Denmark

IFLR1000 Reviews

Financial and corporate
Accura

Danish law firm Accura was founded in 1999. The firms headquarters is centred in Copenhagen. It also operates offices in Singapore, Boston, London, Aarhus, Melbourne and Tokyo and an estimated 550 employees globally.

The firm is recognised for its leading market practice in M&A and banking and finance, widely recognised as Denmark’s leading transactional law firm. Accura’s strong international reputation is illustrated by its consistent role representing leading foreign financial service institutions, private equity companies, investors and prominent listed Dutch companies.

 

Highlights

In project development, the firm advised on the Akita Noshiro Offshore Wind Project as lead counsel. This deal marks the first offshore wind project ever in Japan. The firm’s role in large scale cross border wind and energy projects demonstrate the innovative and pioneering market leading role the firm is actively shaping.

Another significant example of the firm’s capabilities include advising on the bankruptcy proceedings of Top - Toy (Toys'R'Us) and the remaining stock operational stores in Finland and Sweeden. The bankruptcy of the international corporate retail store represents a challenging and complex cross border bankruptcy proceeding reflective of the firms expertise in large scale transactions.

Testimonials

“The two partners and their team have been extremely competent in terms of their profession. Furthermore they act with focus on the business and have a commercial mindset seen from a clients point of view. Finally, they have been highly empathetic during the entire process.” - (Restructuring) Oskar Group

 

Key clients

Danske Bank A/S, Nordea Bank, Apb, Alm. Brand A/S, Pharma Equity Group A/S, Brøndby IF, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, BioCirc, GreenGo Energy Group, Topsoe, Copenhagen Energy

Bech-Bruun

With a history tracing back to 1872, the Danish law firm Bech-Bruun has offices in Copenhagen, Aarhus, New York and Shanghai. Bech Bruun is among one of the largest firms in the Nordic region with over 600 employees and 64 partners.

As a full service law firm, the firm is recognised for its strong M&A, projects and restructuring and insolvency teams representing leading Danish and international clients.

 

Highlights

In restructuring and insolvency, the team advised on the high profile Nordic Waste scandal that brought about a significant landslide forcing the company into bankruptcy. This deal is one of the most significant environmental disasters and bankruptcy cases in recent years in Denmark with significant media attention and ramifications on environmental legislation.

Project highlights include the firm advising on the Feharn belt Fixed Link, envisioned to be the world’s longest underwater railway and road tunnel, that will connect Germany and Denmark. It is the largest project in Denmark and a highly ambitious infrastructure project, Bech Bruun is advising on all environmental matters related to the project in Denmark.

In banking and finance, a recent highlight of the firm’s work includes advising Novo Holdings in connection with the financing of the acquisition of the entire share capital of Ellab as well as the refinancing of the existing debt of Ellab. This deal plays an important role in the expansion of Novo Holdings business expansion in the pharma and biotech sector.

 

Key Clients

JP Morgan, Ambu, Royal Unibrew, Danske Bank, Better Collectiv Novo Holdings, A.P. Moller Holding, Joe & The Juice, Scan Global Logistics, Stark, Vestforbrænding, Energinet, CPH City and Port Development, Femern A/S, Metroselskabet

DLA Piper

Founded in 2005, the international law firm DLA Piper has offices in more than 40 countries. In Denmark the firm operates out of its Copenhagen and Aarhus offices.

As a full-service law firm, the team covers the full spectrum of legal services to the public and corporate sectors. The firm is well known for its banking and finance, M&A, project development and restructuring and insolvency practices.

 

Highlights

In banking and finance, the firm has had a long-standing history with the Government of Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Recently the firm played a critical role in advising Faroese company Elfelagið Streymoy-Eysturoy-Vágar with its largest refinancing to date in connection with financing intended to support the Faroese government's green energy policy that intends to make the island powered by green energy completely by 2030.

Project development highlights include advising Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy in the negotiations of a turbine supply agreement with ELEKTROWNIA WIATROWA BALTICA for two offshore wind projects. The offshore wind project is recorded to be the largest offshore wind project to date in Poland. This deal reflects the firm's leading presence in the sustainable energy sector.

 

Key clients

ATP, Paustian, Ringkjøbing, Landbobank, Sparekassen Sjælland-Fyn, Merlin Entertainments, Legoland ApS, HSBC Innovation Bank Limited (formerly known as Silicon Valley Bank), Deutsche Bank, Elfelagid SEV (Faroese national power company), TriplePoint Capital

Elverdam Law Firm

Established in 1868, the boutique Danish law firm Elverdam Law Firm operates out of an office in Copenhagen.

 

Focusses / specialisms

The firm is best known in the Danish legal market for its M&A work and its focus on assisting in-house legal counsel.

In the M&A space the firm’s primary focus is on international businesses operating in Denmark, as well as Danish businesses with an international profile.

The firm also does work for acquirers and targets on private acquisitions and strategic investment deals with strong focus on asset and real estate acquisitions.

The firm is active on transactions within the technology, banking, real estate and production sectors.


Research period review: 32nd edition (2022/2023)

During the research cycle the firm was active in the M&A space.

The firm's involvement was typically on the buy side with high volume of asset and real estate acquisition deals.

 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)

 

Banking and finance

"They hand-hold the project and are much more attentive to details than the larger corporate law firms that were involved in the transaction. Furthermore, they always have a pragmatic approach to ensure legal doesn't get in the way of business. "

"Very proactive, good at bringing the right competencies to the table."

 

M&A

"Always prepared and more inside things than the other party."

"Jakob Jull has a great commercial approach, negotiation skills and an exceptional ability to achieve results for his clients."

 

Jakob Juul Christensen

"His commercial approach, negotiation skills and exceptional ability to achieve results for his clients."

"Pragmatic, solution-oriented, attentive to details."

"Solution-oriented lawyer – pragmatic – responsive."

Gorrissen Federspiel

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. 

Through the firm’s long history, the team has acquired comprehensive high quality expertise in significant transactions within M&A, capital markets, restructuring and insolvency and project development. 

 

Highlights  

 In a landmark M&A mandate, the firm advised bioscience company Chr. Hansen Holding A/S on its strategic merger with BioSolutions company Novozymes A/S, establishing a new entity called Novonesis. The transaction has been recorded as the largest statutory Meger in the Danish market valued at $25 billion.  

In more recent work, the firm advised, Nykredit, Denmark's largest credit provider and world's largest issuer of covered bonds, on the update of its 15 billion dual issuer EMTN programme as well as its programme for issuance of mortgage bonds. The firm’s engagement with the leading financial service provider illustrates the highly reputable role the capital markets team plays for major Danish issuers 

 

Key clients  

Chr. Hansen Holding A/S, Novo Nordisk, AP Møller-Mærsk, CataCap, Matas, Danske Bank, Nordea Danmark, Nykredit, Carnegie Investment Bank, ABG Sundal Collier 

Horten

Danish law firm Horten was founded in 1953. It has offices in Copenhagen, Aarhus and Herning. As a full-service law firm with over 350 legal professionals, the firm has considerable expertise within all practice areas in the Danish market, particularly with a strong presence in project development, as well as providing reputable financial and corporate services.  

 

Highlights  

In project development, the firm engaged in a highly significant project of national importance advising the immense project known as the Baltic Pipe for the state owned company, Energinet, that aims to establish a new supply corridor for gas in the European gas market. The project development team has advised Energinet on all legal matters relating to planning, construction and design of the Baltic Pipe.   

Recent examples of the firms notable M&A work include advising on the acquisition of FFW by JAKALA, a leading MarTech company. As one of the largest non – public digitial services deal in Europe in 2023, the M&A team advised the seller FFW on all legal aspects in connection to the transaction. As a consequence of the acquisition,  JAKALA has expanded its global presence with the acquisition of FFW’s global offices in Germany, USA, UK and France. 

 

 

Key clients  

CataCap, Summa Equity, Polaris, CapMan Infra, North Media, Energinet, HOFOR, Hydro Rein, Infranode, Utility-Group Harrestrup Å 

Kleist Legal

Established in April 2020, Kleist Legal is a highly specialised boutique law firm focusing on regulatory matters, projects and disputes. The firm has specialised expertise in sectors such as energy, public law, disputes and life science.  

 

Highlights  

 

In project development, the firms advised Danske Olieberedskabslagre (FDO) in connection with the establishment on a new gasoil pipeline in Fredericia. The firm advised on matters relating to the negotiating and drafting of the agreement with Crossbridge Energy.  

 

 

Key clients  

 

Danske Olieberedskabslagre (FDO), Frederiksberg Forsyning, Green Power Denmark, Global, Wind Organisation, Hovedstadsregionens og Midt-Nords Naturgasselskab (previously HMN Naturgas)

Kromann Reumert

Danish law firm Kromann Reumert was established in 2000. It has offices in Copenhagen, Aarhus and London. The team consists of near 500 legal professionals, 300 of which are qualified Danish lawyers.  

 

As a full-service law firm, the legal team has extensive coverage and leading market expertise across all financial and corporate services. 

 

Highlights  

 

Recent examples of the firm’s innovative role in project development include advising Ørsted Bioenergy & Thermal Power assistinng in the development of a carbon capture and storage value chain. The deal has been recorded to be one of the largest carbon capture and storage projects in Europe that involved market first contracts including the carbon storage contract with Northern Lights and the CDR purchase agreement with Microsoft.  

 

In banking and finance, the firm advised, as lead counsel to the borrower, Coloplast A/S in connection with its bridge to equity financing of a significant acquisition of Icelandic company, Kerecis hf, valued at 1.3 billion. The transaction has been noted as one of the largest acquisitions in both Iceland and Denmark in 2023.  

 

 

Key clients  

 

EIFO (Export and Investment Fund of Denmark), Danske Bank A/S, Ørsted A/S, Coloplast A/S, Altor Equity Partners, Skovgaard Energy A/S, Ørsted A/S, HOFOR A/S, Kredsløb A/S, Coop Danmark A/S 

Lund Elmer Sandager

Lund Elmer Sandager is a Danish law firm based in Copenhagen with origins extending back to 1877. 

 

Focusses / specialisms

The firm has an active M&A practice that often advises on complex, cross-border deals. It handles transactions across several sectors and has an impressive longstanding corporate clients list, featuring several industrial companies involved in M&A transactions on a regular basis. 

Its track record in private equity-related M&A is strong, with the firm regularly securing mandates for both Danish and international private equity firms. 

The firm’s restructuring and insolvency team advises financial institutions and businesses on all aspects of insolvency law.

 

Key clients

Key clients include Danske Bank, Nordea Bank Danmark, Jyske Bank, Spar Nord, Sydbank, Nykredit, Danish Debt Collection Agency, Nordic Trustee & Agency, Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, Vækstfonden, Lagercrantz, Lakrids by Bülow, Qatar Airways, Reconor and Agilitas. 

 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)

M&A

“Solution oriented and service oriented with an open mind and ability to pinpoint matters we might not ourselves have thought of.”

“Great expertise and very service minded. Very strong negotiation skills.”

Moalem Weitemeyer

Established in 2008, the Danish law firm Moalem Weitemeyer is based in Copenhagen. The firm’s strength is catered to its reputable M&A practice, with its work for private equity firms being a consistent part of the firm’s practice. The firm also has a notably strong presence in banking and finance, restructuring and insolvency and capital markets. 

Highlights  

In M&A a notable example of the firm’s recent work includes advising on the acquisition of all the shares of Alumenco by Nordic Metal Holdings. The deal was of notable importance as a strategic merger in the expansion of Nordic Metal Holdings position in the Nordic market.  

The firm also played a critical role in advising for Valedo Partners with financing issues and refinancing matters in connection with its holding of shares in Joe & The Juice Holding A/S to General Atlantic taking a majority stake in the international company. The transaction has been recorded as the largest private equity deal of 2023 in the Danish market.  

 

Testimonials  

Very skilled, experienced with a great commercial understanding. Solutions oriented approach with significant help on process design and tactics. It should be noted the project they assisted us on was very complex.” (Banking and finance client) 

 

Key clients  

DSV A/S, Valedo Partners, Polaris Private Equity, Nordic Alpha Partners, Dampskibsselskabet NORDEN A/S, DNB Bank, Royal Unibrew, Valedo Partners, Danske Andelskassers Bank A/S, Vinga Corporate Finance, Polaris Private Equity, DSV A/S 

Plesner

Established in 1918, Plesner is a leading Danish business law firm based in Copenhagen. The firm is strong across the board covering all areas of commercial law and public law and the team consistently advises on some of the market’s largest mandates and transactions. 

Highlights  

The firm acted as lead counsel on the financing of Swiss Life Asset Managers' acquisition of Danish shopping mall, Næstved Storcenter from BlackRock.

In project development, the firm was busy assisting on all legal aspects in relation to TotalEnergies redevelopment of the existing gas platform, Tyra, in the Danish sector of the North Sea. The project is the largest offshore construction project to date in Denmark. The significant scale of the logistical operation and technical effort of the project is illustrative of the firms experience in this sector.  

 

Testimonials  

Best in class knowledge and experience with M&A” - (M&A client)  

“Strong advice, proactive and fast response time” - (Private equity client)  

“Strong and creative team, creating a very complex transaction for Re-Match A/S when delisting from First North in Denmark. The team ran extremely fast, particularly Henrik Laursen” - (Capital markets equity)  

 

Key clients  

Danish Ministry of Finance, Agreena, HSBC Innovation Bank Limtied, Axcel, Danske Bank, EIFO,Nykredit,Nordea ,Jyske Bank, Sydbank, The Danish Financial Supervisory Authority 

Visma Danmark Holding A/S, Verdo Holding A/S, Ministry of Finance, Nutreco International B.V., Mutares

Poul Schmith

Founded in 1936, the Danish law firm Poul Schmith has offices in Copenhagen and Aarhus. As a full-service law with a long history as one of the most experienced law firms in Denmark. Recognised as the preferred legal adviser to the Danish government, the firm expanded its client base to encompass a range of private sector clients. Through its extensive international relations network, the firm has accumulated a strong position with foreign investors and clients as well as a nurturing a strong foundation in the Danish markets.  

 

Highlights 

 

The firm advised Danish Ministry of Taxation in the recovery of DKK118 billion. The firm is assisting in relation to the development of a new IT system for the collection of taxes as well as assessing the validity and data quality transferred to the Danish tax authorities thereby testing the capacity in which the authorities accurately reflect the data provided. This transaction reflects the firms trusted advisory role as legal adviser to the Danish government.  

 

Another significant example of the firm’s work includes advising Polaris Equity Management as mezzanine lender and equity co-investor in the proposed acquisition by McWin of the multinational premium restaurant chain, Sticks n Sushi.  

 

Testimonials  

 

Very competent and dedicated team. Short response time.” - (Banking client) 

 

“Their in-depth knowledge of our business and the special circumstances that we act under regarding legislative regime and political climate.” - (M&A client)  

 

Key clients  

 

Danish Ministry of Finance, Agreena, HSBC Innovation Bank Limtied, Axcel, Danske Bank, EIFO, Nykredit, Nordea, Jyske Bank, Sydbank, The Danish Financial Supervisory Authority, The Danish Tax Authorities, The Danish Financial Supervisory Authority, The Commissioners for HMRC, The Employees’ Guarantee Fund, The Danish Guarantee Fund for Non-life Insurers 

Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird is an international law firm headquartered in London. The firm’s presence in Denmark traces back to 2013 following a merger with technology law boutique BvHD.

 

Focusses / specialisms

The firm is highly active in the Danish M&A midmarket, where it advises companies at both domestic and international level. The firm possesses strong private equity and venture capital expertise with sectoral strengths in high tech and innovative sectors.

 

Key clients

The firm’s notable clients list features the likes of Sitecore, Hypefactors, Addtech Group, DXC Technology, Medable, Eficode, AIG, Pentia, Synlab, Liberty Global Transactions Solution, Priveq and Capgemini.

Bruun & Hjejle

Bruun & Hjejle is a Danish law firm. The firm was formed in 1878 and operates from a Copenhagen office.

 

Focusses / specialisms

The firm has a broad coverage of the financial and corporate space.

It has a highly active banking practice which has significant knowledge in the institutional investor segment in Denmark, as well as expertise in asset and project finance mandates.

Maintaining a close collaboration with the firm’s M&A team, the capital markets practice is experienced in supporting debt and equity mandates. Its clientele features leading multinational financial institutions, private equity funds and corporate clients.

A key pillar of the firm’s work, the M&A practice advises on both public transactions and private equity-driven deals. It has a wide coverage of, and strength in, several sectors of the Danish economy and is often selected as an adviser on the most complex energy, infrastructure, investments and renewable energy mandates.

The firm is highly active and strong in both energy and infrastructure project support. It commands a high share of some of the impactful project work in Denmark.

Restructuring and insolvency is an area of increasing strength for the firm. The firm is often appointed as administrator of the Danish Debt Collection Agency.

 

Key clients

Key clients include Danske Bank, Nets, Moller Holding, Kirk Kapital, Treville, AIP Management, Better Collective, NREP, Nordea Bank, Nykredit Bank, Jyske Bank, Deutsche Bank, PKA, PenSam, Axcel, Nordic Capital, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Citi, HSBC, Copenhagen Metro Team (CMT), Carlsberg Byen, Pension Danmark, By & Havn, AIP Management, Molslinjen, PFA Pension, Webuild and Comsa-Munck.

 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)

Financial services regulatory

“Strong knowledge of the Danish financial services industry as well as a very strong M&A team.”

 

M&A

“Deep understanding about M&A legal practices; pragmatic and hands-on solutions-oriented approach; flexible and responsive.”

DAHL Law Firm

Dahl is a large Danish law firm with offices located in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Esbjerg, Herning and Viborg.

 

Focusses / specialisms

In M&A the firm specialises in advising clients in respect to domestic and international acquisitions and sales. It also possesses specialised expertise in management buy-ins and buy-outs, as well as tasks related to such transactions.

The M&A team consistently represents buyers, sellers, private equity funds, venture capitalists and investors. It is one of the main players in the Danish mid-sector space, advising clients across a range of industries.

 

Key clients

Key clients include SP Group, JP Group, Samson Group, Airmaster, Sjørring Maskinfabrik, Rauff Group, Normal, Novicell, Etex Nordic and Visma Danmark Holding.

 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)

M&A

“A very experienced team of M&A specialists ensured that the process always was in good hands and gave security to us as buyers that we were always negotiating from a fair and valid standpoint – and they knew where to put the foot down when needed.”

“Dahl had a really good attitude and understanding of our situation. Selling a privately owned business is a very personal and sometimes difficult task to perform.”

Elmann

Elmann is an independent Danish corporate law firm based in Copenhagen. The firm has operated since 2012.

 

Focusses / specialisms

In capital markets, the firm specialises in IPO work predominantly on the issuer side.

Its M&A team has broad experience providing advice on all types of mergers and acquisitions to national and international clients within the private sector, high-net-worth individuals, as well as private equity and venture capital funds.

Insolvency is another key area of focus for the firm, with solid expertise possessed in appearing before the courts.

 

Key clients

Key clients include Penneo, Interflora Holdings, Vitral Holding, MobilePeople, Cloudfarms, Nordic Prime, Filmgear, IO Interactive, KMD, Lina Medical, Moesgaard Invest 2, Andersen Advisory Group, Configit, Wexer Holding, Harboe & Marker Partnership, Think! Digital Holding, N. Foss & Co, Duegaarden, Klostergaarden, Bangsbohus, Grøndalsvænge, Hostrup Have, Danish Growth Fund, Jyske Bank, Nykredit, Arbejdernes Landsbank and Norvegus Fonden within the matters of insolvency.

 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)

Investment funds: Private equity funds

“They are extremely experienced within the legislation, regulations and legal advisory of M&A and funding.”

 

Private equity

“Deep professional competencies, nice people, work hard and fast.”

Magnusson

Magnusson is an international law firm with offices across the Nordic and Baltic regions including Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia.

 

Focusses / specialisms

The firm’s corporate/M&A practice in Denmark is best known for cross-border and in-bound investment deals, especially to and from China, UAE, Iran, US, UK and Germany, advising clients from a range of different sectors including technology, renewable energy and financial services.

Its banking and finance practice specialises in advising domestic and international banks, asset managers, regulated traders, insurers and corporate borrowers on bilateral and syndicated loans, refinancing and regulatory matters.

 

Key clients

The firm’s key clients include Spotlight Group, Market Pay, ThinCats Group, Fasanara Capital, I-80, Aurora/Richmond Group, IQOMI, GF Money Consumer Finance, ViaBill, Solita/Apax Digital Fund, Nordic Harvest, Market Pay, Illinois Tool Works, Dataminr, AWM Network, Alumichem/Norlex Group and Wuhan Troowin Power Technologies.

 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)

M&A

“Very knowledgeable; good availability; result-oriented and proactive project work.”

 

Private equity

“Precise advisory and good structures in owner agreements between partners and owners in management consulting firms.”

NJORD Law Firm

NJORD Law Firm is an international law firm with a strong presence in and focus on the Nordic and Baltic regions. The firm’s key locations in Denmark are in Copenhagen, Aarhus and Silkeborg.

 

Focusses / specialisms

M&A is a key focus area for the firm. Industrial transactions, regardless of how they are structured, form a major component of the M&A team’s work, alongside, increasingly, private equity and venture capital investments on both the investor and company side. The team also advises on MBO and MBI mandates.

 

Key clients

Key clients include Philips, AP Pension, Bauhaus Danmark, Forenede Service, 3M, Boehringer Ingelheim Danmark, Vaillant, Petworld, Comcare, Handimobil, Enghouse Systems, CompuGroup Medical, Karl Storz Endoskopi, Lind Invest, Aarhus Airport, Sodexo, Reinh van Hauen, Ooono, Investcorp and One Peak.

SIRIUS advokater

SIRIUS advokater is a specialised Danish law firm based in Copenhagen.

 

Focusses / specialisms

Established in 2006, the firm’s M&A team has expanded in size and coverage. Today, the firm handles a diverse spectrum of M&A, corporate and commercial work, often with cross-border elements.

Sectoral strengths include tech, IT, commercial real estate, production and trade, distribution, banking/finance and payment solution services.

 

Key clients

Key clients include Calldorado, Cobe, Bikubenfonden, Medpro Clinic Sweden, Nordic Waterproofing, On the Beach Group, Schades, EPAM Systems, WorldTicket, Metronome and NIL Technology.

 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)

M&A

“Focus on solution and accuracy of legal advice and contracts.”

Skau Reipurth

Skau Reipurth is a Danish law firm located in central Copenhagen. It was established in 2011.

 

Focusses / specialisms

The firm has a strong position in the Danish legal insolvency market with an impressive client list and frequent challenging cases. It is experienced in serving as trustee and court appointed trustee on insolvency matters, and routinely handles pre-insolvency restructuring and distressed M&A.

 

Key clients

Key clients include Danske Bank, Jyske Bank, Vækstfonden (Danish state’s investment fund), Handelsbanken, Sparekassen Vendsyssel, Nordea Bank, Sydbank, Nykredit and the Danish Debt Collection Agency.

 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)

Banking

“Proactive.”

 

Insolvency

“Skau Reipurth has a very professional setup in insolvency and the team has the qualifications and manpower to solve large complex cases.”