Christian Benedictsen-Nislev, MBA, LL.B.

Christian has a right of audience before the Danish Supreme Court and is recognised by Chambers, The Legal 500 and Who's Who Legal within Shipping and Transport.

In particular, he advises Danish and international transport and insurance companies as well as ports and public authorities and other businesses in the shipping and transport sectors.

He also assists enterprises dealing with international trade and transport.

Christian’s advisory services extend to all aspects of shipping, transport and international trade. He advises on structuring and operations and provides assistance regarding shipbuilding contracts, the sale and purchase of ships and goods as well as financing, commercial contracts and corporate transactions.

In addition, he has vast experience of litigation and arbitration, including disputes concerning shipping, transport law, insurance and disclosure requirements applying to listed companies. Acting for clients such as A.P. Møller-Mærsk A/S, he has conducted and been successful in several cases of general public importance before the Danish courts.

Furthermore, Christian advises on regulatory issues and tendering procedures.

Christian is a qualified English solicitor and has extensive knowledge of English law and the common-law system. He provides advice on legal matters in both civil-law and common-law jurisdictions.

Christian has completed an Executive MBA in International Shipping and Logistics, which lends a deep commercial understanding and strategic insight to his advisory services.

He has also co-authored and co-published several publications.

Qualifications

Education

Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics, Copenhagen Business School

2015

Admitted to the Danish Bar

2011

Solicitor of England and Wales

2009

LL.B. in Law and Legal Professional Course, The College of Law, London

2007

Graduate Program in International Maritime Law, Nordic Institute of Maritime Law, University of Oslo

2005

Master of Law, University of Copenhagen

2005

Memberships

Committee Maritime International

Law Society of England and Wales

Admissions

Right of audience before the Danish Supreme Court

2019

Experience

Recent highlights

Christian acts as a regular legal advisor to the Danish ferry secretariat (Færgesekretariatet) and its 18 member municipalities, which operate municipal ferry services. He provides assistance in relation to the standard ferry concept for small Danish islands and crossings, in which, on behalf of its member municipalities, the ferry secretariat is working on a comprehensive tendering project to replace and standardise the municipal ferry fleet as part of the green transition. An amount of DKK 1.5bn has been set aside for the project.
Christian has assisted in the establishment of a new Danish shipping company within the dry cargo sector. The aggregate investment exceeded DKK 1bn, and the assignment involved establishing the company, including setting up and structuring the cooperation between the parties in Denmark, Germany and Greece.
On behalf of A.P. Møller-Mærsk A/S, Christian conducted a lawsuit of general public importance regarding jurisdiction and the shipping company’s standard conditions for cargo transport. Christian’s client was successful in the proceedings before the Danish Supreme Court in 2021 against another large Danish transport company.

Career highlights

Partner, DLA Piper Denmark, since 2020

Partner, NJORD Law Firm, 2018-2020

Attorney, NJORD Law Firm, 2016-2018

Attorney, Gorrissen Federspiel, 2011-2016

Solicitor, HFW (London), 2009-2010

Seconded to A.P. Møller-Mærsk A/S (Copenhagen), 2009

Trainee Solicitor, HFW (London), 2007-2009

Positions of trust

Member of the Advisory Board of Aprendio ApS, since 2022

Other positions

Part-time lecturer in Economic Aspects of Maritime Law at Copenhagen Business School, since 2015

Rankings

Legal 500

Christian is recognized by The Legal 500 within 'Shipping and Transport'.

"Christian Benedictsen-Nislev and his team handles litigation in such an efficient manner and with great comfort for the client."

"Christian Benedictsen-Nislev is second to none."

"Christian Benedictsen-Nislev is very pleasant to work with. He is down to earth, easy going and very good at communicating his extensive knowledge within the industry. Clients are confident when he represents their cases at court."

"Partner Christian Benedictsen-Nislev has an MBA in shipping and a keen interest in all issues related to that sector."

"The team is excellent in all aspects regarding port business and has good knowledge of maritime and public tender issues."

"Business mindset and commercial knowledge about the market. Knowledge about the shipping and transport market. Easy to work with and keeps tight deadlines."

"Christian Benedictsen-Nislev’s advice is precise, detailed and practical. He is very bright, personable and a delight to work with."

"Specialised within the industry (shipping and transport). Available when needed and fast when delivering advice, with high quality."

‘Christian Benedictsen-Nislev is extremely sharp on the law and has the advantage of being both qualified as a Danish Lawyer and English Solicitor, which is very handy in shipping disputes and litigation, as many contracts in shipping are subject to English law, where for instance recourse claims would need to be directed.’

‘Christian Nislev has broad legal and maritime knowledge.’

Chambers

Christian is recognized by Chambers within 'Shipping'.

"He is extensive in his industry knowledge and understands the clients' issues and situations very well."

"He is an excellent lawyer who is always thinking about the client and how to best solve the matter for them."

"Christian has been a great support to us. I would strongly recommend him to any company."

"Having a Danish-qualified lawyer with an English solicitor background has truly been an advantage. He has the ability to see the full picture of a matter where other local lawyers in Denmark lack the last half of the understanding of a problem. Christian is simply a unique practitioner in the Danish maritime law community."