Nordics - Denmark

Viltoft

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Praised by clients as a ‘leading construction firm in construction law and public procurement in Denmark’, boutique construction firm Viltoft acts on behalf of private and public owners, contractors, technical advisers and real estate developers on the entire gamut of construction-related work, with noted expertise in contentious matters. Practice co-head Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen is a go-to name for urban development projects, commercial real estate transactions and arbitration proceedings, while fellow co-head Henrik Hauge Andersen has notable experience in disputes arising out of the space. Eva Olesen is another important point of contact for sophisticated construction projects, and Morten Ruben Brage advises on public procurement work and transactional issues. Steen Hellmann  departed the firm to join Gorrissen Federspiel in 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The teams seems very competent and deals professionally with queries and subjects at hand. Very straight forward and clear in communication, opinions and recommendations.'

  • ‘Easygoing and good-spirited individuals. Communicate clearly and easy to read and understand.’

  • ‘Viltoft is a specialised real estate and construction boutique. They are probably the leading construction firm in construction law and public procurement in Denmark. They provide second to none service with high ethical standards.’

  • ‘Peter Thommesen stands out a one of the best advisers on all aspects related to construction. He provides excellent service to clients.’

  • ‘Henrik Hauge Andersen is always available with a smile and humour as a supplement to the highest quality of service. Henrik always goes the extra mile for his client.’

  • ‘Morten Ruben Brage always delivers an excellent service.’

  • ‘Viltoft is a very skilled and knowledgeable team with a staff of very good analysts. The staff is very interested in learning about the deeper practical challenges behind the different legal questions, and the team has a very broad understanding of the law foundation and history behind it. If one person cannot answer questions on their own, there will normally always be another person in the team who can. When you ask for help, Viltoft will normally be quick and swift to return your request.’

Key clients

  • Metroselskabet
  • Hovedstadens Letbane
  • Roskilde Kommune
  • European Energy A/S
  • SH Installation A/S
  • Region Sjælland – COWI
  • Tryg Forsikring
  • Hillerød Kommune
  • Municipality of Gladsaxe
  • Odense Tramway P/S
  • FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies
  • Munck Havne & Anlæg
  • Allianz
  • Realdania By & Byg
  • Port of Frederikshavn

Work highlights

  • Representing  Metroselskabet, the company in charge for the Copenhagen Metro, in a claim in which Italian contractor Salini (now WeBuild) has lodged a complaint with the Complaints Board for Public Procurement over Metroselskabet’s award of the civil works contract for the Southern extension of the Cityringen Metro.

Lawyers

Leading individuals

Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen

Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen

Viltoft

Partner. Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen advises public and private sector clients and technical consultants on all aspects of construction including infrastructure and public procurement. He assists in drafting and negotiating contracts and in designing and handling tenders for public works and other public contracts.  Dispute resolution (arbitration, litigation and mediation) is a particular area of expertise for Peter. He handles not only construction and infrastructure disputes and professional negligence disputes within technical consultancy, but also commercial, contractual and public law disputes. He is a certified arbitrator and mediator. In 2013, he sat as a Temporary Judge at the High Court of Eastern Denmark. Since 2017, he has been member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR.   Peter also advises on real estate transactions and projects, including public-private urban development projects and other PPPs. He has extensive general commercial, contracts and corporate law experience. Peter has achieved recognition in Chambers Europe, Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal. Peter has recently advised clients on matters such as: Drafting and tendering of contracts for the lightrail project in Odense (Odense Letbane) and the Greater Copenhagen Area (Ring 3), covering civil works, transportation systems, rolling stock and maintenance and operation Drafting and tendering of contracts for infrastructure works in connection with the Copenhagen Metro Drafting and tendering of contracts for urban development PPP projects as well as establishing public-private urban development companies (NærHeden, Høje Taastrup C, etc.) Tender of insurance services relating to infrastructure projects Tender of it development contract Ongoing legal assistance to technical consultants (architects and engineers) and contractors on building and construction projects He has also been involved in litigation and arbitration concerning: Delay and additional claims of contractors in connection with the Copenhagen Metro project Delay and disruption related to projects within the district heating sector All-risks insurance cover for construction defects in newly constructed commercial buildings and other insurance claims disputes Product liability in the building and construction industry Fees and liability of technical consultants in relation to large public construction projects such as mega-hospital projects Professional negligence of technical consultants, attorneys and company directors As arbitrator Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen has been appointed in 20+ ad hoc and institutional arbitrations regarding shareholder disputes, partnership disputes, M&A, real estate and insurance disputes as well as contractual disputes in a number of areas such as building and construction, IT and energy. He has experience both as chairman, co-arbitrator, sole arbitrator, interim arbitration and as arbitrator in expedited arbitration procedures. Peter is the co-author (with Michael Gjedde-Nielsen et al.) of ABR 18: General Conditions for Consulting Services, Karnov Group, 1st edition, 2021. Peter is also the co-author (with Jakob Juul) of Danish Arbitration ("Voldgiftsret"), Karnov Group, 3rd edition 2017.

Next Generation Partners

Eva Olesen

Viltoft

Partner Eva Olesen is part of the VILTOFT team of procurement specialists and has more than nine years’ practical experience in procurement law. Eva mainly advises public authorities and private enterprises on all aspects of procurement, ranging from advice on the choice of tender type and strategy, advice on the organisation of the tendering process, preparation of tender documents and the conduct of negotiations to assistance in addressing critical issues in relation to the tender procedure and the handling of complaints. Eva often works closely with the contracting party or acts as an adviser to the client adviser, being a key sounding board for all parties involved and ensuring a successful tendering procedure. In addition, Eva advises both public and private clients on all aspects of construction law, especially in cases concerning technical consultancy. She has participated in the preparation and conduct of several arbitral proceedings in that field. Eva has advised clients on matters including: call for tenders for the construction of new sustainable housing for CIVICA, Department 055 call for tenders for operation and maintenance of Metro lines M1 and M2 in the period from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2024 (contract value: DKK 2bn) call for tenders for the Metro to Nordhavn project for the Copenhagen Metro (contract value: DKK 2.2bn) preparation of social clauses for inclusion in the call for tenders for the Copenhagen City Ring Line call for tenders for Odense Tramway for the City of Odense (contract value: DKK 2.5bn) call for tenders for demolition of high-rise buildings contaminated with PCBs and asbestos in Brøndby Strand (contract value: DKK 200m) call for tenders for the first stage of a new university hospital in Køge (contract value: DKK 2.2bn) In addition, Eva has been involved in a number of arbitral proceedings and in complaint cases brought before the Complaints Board for Public Procurement regarding: design and supervision liability of technical consultants, including a case concerning the liability of Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects as lead consultant on the Louiselund Care Centre and Senior Housing project call for tenders for Bio4 project for HOFOR – Greater Copenhagen Utility call for tenders for Odense Tramway for the City of Odense

Morten Ruben Brage

Morten Ruben Brage

Viltoft

Partner. Morten Ruben Brage advises public authorities, private-sector enterprises and technical consultants on all aspects of construction and procurement law, with a special focus on consultant liability.  In addition, Morten provides advice on issues pertaining to environmental law, including general availability restrictions, planning law, EIAs, waste and soil management, and expropriation. Morten has conducted a number of cases in the field of environmental law. Morten has extensive litigation experience and has conducted cases in the high courts, the Maritime and Commercial High Court and the Danish Building and Construction Arbitration Board, as well as the Complaints Board for Public Procurement. In 2015, Morten served as acting high court judge in the Eastern High Court. From 2011 to 2015 he was an external lecturer on property law (environmental law) at the University of Copenhagen and co-editor of Miljøretlige Afgørelser og Domme (MAD), a journal on decisions and judgments in environmental law. Morten’s recent work includes assistance in matters relating to building and construction: representing a construction client in arbitral proceedings concerning the termination of a construction contract and arbitral proceedings concerning fee for additional works acting as litigator in a case concerning consultant liability representing a client in a case heard by the Complaints Board for Public Procurement providing advice on a number of matters, including the question of obligations under the Public Procurement Act, rules concerning participation in joint ventures in relation to the same tender, and assessment of compliance with conditions In the field of environmental law, Morten has recently provided advice on the following: assessment of application of the EIA Directive in connection with the adoption of construction-related legislation Morten is the co-author (with Michael Gjedde-Nielsen et al.) of "ABR 18: General Conditions for Consulting Services", Karnov Group, 1st edition, 2021.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Peter Fauerholdt Thommesen, Henrik Hauge Andersen

Other key lawyers

Eva Olesen, Morten Ruben Brage