Danish law firm Gorrissen Federspiel has a history that goes back to the late 1800s. The firm has offices in the cities of Aarhus and Copenhagen.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm boasts strong transactional practices in banking, M&A, capital markets and restructuring, with the firm generally maintaining a good share of the market’s significant deals in these areas.
Its banking and finance team was broadly active in financing work, including leveraged financings, asset back-financings, general corporate financings and project related financings. Alongside transactional work, the firm is known for its regulatory practice which focuses on advising credit institutions, insurance companies and asset managers.
The equity capital markets team boasts strong transactional capabilities, often advising on the largest Danish IPOs and stock exchange listings. Every year the team also advises on numerous private placements and rights issues. The firm is similarly strong in debt capital markets, where it advises most Danish issuers with EMTN or other international debt programme. The debt capital markets team is also recognised for its work in the high yield bond space.
In M&A the firm maintains a stronghold in the Danish market by conducting market-leading work by value of transactions. It advises Danish and multinational companies and private equity funds on acquisitions, mergers, disposals, corporate restructurings, management buyouts and compliance.
The restructuring and insolvency team is recognised for administrating the largest restructuring and bankruptcy matters in Denmark. Closely aligned with the firm’s banking and finance group, the team maintains strong relationships with major creditor financial institutions and the Danish Government.
Key clients
Danske Bank, Danmarks Nationalbank, Intact Financial Corporation, Maersk Drilling, Bain Capital, Carlsberg, KommuneKredit, Realkredit, FSN, EQT, Vækstfonden, Vestjysk Bank, TORM, Nordea Danmark, Vestas Wind Systems, the Danish Tax Authorities, Novo Nordisk, Chr. Hansen Holding are among the firm’s key clients,
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
During this research cycle, the firm's banking team actively engaged in several significant acquisition financings, serving numerous corporate and banking clients. Their involvement in these prominent transactions demonstrated their expertise in providing strategic and effective banking solutions to meet the financing needs of their clients in the M&A space.
In the equity capital markets, the firm assumed a major role in guiding companies through their initial public offerings (IPOs). Additionally, they actively participated in several significant rights issues and private placements, typically representing the issuers. In the debt markets, the firm's debt team also handled substantial workloads, advising on bond/note issuances and program updates, predominantly representing issuers in these transactions. Their extensive involvement in both equity and debt markets reflected their proficiency in providing comprehensive capital markets solutions to their clients.
In the field of M&A, the firm's expertise extended to working with private equity firms and corporates on intricate transactions, frequently involving cross-border elements. The firm's ability to successfully navigate and provide counsel on such transactions further solidified their leading position in the M&A market.
The restructuring and insolvency team actively handled a range of complex bankruptcies in Denmark, including GameStop. Their involvement in these high-profile bankruptcies showcased the firm's proficiency in managing intricate insolvency matters and reaffirmed their position as a leading player in this domain.
Partner Thomas Maaberg Hansen joined the banking team of the firm during the research cycle.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Hansen Holding $25 billion merger with Novozymes
Novo Nordisk $10.6 billion EMTN program update
Vestas Wind Systems A/s $3.1 billion EMTN program update
