Henrik Kleis

Partner
Henrik Kleis

Henrik Kleis specialises in the areas relating to shipping, aviation, transport, ports, energy, logistics and infrastructure. 

Henrik has a right of audience before the Danish Supreme Court and has conducted a vast number of legal proceedings before arbitration tribunals, the Danish High Courts and the Danish Supreme Court. He is recognised by Chambers and The Legal 500 within shipping and transport’. 

Henrik provides trusted advice to major enterprises and public authorities, and he acts as a regular legal advisor to a number of Danish ports. Henrik provides regular assistance to the British Embassy as well as British enterprises and business professionals in Denmark. 

Henrik is a professional board member and sits on several boards of directors. 

He is also the British Consul in Aarhus. 

Qualifications
Education
Admitted to the Danish Bar
1982
Master of Law, Aarhus University
1979
Memberships

The European Air Law Association (EALA) 

Comité Maritime International (CMI) 

IBA (International Bar Association) 

International Law Association (ILA) 

Aarhus Transport Group (ATG) 

Aarhus City Association 

BusinessAarhus 

Højesteretsskranken (a Danish association of experienced supreme court litigators) 

British Chamber of Commerce in Denmark 

The Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce 

The Danish Arbitration Association 

TØF - Transportøkonomisk Forening (a Danish transport economic association) 

ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation), Legal Committee 

Green Power Denmark 

IRU (International Road Transport Union) 

Danish Management Society, VL-gruppe 69 (a management forum under the Danish Management Society)  

Admissions
Right of audience before the Danish Supreme Court
1988
Experience
Recent highlights
  • Henrik has, for several decades, provided trusted advice to the Port of Aarhus and a great deal of other Danish ports concerning issues within construction law, competition law and procurement law, etc. 
  • Henrik represents Danish Ports on the legal committee of ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation). His work on the committee involves cooperating with lawyers from other European ports on how to adapt the legal basis for the respective ports in relation to EU legislation. 
  • Henrik assisted Martin Bencher A/S in its sale of the Group to Maersk. It was a cross-border sales process involving legal staff at several DLA Piper offices throughout the world.
Career highlights

Partner, DLA Piper Denmark, since 2018 

Partner, Delacour (DLA Piper Denmark), 2002-2018 

Partner, Olesen & Lyager, 1985-2002 

Attorney, Olesen & Lyager, 1984-1985 

Attorney, Jørgen Willumsen, 1982-1984 

Assistant Attorney, Jørgen Willumsen, 1980-1982 

Assistant Attorney, Kaalund & Partnere, 1979-1980 

Positions of trust

Chairman of the governing body, Aarhus City Association 

Chairman of the governing body, Aarhus Transport Group 

Vice-Chairman of the governing body, Corps Consulaire – Aarhus 

Other positions

British consul in Aarhus 

Rankings
Legal 500

Henrik is recognized by The Legal 500 as 'Leading partner' within 'Shipping & Transport'.

"Henrik Kleis and Martin Juste have long term relations and deep knowledge in important areas, in addition to a wide network."

"The team is very committed and able to see the bigger picture. Excellent on strategy and able to express complicated issues in concise and simple terms."

Chambers

Recommended in Chambers Europe in the area of 'Shipping and transport'.

Insights

‘Maritime law and its players - in practice’ (published in Danish only), Nyt Juridisk Forlag, 1999 

‘Transport law’ (published in Danish only), Børsens Forlag, 1994