Viltoft > Copenhagen, Denmark > Firm Profile

Viltoft
GOTHERSGADE 109
1123 COPENHAGEN K
Denmark

Denmark > Real estate and construction Tier 1

Praised by clients as a ‘leading construction firm in construction law and public procurement in Denmark’, boutique construction firm Viltoft acts on behalf of private and public owners, contractors, technical advisers and real estate developers on the entire gamut of construction-related work, with noted expertise in contentious matters. Practice co-head Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen is a go-to name for urban development projects, commercial real estate transactions and arbitration proceedings, while fellow co-head Henrik Hauge Andersen has notable experience in disputes arising out of the space. Eva Olesen is another important point of contact for sophisticated construction projects, and Morten Ruben Brage advises on public procurement work and transactional issues. Steen Hellmann  departed the firm to join Gorrissen Federspiel in 2023.

Practice head(s):

Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen; Henrik Hauge Andersen

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘The teams seems very competent and deals professionally with queries and subjects at hand. Very straight forward and clear in communication, opinions and recommendations.’

‘Easygoing and good-spirited individuals. Communicate clearly and easy to read and understand.’

‘Viltoft is a specialised real estate and construction boutique. They are probably the leading construction firm in construction law and public procurement in Denmark. They provide second to none service with high ethical standards.’

‘Peter Thommesen stands out a one of the best advisers on all aspects related to construction. He provides excellent service to clients.’

‘Henrik Hauge Andersen is always available with a smile and humour as a supplement to the highest quality of service. Henrik always goes the extra mile for his client.’

‘Morten Ruben Brage always delivers an excellent service.’

‘Viltoft is a very skilled and knowledgeable team with a staff of very good analysts. The staff is very interested in learning about the deeper practical challenges behind the different legal questions, and the team has a very broad understanding of the law foundation and history behind it. If one person cannot answer questions on their own, there will normally always be another person in the team who can. When you ask for help, Viltoft will normally be quick and swift to return your request.’

Key clients

Metroselskabet

Hovedstadens Letbane

Roskilde Kommune

European Energy A/S

SH Installation A/S

Region Sjælland – COWI

Tryg Forsikring

Hillerød Kommune

Municipality of Gladsaxe

Odense Tramway P/S

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies

Munck Havne & Anlæg

Allianz

Realdania By & Byg

Port of Frederikshavn

Work highlights

  • Representing  Metroselskabet, the company in charge for the Copenhagen Metro, in a claim in which Italian contractor Salini (now WeBuild) has lodged a complaint with the Complaints Board for Public Procurement over Metroselskabet’s award of the civil works contract for the Southern extension of the Cityringen Metro.

Denmark > Dispute resolution Tier 2

Specialist boutique firm Viltoft is renowned for its strong emphasis on dispute resolution within the fields of construction, real estate and public procurement, with a strong track record in handling complex litigation and arbitration cases. The group also undertakes general disputes work, including contractual, corporate, shareholder and general commercial matters, as well as labour and employment cases. Practice leader Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen comes highly recommended as ‘a top performing attorney with deep experience within his field and a sense of the important issues‘. Henrik Hauge Andersen has notable experience in complex disputes arising out of the construction sector, while Morten Ruben Brage maintains his robust practice emphasising construction, procurement and environmental cases.

Practice head(s):

Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘First class and excellent service.’

‘Peter Thommesen is a top performing attorney with deep experience within his field and a sense of the important issues – a good mix of pragmatism, legal ability, commercial considerations and the ability to find solutions.’

‘Extremely skilled, legally sound and competent.’

‘Attorney Henrik Hauge Andersen is always available with a smile and humor as a supplement to the highest quality of service. Henrik Hauge Andersen always goes the extra mile for the client.’

‘Morten Ruben Brage always gives an extraordinary service. He is always thinking of all possibilities and potential problems.’

‘Peter Thommesen has been the lead representative on one of our major projects over a number of years and has provided excellent advice. He has been ably supported by Jacob Allon who is taking an increasingly important role and is particularly good at managing our input.’

‘Henrik Hauge Andersen is very experienced in handling construction law, which characterises his advice, which is underpinned by a large base of experience, knowledge, matter-of-factness and realism.’

Denmark > EU, competition and public procurement Tier 2

Viltoft’s public procurement department represents public and private sector clients across a full range of cross-border matters, including complex litigation and public procurement issues arising from large-scale projects. Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen is highly experienced in competition law matters and comes recommended as ‘very dedicated and solution oriented’. He co-leads the practice with the ‘very pragmatic, skilled and hands on’ Eva Olesen.

Practice head(s):

Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen; Eva Olesen

Testimonials

‘Eva Olesen is very pragmatic, skilled and hands-on.’

‘Viltoft delivers timely, solution oriented, and concise answers and has great experience.’

‘Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen is very dedicated and solution oriented, which is needed within large scale projects. His feedback and answers are understandable for non-legal persons which makes the process very effective.’

‘Professionals with high integrity.’

‘The team is small and stable, which provides a feeling of a personal, individual, almost “boutique” cooperation.’

Key clients

Metroselskabet (infrastructure)

Odense Letbane (infrastructure)

Syddansk Erhvervsskole

Hovedstadens Letbane (infrastructure)

Sbs Rådgivning A/S / public housing companies Brøndby Boligselskab and D.S.I Tranemosegård

Arkitema Architects

Hofor (supplier of gas, electricity and electric heating)

Fjernvarme Fyn (district heating)

Hillerød Kommune

Atkins Danmark A/S

Realdania By & Byg A/S

Region Sjælland (public sector/health care sector)

Høje-Taastrup Municipality (public sector)

Council housing organisations Brøndby Boligselskab by Lejerbo, BO-VEST, PAB, BAB/DAB

Port of Frederikshavn

Copydan KulturPlus

Work highlights

  • Representing Metroselskabet after Italian contractor Salini (now WeBuild) lodged a complaint with the Complaints Board for Public Procurement over Metroselskabet’s award of the civil works contract for the Southern extension of the Cityringen Metro in Copenhagen to the German French contractor consortium, TUNN3L JV, consisting of Hochtief (D) and Vinci (F).
  • Representing Copydan KulturPlus in a lawsuit against the Danish state claiming approx. EUR 180 million in damages for Denmark’s failure to fully implement the EU Copyrights Directive into Danish law.
  • Advised the two public housing companies Brøndby Boligselskab and D.S.I Tranemosegård (as legal sub-consultant to sbs rådgivning A/S) in connection with the joint call for tenders for an overall consultancy contract for the renovation/reconstruction of seven high-rise buildings and in respect of all legal matters concerning the design and execution of the contract.

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 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).

Department Name Email Telephone
Construction Henrik Hauge Andersen hha@viltoft.dk +4533149300
Construction Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen pft@viltoft.dk +4533149300
Construction Morten Ruben Brage mrb@viltoft.dk +4533149300
Construction Eva Olesen eo@viltoft.dk +4533149300
Real estate Henrik Hauge Andersen hha@viltoft.dk +4533149300
Real estate Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen pft@viltoft.dk +4533149300
Real estate Morten Ruben Brage mrb@viltoft.dk +4533149300
Real estate Eva Olesen eo@viltoft.dk +4533149300
Public procurement Henrik Hauge Andersen hha@viltoft.dk +4533149300
Public procurement Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen pft@viltoft.dk +4533149300
Public procurement Morten Ruben Brage mrb@viltoft.dk +4533149300
Public procurement Eva Olesen eo@viltoft.dk +4533149300
Dispute resolution Henrik Hauge Andersen hha@viltoft.dk +4533149300
Dispute resolution Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen pft@viltoft.dk +4533149300
Dispute resolution Morten Ruben Brage mrb@viltoft.dk +4533149300
Dispute resolution Eva Olesen eo@viltoft.dk +4533149300
Environmental law Morten Ruben Brage mrb@viltoft.dk +4533149300
Photo Name Position Profile
Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen photo Mr Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen Partner. Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen advises public and private sector clients and technical…
Michael Gjedde-Nielsen photo Mr Michael Gjedde-Nielsen Attorney. Michael Gjedde-Nielsen advises public-sector companies, public authorities and private businesses on…
Henrik Hauge Andersen photo Mr Henrik Hauge Andersen Partner. Since the mid-1990s Henrik Hauge Andersen has primarily provided legal advice…
Eva Olesen photo Mrs Eva Olesen Partner Eva Olesen is part of the VILTOFT team of procurement specialists…
Morten Ruben Brage photo Mr Morten Ruben Brage Partner. 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)