Plesner

Greenland desk: Plesner's Greenland team based in Copenhagen has been notably active in Greenland legal matters for decades, in particular regarding natural resources and large construction projects, including the sectors of mining and energy and the regulatory and financial framework. The long, substantive and persuasive track record of Plesner in general and the partners in the team in particular are outstanding. Plesner has excellent relations with developers, contractors, consultants and financial institutions with an interest in the market. Plesner has had lead roles in major projects in Greenland. Recent work includes the construction of three new airports in Greenland and also several transactions and disputes regarding mineral exploitation in Greenland. On an ongoing basis Plesner provides consultancy and advice to foreign investors regarding exploitation rights, security, pledges and risks in the Greenland legal and administrative regime. Inquiries by clients are often based on legal articles regarding Greenland matters published by Plesner partners in the past decades or on the online database with Greenland legislation in force.

Frants Dalgaard-Knudsen, Niklas Korsgaard Christensen and Esben Kjær are handling Greenland matters on an ongoing basis and are key contacts.

Firm overview: Plesner is a leading Danish business law firm covering all areas of commercial law and public law. Most of the firm’s work has an international dimension, and Plesner has non-exclusive close relationships with leading law firms all over the world. It is a lockstep partnership with 38 partners and a total staff of approximately 460, including 310 fee earners. Plesner was founded in 1918 and has since then developed into a leading player in the Danish legal market.

Main areas of practice

Banking and finance: The firm’s banking and finance team provides expert advice on acquisition financing, capital market instruments, project financing, including financing of energy projects, asset-based financing, including aircraft and ship financing, regulatory matters, derivatives and structured products and financial restructurings.

Corporate/M&A: Plesner is one of the clear market leaders in Denmark in corporate M&A transactions, and the firm is recognised for its high volume of complex deals which often involve major Nordic private equity houses and international investors. The firm’s M&A specialists render expert advice on transactions, including investments, joint ventures, mergers, demergers and restructurings as well as provide due diligence process management.

Capital markets: Plesner’s capital markets team advises listed, particularly Danish, companies and Danish and foreign financial institutions on all corporate and securities law matters in respect of companies and stocks listed on NASDAQ OMX Nordic Exchange Copenhagen and other regulated markets. The team’s services cover the entire field, including IPOs, accelerated book building, rights issues, direct placements, capital adjustments, public takeovers, bond issues, advice to listed companies on their general ongoing compliance obligations, pursuant to capital markets legislation as well as disclosure requirements, flagging etc. and corporate governance.

Commercial contracts: The commercial contracts team provides advice to undertakings within most industries on the preparation and conclusion as well as the contractual rights and obligations of all types of agreements.

Commercial real estate: Plesner’s real estate lawyers advise leading Danish and international investors, developers and property companies at all stages of investments in financing and development of commercial properties from acquisition to sale. The team provides expert advice inter alia to shopping centres, hotels, investment properties for residential and commercial purposes, production facilities and warehouses, etc. irrespective of whether the property in question has been acquired for investment or development purposes.

Construction, infrastructure and energy: The team is a key player in ongoing advice and dispute resolution regarding major construction projects in Denmark, also offshore and in Greenland.

Dispute resolution: Dispute resolution is one of Plesner’s key strengths. The dispute resolution team has solid experience and expertise in appearing before international and domestic courts with many of the lawyers holding positions on international dispute resolution associations. The team spans across a wide range of legal areas including tax, IT, insolvency, insurance, intellectual property and construction disputes.

Insolvency and reconstruction: The insolvency and reconstruction team’s specialists assist in restructuring proceedings, act as trustees in bankruptcy proceedings and advise clients in avoidance proceedings. The team is widely experienced in bankruptcy proceedings, and it has acted in many of the most notable Danish insolvencies of late. It has been particularly active in assisting clients within the real estate, shipping and airline sectors.

Intellectual property: Plesner’s IP practice is a powerhouse within every area of IP and advises and litigates on all IP law aspects such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, piracy and counterfeiting, designs, domains, consumer law, privacy policy law and marketing law.

Tax:  Plesner’s widely recognised tax specialists advise Danish and international clients on all tax and duty related issues and conduct a large number of tax and duty related cases before the tax authorities, the local tax appeal tribunals, the National Assessment Council, the National Tax Tribunal, the High Courts, the Supreme Court and the European Court of Justice.