Data privacy and data protection Tier 1

Horten has extensive experience advising on data protection law and cybersecurity issues; in mid-2020, it established a dedicated personal data group. Key areas of strength include the implementation of GDPR compliance projects, and reporting and managing data protection breaches. Headed up by Birgitte Toxværd, the team regularly handles the data privacy and protection aspects of IT, employment, marketing and public law deals, most notably issues surrounding social media. In 2021, Mads Nygaard Madsen departed to join DAHL Law Firm.

Employment Tier 1

‘Very knowledgeable and on top of potential regulatory changes’, Horten acts for a broad array of international blue-chip corporations, major Danish companies and large Danish municipalities. The department is experienced in collective agreements and union issues, TUPE legislation work, redundancies, and the employment aspects of M&A transactions. Recently, the team, which is led by Jonas Enkegaard, has seen an uptick in executive liability matters, including work representing CEOs and executive officers in termination procedures and summary dismissals. Marianne Lage left in 2020 to join Poul Schmith.

Energy Tier 1

Environment Tier 1

With a robust local public authority practice, Horten is involved in a large number of high-profile matters, including cases before the Danish courts and administrative authorities. Areas of strength for the team include conducting environmental due diligence and risk assessment analyses, as well as representing clients in complex litigation. Group head Henriette Soja is primarily instructed on public law issues, especially construction-related mandates, while Poul Hvilsted provides legal, strategic and commercial advice concerning environmental and planning law. Anne Sophie Kierkegaard Vilsbøll has additional capabilities in easements and climate and supply regulations.

EU and competition Tier 1

Horten’s team is ‘strong for competition law and contract law and has very good all-round knowledge’ of EU and competition matters, including public procurement, state aid and general EU law issues. Instructed by a variety of private companies, business associations and public authorities, the group, led by Andreas Christensen, also focuses on follow-on damages actions, Danish infringement investigations and merger control work in the public sector. Annelouise Dalgaard Pedersen's expertise encompasses strategic advice on procurement designs, tender procedures and handling complaints before the Danish Complaints Board for Public Procurement.

Insolvency Tier 1

Divided between the firm’s Aarhus and Copenhagen offices, Horten’s restructuring and insolvency expertise runs the gamut of complex restructurings, distressed M&A and non-performing loan matters, creditor work, compulsory liquidations and bankruptcy matters. The team is led by Piya Mukherjee, who, as president of INSOL Europe, is particularly skilled at handling cross-border insolvency proceedings. Other key lawyers include Nicolai Dyhr, Ulrik Holsted-Sandgreen and Bo Christensen. Jan Bech, who is a permanent trustee at the Bankruptcy Court of Aarhus, also joined the department in late 2019 from DLA Piper Denmark.

Banking and finance Tier 2

Led by Claus Bennetsen, the ‘responsive and knowledgeable’ Horten banking and finance group has a strong reputation for financing matters, regulatory issues and financial instrument work. Bennetsen focuses on acquisition, property and project financings, while Lars Lüneborg, who is praised as ‘very attentive and hands-on’, handles a range of syndicated lending, leveraged finance and financial restructuring mandates. Elsewhere, the group is noted for its financial litigation experience. Clients span financial institutions, leasing companies, funds, asset managers and public institutions.

Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Led by Frans Rossen, the M&A practice at Horten encompasses the full spectrum of company law mandates and M&A transactions. Notably active in the energy, life sciences and private equity sectors, the team advises a wide variety of domestic and international clients, with particular expertise in cross-border M&A, structured auction processes, ownership transitions and acquisition financing work. Another name to note is Lise Lotte Hjerrild, who has additional experience in group restructurings and privatisations, especially relating to airports and energy and utility companies.

Dispute resolution Tier 2

The dispute resolution team at Horten is particularly active in complex commercial and financial litigation and arbitration proceedings, counting domestic and international insurance companies and banks among its clients. Headed up by the vastly experienced Birgitte Frølund, who is involved in several high-profile long-running cases, the team also acts in M&A, professional indemnity, energy, offshore and construction disputes. Jakob Tingskov has in-depth experience in insolvency disputes and bankruptcy estate claims.

Insurance Tier 2

The ‘very approachable, knowledgeable and experienced’ Christina Steen heads up Horten’s wide-ranging insurance practice, which regularly assists an assortment of major domestic and international insurers and brokers. In its contentious work, the group is instructed in a large variety of D&O, cyber crime, product liability, construction liability and coverage claims. Steen is also adept at handling commercial disputes and professional liability matters, particularly in litigation and arbitration proceedings relating to the liability of executives and board members.

Media and entertainment Tier 2

Horten's expertise lies at the intersection of IP, digital and media law, particularly in new distribution methods for music, film, radio and television. It has experience assisting with the negotiation of distribution and licence agreements, the organisation of large-scale events and concerts, and copyright issues. Practice head Asger Heine Jensen regularly advises game developers. Nina Henningsen left the practice in 2019 to join Mazanti-Andersen.

Real estate and construction Tier 2

Michael Neumann, Niels Jørgen Oggesen and Thomas Krucov Jensen jointly head up Horten's practice, which specialises in commercial transactions including the purchase, sale and financing of commercial properties and real estate portfolios, property fund formations, and corporate and tax structures. The group also has extensive experience in construction projects, attracting praise for its ‘procurement strategies, contract documentation and negotiation skills, risk management and dispute avoidance advice, project support and decisive dispute resolution actions’. Kristoffer Westberg left for an in-house role.

Tax Tier 2

The taxes and duties department at Horten is instructed by domestic and international clients on a range of VAT and tax issues relating to M&A, corporate reorganisations and employee share schemes. Group head Henrik Stig Lauritsen also advises on the taxation of principal shareholders, the relocation of employees and litigation concerning taxes and duties, while Thomas Booker has expertise in real estate tax issues, including VAT and registration duties for property investors.

Telecoms Tier 2

Horten is a key name for telecoms industry companies, particularly in relation to data protection issues, as well as regulatory and contractual matters concerning the expansion of communication networks. Recently, the group has had a particular focus on telecoms-related infrastructure projects concerning utility and emergency services. The practice also has additional expertise in the drafting, negotiation and financing of IT licences, M&A transactions, and litigation and arbitration proceedings. Asger Heine Jensen is the key contact. Former practice head Mads Nygaard Madsen and Michael Goeskjær departed to DAHL Law Firm in 2021.

Capital markets Tier 3

Singled out for its ability to ‘think outside of the box’, Horten has a track record in both DCM and ECM work. Jacob Kornerup and Lise Lotte Hjerrild jointly head up the group, which acts for issuers, financial institutions and investors on listings, delistings, issuances, real estate bonds, public-private partnerships, information obligations and corporate governance issues.

Information technology Tier 3

‘Responsive, agile, adaptable and knowledgeable’, Horten assists clients with a variety of IT-related matters, including litigation, arbitration and complex contractual and commercial issues. The team also advises on outsourcing contracts, system delivery contracts, software licensing work, e-commerce matters and the related data protection issues. The group receives a substantial stream of work relating to the public procurement of IT systems, primarily for Danish municipalities, and also represents clients in IT disputes. Former practice lead Mads Nygaard Madsen and Michael Goeskjær both departed for DAHL Law Firm in 2021.

Intellectual property Tier 3

The IP team at Horten is now co-led by Asger Heine Jensen and Jakob Krag Nielsen, a former group head at Lundgrens who clients describe as ‘a great addition due to his patent litigation capabilities’. Traditionally, the firm has notable strengths in trade mark disputes, but is increasingly instructed in copyright, unfair marketing and media-related matters. Anders Valentin and Jens Jakob Bugge departed to set up their own boutique IP firm Bugge Valentin along with Christian Kragelund.