Håkun Djurhuus
Håkun Djurhuus is highly specialised within litigation, construction law and environmental law, including public law and expropriation. Håkun has more than 30 years’ experience in providing advice on environmental law issues to public authorities, private enterprises as well as private individuals. Håkun ranks among Denmark’s leading experts within environmental law, and his experience spans all key aspects of environmental, planning and zoning law.
Håkun has a right of audience before the Danish Supreme Court, where he has conducted no less than 25 cases.
Furthermore, Håkun has conducted more than 500 legal and arbitration proceedings before the Danish ordinary courts, the Danish Building and Construction Arbitration Board, the Danish Institute of Arbitration, the LCIA (The London Court of International Arbitration) and the ICC.
Håkun is recognised in The Legal 500 ‘Hall of Fame’ within ‘Environment’.
Håkun has vast lecturing experience and has lectured at courses for legal professionals in particular; moreover, he often gives lectures and holds courses on litigation, construction and environmental law.
Since 2009, Håkun has been a minister-appointed expert member of the Danish Energy Board of Appeal.
The Environmental Damage Committee (minister-appointed expert member), since 2025
The Danish Energy Complaints Board (minister-appointed expert member), since 2009, reappointed in 2021 and 2025
Danish Industry's Environmental Law Panel, since 2014
The Council of the Danish Bar and Law Society's Litigation Committee, since 2011
Danish Industry's Environmental Committee, since 2011
The Executive Committee of Danske Miljøadvokater (Danish environmental lawyers), since 2010
The environmental law committee of the Association of Danish Law Firms, since 2008
Foreningen Højesteretsskranken (a Danish association of experienced supreme court litigators), since 2007
The Board of Representatives and Board of Directors of the Danish Institute of Arbitration (appointed by the Danish Bar and Law Society), since 2006
The Body of Examiners at the Faculty of Law, the Master of Law and Master programmes in Energy and Environmental Law, 2005 -2018
The Executive Committee of the Foundation of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences; Jord & Grundvand (appointed by the Danish Bar and Law Society), 1998-2018
Expert panel for modernisation of Danish environmental and nature legislation (minister-appointed member, on the recommendation of the Danish Bar and Law Society and the Association of Danish Law Firms), 2014-2017
The Danish Institute of Arbitration's committee for the revision of the Danish Arbitration Act, 2013-2017
The Environmental Law Committee of the Danish Bar Association 1993-2008
- The Shopping Centre Fields, Copenhagen. The client was successful in a case before the Danish Eastern High Court, which concerned whether the layout of Fields complied with the local development plan as well as the validity of the decision held by the Danish Environmental Board of Appeal in 2014.
- Interpretation of sewerage connection fee. The case was conducted before the Danish Supreme Court and concerned the interpretation of sewerage connection fees as well as the understanding of local development plans.
- Acting for the Cityringen Metro, Copenhagen, in a case concerning the legal relationship between supply-line owners and site owners. The case, which was conducted before the Danish Supreme Court, concerned whether the Danish public works act for the Cityringen Metro provides that the legal relationship between supply-line owners and site owners in the Danish Road Traffic Act extends to railway areas.
- Acting for Energy E2/DONG before the Danish High Court in a case, which concerned the establishment of wind turbines.
Partner, DLA Piper Denmark, since 2025
Partner, Lundgrens, 2021-2025
Partner, Bech-Bruun Law Firm P/S, 2012-2021
Partner, Lind Cadovius Law Firm, 2002-2012
Partner, Brix Jensen Havemann Djurhuus Law Firm, 1997-2002
Assistant Attorney, Attorney and later Partner, Pedersen & Jantzen Law Firm, 1989-1997
Minister-appointed expert member of the Environmental Damage Committee, since 2025
Member of the Council of the Danish Bar and Law Society's Litigation Committee, since 2011
Chair of The Danish Institute of Arbitration (DIA), since 2024
Co-editor of the environmental-law section of Tidsskrift for Miljø, Energi og Klima, a Danish environmental-law periodical published (in Danish only) by Djøf Forlag, since 2004
Chair of the Danish Government’s Expropriation Committee., 2017-2018
Håkun Djurhuus is recognised as ‘Hall of Fame’ by The Legal 500.
“Håkun Djurhuus is the leading environmental litigator in Denmark.”
“I believe that Håkun Djurhuus is a very skilled lawyer in the field of Environmental Law. He is one of the finest and most experienced environmental lawyers in Denmark.”
“Håkun Djurhuus is the standout partner providing legal advice and assistance to private entities including the Danish agricultural organisations. Solid experience and high-quality advice as well as a very charismatic personality.”
“Håkun Djurhuus – No one beside and no one above regarding the ability to practice environmental law.”
“Håkun Djurhuus is the litigator you wish to have at your side when it comes to environmental cases. We have worked with him for a decade and achieved great results.”
Author and co-author of several books, and articles on environmental and litigation topics in particular
The chapter entitled “Environmental procedural law” in the commemorative publication to Professor Peter Pagh (co-author) (in Danish only), Djøf Forlag, 2023
”Litigation documents and digital litigation in civil cases” (co-author) (in Danish only), Karnov Group, 2018
The chapter entitled “Environmental criminal law” in “Commercial criminal law” (co-author) (in Danish only), Karnov Group, 2015
”Practical Arbitration with a focus on the Danish Institute of Arbitration” (co-author) (in Danish only), Djøf Forlag, 2011
“Procedural documents in civil cases” (co-author) (in Danish only), Thomson Reuters, 2011
”Procedures” (editor and co-author) (in Danish only), 3rd and 4th editions, Djøf Forlag, 2008 and 2019
“Environment for decision makers” (co-author), Forlaget Thomsen A/S, 1999
The commemorative publication to Juridisk Klub (a Danish debating society for law students) (co-author), Djøf Forlag, 1998
”Handbook on environmental issues – a credit-rating tool”, annotated environmental acts (co-author) (in Danish only), Finanssektorens Uddannelsescenters Forlag (education center of the Danish financial sector), 1996
”A plan is missing!: A debate book about contaminated soil” (co-author), Akademiet for de Tekniske Videnskaber, ATV (the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences), 1994