, arbitral tribunals and complaints boards as well as in other forms of ADR. VILTOFT is highly experienced in cross-border construction and energy sector disputes, including disputes regarding offshore projects. VILTOFT’s team is also often involved – both as counsel and arbitrators – in disputes outside of the firm’s specialist areas, including general commercial, corporate and insurance disputes.

Publications: VILTOFT’s partners have published leading textbooks on construction law and arbitration in Denmark: ‘ABR 18 – General Conditions for consulting services within the building and construction industry’ (by Michael Gjedde-Nielsen, Henrik Hauge Andersen, Steen Hellmann, Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen and Morten Ruben Brage; 1st ed. 2021),  ‘ABR 89 – General Conditions for consulting services within the building and construction industry’ (by Michael Gjedde-Nielsen and Hans Lykke Hansen; 3rd ed. 2013) and ‘Danish Arbitration’ (by Jakob Juul and Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen; 3rd ed. 2017).

DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
Construction Henrik Hauge Andersenhha@viltoft.dk+4533149300
Construction Peter Fauerholdt Thommesenpft@viltoft.dk+4533149300
Construction Morten Ruben Bragemrb@viltoft.dk+4533149300
Construction Eva Oleseneo@viltoft.dk+4533149300
Real estate Henrik Hauge Andersenhha@viltoft.dk+4533149300
Real estate Peter Fauerholdt Thommesenpft@viltoft.dk+4533149300
Real estate Morten Ruben Bragemrb@viltoft.dk+4533149300
Real estate Eva Oleseneo@viltoft.dk+4533149300
Public procurement Henrik Hauge Andersenhha@viltoft.dk+4533149300
Public procurement Peter Fauerholdt Thommesenpft@viltoft.dk+4533149300
Public procurement Morten Ruben Bragemrb@viltoft.dk+4533149300
Public procurement Eva Oleseneo@viltoft.dk+4533149300
Dispute resolution Henrik Hauge Andersenhha@viltoft.dk+4533149300
Dispute resolution Peter Fauerholdt Thommesenpft@viltoft.dk+4533149300
Dispute resolution Morten Ruben Bragemrb@viltoft.dk+4533149300
Dispute resolution Eva Oleseneo@viltoft.dk+4533149300
Environmental law Morten Ruben Bragemrb@viltoft.dk+4533149300
PhotoNamePositionProfile
Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen photoMr Peter Fauerholdt ThommesenPartner. Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen advises public and private sector clients and technical…
Michael Gjedde-Nielsen photoMr Michael Gjedde-NielsenAttorney. Michael Gjedde-Nielsen advises public-sector companies, public authorities and private businesses on…
Henrik Hauge Andersen photoMr Henrik Hauge AndersenPartner. Since the mid-1990s Henrik Hauge Andersen has primarily provided legal advice…
Eva Olesen photoMrs Eva OlesenPartner Eva Olesen is part of the VILTOFT team of procurement specialists…
Morten Ruben Brage photoMr Morten Ruben BragePartner. Morten Ruben Brage advises public authorities, private-sector enterprises and technical consultants…
Number of partners : 4
Number of lawyers : 13
Danish
English
French
German
Scandinavian languages
The Danish Society for Construction and Consulting Law
The Danish Association for Procurement Law
The Danish Association of Litigators
The Danish Labour Law Society
Danish Employment Law Lawyers
The Danish Company Law Society
The Danish Arbitration Association
The Association of Municipal and Administrative Law
The Danish Society of Insurance Law
Danish Mediating Lawyers
International Bar Association
ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR
Young Arbitrators Copenhagen (YAC)
The Young International Arbitration Group (LCIA)