DLA Piper Denmark advances in the Legal500 rankings

news
21 Apr 2020
Insights

The prestigious ranking institute Legal500 has again this year placed DLA Piper at the top of the lawyers’ ranking list. This year, DLA Piper Denmark is awarded two additional tier 1 positions, one within Banking & Finance and the other within Insolvency. In addition to that, Legal500 recommends several DLA Piper lawyers as leading lawyers, next generation partners and rising stars.

Read more about the reason for the award.

BANKING AND FINANCE TIER 1

DLA Piper Denmark handles acquisition finance and asset finance mandates, which include securitisation issues and property finance matters. The practice is also experienced in bankruptcy proceedings, reconstruction work and acting for the creditors of distressed companies. Practice co-head Ian Tokley counts blue-chip companies, financial institutions, private and pension funds and governments as clients, which he advises on regulatory matters including developments in the capital markets and financial services industries. Fellow co-head Ulrich Hejle handles the financing of real estate portfolios and assets including wind turbines and private jets, and Joachim Kundert Jensen has expertise in venture finance work. Senior associate Line Støving is also recommended.

Leading individuals

Ian Tokley 

Next generation partner

Joachim Kundert Jensen

Rising stars

Line Støving 

ENVIRONMENT TIER 1

DLA Piper Denmark possesses expertise in the liability for contaminated soil, transactions involving contamination properties and businesses, environmental due diligence and environmental planning on behalf of municipalities. The practice also assists with the licensing of potentially polluting business activities, as well as with the regulation concerning the exports and imports of waste. Line Marie Pedersen heads the practice and regularly assesses the impact of climate change projects, including coastal flood protection measures and land reclamation projects.

Leading individuals

Line Marie Pedersen

Testimonials

This practice knows the activities and history of our company and can help easily and without complicating matters.

Very dedicated team. Easy to work with and always provides clear answers.

The team consists of highly specialised staff with an in-depth and unique knowledge of environmental legislation and dedicated focus on customer needs.

The DLA Piper environmental team has a thorough knowledge of environmental law, but just as important a very good understanding of business . The team always incorporates the business aspects of advising on which legal solution to choose.

Very knowledgeable about environmental legislation in Denmark.

I always contact Line Marie Pedersen if I have environmental matters and need a true specialist.

Line Marie Pedersen is one of the most highly skilled environmental lawyers in Denmark. She has a unique ability to understand her clients’ needs, but at the same time she is precise in her advice and assessment of opportunities.

Over the last many years, we have worked closely with partner Line Marie Pedersen. Line is probably the lawyer in Denmark with the greatest expertise in soil and groundwater contamination and the legislation related. We always receive highly qualified advice. In addition, Line is extremely comfortable to work with.

INSOLVENCY TIER 1

The practice at DLA Piper Denmark has expertise in cross-border financial and corporate restructuring, which includes the representation in insolvency disputes and assistance with distressed M&A transactions. The firm handles liquidations and regularly acts as trustee and administrator. Henrik Sjørslev is the Nordic practice head and has specialist knowledge in the sectors real estate and aviation industry. The practice also advises on insolvencies in engineering, banking, retail and agriculture.

Testimonials

It is an efficient team and the communication with related parties is very informative.

I think the team is very service-minded, always willing to help and adjust, so that our customers can get the best help.

INSURANCE TIER 1

DLA Piper Denmark represents Danish and foreign insurance companies, business enterprises and insurance intermediaries in insurance and liability disputes. The team is also involved in matters relating to W&I Insurance and other insurance policies related to M&A. The firm also advises on cases concerning crime insurance, product liability cases and cases concerning professional liability. Georg Lett and Pernille Sølling jointly head the practice and are experienced acting for pension companies in cases regarding matters of principle.

Leading individuals

Pernille Sølling 

Georg Lett 

Testimonials

The team is one of the best in Denmark in insurance matters.

Very open collaborative mind-set. Great communication skills and always very pragmatic and solution-oriented. Impressive client focus. Creative in problem-solving. In general, a really excellent team and that anyone would want to join.

Full service – top within insurance and damages.

High quality, flexible and pragmatic.

Very good understanding of our business and our products.

Georg Lett and Pernille Sølling have a great knowledge and understanding of the life insurance industry.

Pernille Sølling is very experienced within insurance-matters, which makes her very valuable for us.

Pernille Sølling and Georg Lett are amongst the best lawyers in Denmark in insurance matters.

Georg Lett stands out regarding legal knowledge in tort and legal liability within international finance law. The department also stands out regarding settlement and resolution skills.

Extremely professional and skilled. Deep subject matter expertise. Very good in relationship and stakeholder management.

Pernille Sølling has a high legal level and has heard many cases before the courts. She is very welcoming, helpful, professional and really makes the client feel in safe hands. The legal sparring is at a very high level, and she has a particularly high knowledge of litigation.

Pernille Sølling has a very good understanding of our business, our products, and the sector in general. Her advice is always on point.

COMMERCIAL, CORPORATE AND M&A TIER 2

The M&A practice at DLA Piper Denmark handles cross-border M&A for sellers and investors and also advises on the formation of joint ventures. Other notable areas of expertise include divestments, regulatory mandates and shareholder agreement issues. Michael Vinther has experience in M&A matters for private equity firms and banking clients, while practice head Jens Krogh Petersen regularly advises on investment and divestment strategies in the textile, IT and financial sectors.

Leading individuals

Michael Vinther 

Testimonials

Very constructive and always energetic.

The team showed competence from the first meeting and in a very professional way were able to let us feel comfortable in what is a new situation for us.

DLA Piper has a strong corporate and M&A practice and is furthermore good in general commercial law,

DLA Piper assisted in selling the majority stake of our business to a foreign investor. They acted very professionally, was constantly up-to-date, and processed things in the speed we needed to. They were top professionals in handling an international negotiation, running a very professional and smooth due diligence. When closing needed to be done they were on top, and managed to close the deal within a few days. I can only give my very best recommendations to the DLA Piper team!

Very dedicated team with strong legal capabilities and outstanding business judgement.

DLA Piper has a clear benefit from its international network. The Danish team has been strengthened, and they hold a strong position in the M&A mid-market.

Highly professional and experienced.  Exceptional document drafting and messaging to clients.  First rate responsiveness

Global firm with an ability to appear credible in a multi-jurisdictional context.

The team is extremely easy to work with and very service-oriented.

Smart and hardworking lawyers, who always go out of their way to accommodate our company on a very short notice. They demonstrate a strong balance between formal processes and practical approaches to problem solving.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION TIER 2

DLA Piper Denmark's department is particularly active in the corporate, construction, banking, insurance and pensions sectors, where it acts in litigation and arbitration proceedings; the team also handles corporate and regulatory investigations. Clients include domestic and international companies, public entities, public authorities and institutions. Practice head Anders Julius Tengvad is an expert in liability cases, Georg Lett focuses on insurance and finance industry clients, and René Offersen handles contractual breach, management liability, auditor’s liability and prospectus liability claims.

Leading individuals

Georg Lett 

Testimonials

The team is very skilled within financial law and insurance law – both in general counselling and in litigation. The team has strong partners with long time experience within litigation and dispute resolution and they contribute great value.

The Danish DLA Piper office in Copenhagen has an experienced team in dispute resolution led by Georg Lett.

High professional levels, deep insight and understanding of insurance and related matters.

Very comprehensive knowledge in their field of work and how they are divided business-wise. Due to their volume as a company they cover many areas and always have a department they can refer to. Since they are part of global group they can refer to other entities, which is of great value.

Extremely professional, responsive and to the point. Full service.

Georg Lett and his team can handle large and complex disputes concerning liability and insurance claims in an excellent manner.

The individuals are available, professional and timely. They are up-to-date on processes.

They have the ability to understand the nature of our questions, and make contact to relevant departments that can help promote the answer.

ENERGY TIER 2

DLA Piper Denmark assists with the licensing of offshore projects, advises on the drafting and negotiation of services, supply and lifting arrangements and acts on M&A transactions in the energy sector. The team handles renewable energy as well as oil and gas projects and has expertise in offshore activities and utility services including electricity, heat, water supply and wastewater matters. Practice head Jacob Sparre Christiansen has notable expertise in wind farms, solar cell systems and biogas plants.

Testimonials

Superior knowledge of the Energy Sector

The team at DLA Piper is able to provide expert legal advice in key areas important to the production of power and heating, production of biogas, production of power from wind turbines, distribution of district heating, and the retail sale of power and water. By offering a full package of top-level advice in all these areas, the company stands out from its competitors.

DLA Piper gives us practical advice, not just technical. Always good and fast client service.

Leading competency in biogas with knowledge of new and old regulatory frameworks.

Jacob Sparre Christiansen is the partner who is our closest cooperation partner. In addition to providing expert legal advice, Jacob is also very focused on finding legal solutions to problems and is easy to contact and work with. Finally, the response time is very short.

Knows our business and all the challenges. Gives good, practical advice in complex matters.

EU AND COMPETITION TIER 2

The practice at DLA Piper Denmark regularly helps clients comply with competition regulations and also assists with the drafting and negotiation of joint venture agreements and acts in contentious matters including cartel investigations. Practice head Michael Klöcker specialises in anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominance issues and merger control work. Clients regularly stem from the retail, IT, media, construction and automotive sectors; the team also counts public institutions on its client roster.

Next Generation partner

Michael Klöcker 

Testimonials

As a public authority we have used DLA Piper as legal advisor for an EU tender of a framework agreement. All advice has been carried out to our full satisfaction. Complications in the evaluation process was handled efficiently and well by our advisor and our framework agreement is now running smoothly.

DLA Piper Denmark is a team with high capabilities in EU-competition law. The different members of the team are able to solve very different tasks. The DLA Piper team is therefore able to offer qualified services across the whole range from urgent day-to-day tender tasks to difficult tender-problems.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TIER 2

DLA Piper Denmark handles both contentious and non-contentious IT matters and has expertise in the drafting and negotiation of IT contracts, data protection and GDPR and e-commerce. The practice advises both suppliers and customers of IT technology and assists with public procurement of IT. The practice also advises on the implementation of control measures concerning data transfers and the use of personal data, as well as on compliance rules governing online trading. Practice head Marlene Winther Plas regularly assists with cross-border outsourcing contracts.

Testimonials

I value the firm’s pragmatic, down-to-earth way of explaining and handling our business.

Their key strengths and capabilities are having a solution-oriented focus, having a good commercial understanding and understanding our commercial needs.

REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION TIER 2

DLA Piper Denmark’s areas of expertise include the handling of real estate transactions, project development, environment and planning as well as construction law, real estate finance, fund formation and lease law. Line Marie Pedersen and Jakob Nielsen jointly head the practice and are experienced in the conveyancing of commercial properties as well as in setting up real estate investment and asset management structures. The firm also advises on the restructuring of distressed real estate portfolios and the acquisition of property-related debt positions.

Testimonials

The services from DLA Piper Denmark are always communicated in a language which makes it easy to understand. Complex rules and regulations are explained in a down-to-earth way which is highly appreciate.

The real estate team appears strong and with great knowledge of the segment.

The team at DLA Piper is very competent and knowledgeable. It is accurate and complies with agreements, and act proactively in relation to what we as clients need.

The team is fantastic! They are market leaders and have helped our global company enter the Danish market.

Fast to respond, flexible and accurate.

Great professionalism, good sparring with the partners and clear answers.

Very dedicated and loyal, always aware of what is best for us and how to achieve this in a credible and solution-oriented way.

SHIPPING AND TRANSPORT TIER 2

DLA Piper Denmark assists ship owners, aviation clients, liability insurers, freight forwarders and financial institutions on liability claims, the financing of ships and aeroplanes, as well as on the drafting and negotiation of sale and purchase agreements. The team also frequently acts for bunker suppliers and bunker purchasers. Practice head Henrik Kleis is experienced in handling transport litigation and arbitration, including in relation to arrest of vessels.

Leading individuals

Henrik Kleis 

TAX TIER 2

The key services of DLA Piper Denmark include tax on pension providers and pension savings, car registration and road tax as well as on indirect taxes such as customs duties and VAT. The practice also advises on income tax, double taxation and taxes on foundations and trusts. The team also assists with corporate restructuring under tax considerations. Line Kjær and Artur Bugsgang jointly head the practice and regularly represent in tax litigation and arbitration. The practice regularly acts for the Ministry of Taxation.

Testimonials

The combination of subject matter expertise, in-depth knowledge about our company as well as industrial matters enables DLA Piper Denmark to provide strong guidance to our company on business critical matters.

DLA Piper is very competent in relation to VAT and customs.

Line Kjær has in-depth understanding of business and industrial matters, which enables her to provide best possible guidance to complex and business critical matters. She is highly respected for her capabilities and knowledge and not the least, her capability to collaborate across all levels of the organisation.

TELECOMS TIER 2

DLA Piper Denmark has expertise in M&A transactions and corporate matters in the telecoms sector. The team also assists with the introduction of new telecoms services. Other areas of expertise include competition  and administrative law, as well as on regulatory compliance and reporting matters. The practice also advises on the application on cloud-based solutions. René Offersen has expertise in regulatory matters, as well as in the representation in disputes before the supreme court.

CAPITAL MARKETS TIER 3

DLA Piper Denmark regularly advises on prospectus preparation, verification work, IPOs and securities trading and regulation mandates, and is also experienced in share buy-backs, capital reductions and listed company takeovers and delistings. Practice head Niels Erik Nielsen has expertise in structured sales processes, takeover bids, divestment strategies and IPOs. Ian Tokley contributes DCM expertise.

EMPLOYMENT TIER 3

DLA Piper Denmark regularly assists employers with the employment aspects of M&A and transactional work, outsourcings, incentive schemes, data protection issues and negotiations with trade unions; the group also handles collective agreements, injunction proceedings and disputes before the Labour Court. Practice head Nina Wedsted has experience in share-option plans, restrictive covenants and dismissals in the financial services, transport, maritime, wind power, IT, consultancy and pharmaceuticals industries.

Testimonials

Excellent at solving problems in a complex organisational environment.

The team is extremely professional and their network and expertise across the world are impressive. DLA Piper has the most extensive network of all law firms in Denmark. Very impressive.

Available with short notice when needed with well-founded advice.

Very knowledgeable of all terms within Danish labour law. Partners possess very strong litigation skills.

The team is extremely service-oriented, understands the problem immediately and quickly finds solutions. They are also well-informed and up to date on new legislation.

High-quality advice and documentation. High flexibility and availability.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TIER 3

DLA Piper Denmark advises on the rules governing trademarks, domain names, copyright, designs and patents. The practice also provides regulatory advice on consumer law and marketing law issues, particularly in connection with the broadcasting of TV and radio channels. Practice head Annemette Ellermann Holmbom regularly assists with the drafting and negotiation of trademark license agreements and copyright agreements as well as with patent licence agreements and commercial contracts with IP aspects.

Testimonials

Annemette Ellermann Holmbom is a strong and reliable prosecutor when it comes to cases regarding trademark, design and copyright issues. We have been very successful with her protecting our product design and forcing third parties to omit copying that exact same design.

MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT TIER 3

The practice at DLA Piper Denmark advises record labels, artists, music management companies and clients from the film industry on regulatory matters, remuneration and the drafting and negotiation of contracts and licensing agreements. The team is also experienced in acting for sports clubs on debt collection proceedings, bailiff meetings and court cases. Practice head Jens Krogh Petersen regularly assists music bands and has expertise in copyright infringement disputes.