Nordics - Denmark

Gorrissen Federspiel

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Gorrissen Federspiel represents major Danish and international ship-owners, shipyards and ports, airlines, aircraft lessors, industry investors and financiers and insurance companies on a broad suite of matters, including wet and dry shipping mandates. Practice head Peter Appel handles large transactions, financing deals and establishing operations abroad, as well as being a key name for shipping litigation. Morten Hans Jakobsen advises on aviation, air finance and ship financing, as well as work relating to leasings, purchases and regulatory issues. At the associate level, Thomas Edelgaard Christensen's practice encompasses litigation and arbitration arising out of the shipping, port, maritime construction and other maritime industries.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The shipping, offshore and transportation group at Gorrissen Federspiel is widely recognised as being the premier shipping practice in town. They are especially strong within transactional work including ship sale and purchase, newbuilding projects, ship finance and corporate shipping work and handles mandates for most Danish shipowners.'
  • 'Morten Hans Jakobsen is our go-to when it comes to complex transactional and corporate work.'
  • 'Peter Appel is highly knowledgeable, with a great global network and a commercial understanding.'
  • 'Morten Hans Jakobsen has always been extremely prompt, knowledgeable and solution-oriented.'
  • 'Johan Casper Hennings assist us with more traditional maritime law and is especially experienced in sale and purchase of ships.'
  • 'With their wide knowledge, experience and mastery in shipping, they are second to none in this segment in the Danish market.'
  • 'Peter Appel is the go-to person, but holds a very fine team to help with any size of matter or transaction.'
  • 'They are prompt and cost-efficient, while being knowledgeable and results-oriented to find quick and practical solutions.'

Key clients

  • A.P. Moeller Maersk A/S (including subsidiaries, such as Maersk A/S, Svitzer A/S, Maersk Oil Trading and Investments A/S and Maersk Air Cargo A/S)
  • A.P. Moeller Holding A/S (including subsidiaries, such as Maersk Tankers A/S, Maersk Product Tankers A/S, Maersk Supply Service and ZeroNorth A/S)
  • Hafnia Limited
  • Dampskibsselskabet NORDEN A/S
  • Ultranav Group (including Ultrabulk A/S)
  • TORM A/S
  • DFDS A/S
  • Scandlines Group
  • A/S United Shipping & Trading Company
  • Navigare Capital Partners A/S
  • Navigator Holdings Ltd.
  • Stena Group
  • Celsius Shipping A/S
  • Esvagt A/S
  • Uni-Tankers A/S
  • Dee4 Capital Partners
  • Christiania Shipping
  • Cadeler A/S
  • Assuranceforeningen SKULD
  • Polar Seafood Greenland A/S
  • Fehmarn Belt Contractors A/S
  • Ulykkesforsikringsforbundet for Dansk Søfart
  • Borealis AG
  • SAS Scandinavian Airlines System
  • Air Greenland
  • Atlantic Airways
  • Sunclass Airlines (formerly Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia)
  • Airseven
  • Copenhagen AirTaxi

Work highlights

  • Assisted Marseille-based private equity firm Jaccar Holdings with a structured sales process worth USD 700 million for the divestment of Evergas, one of the world’s leading seaborne transporters of petrochemical gases and natural gas liquids.
  • Assisting Cadeler A/S in connection with an agreement to combine their business with Eneti Inc. The combination will result in the largest diversified fleet owned and operated by an offshore wind turbine and foundation installation company.
  • Assisting Maersk Tankers, operator of one of the largest tanker fleets in the world, on a new USD 150 million pool credit facility with Citi Bank, relating to the four pool’s working capital for improvement of cash flow for pool partners in a volatile and high tanker rate environment.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Peter Appel

Peter Appel

Hall of fameGorrissen Federspiel

Peter Appel heads up our Shipping/Offshore/Transportation practice group. Peter has considerable experience as a director and active discussion partner for managements in issues concerning the organisation of companies, day-to-day operations and strategy. As an adviser to a large number of the Danish shipping companies, he has also acquired expert knowledge of the shipping industry. Peter has an extensive international network, among other things, from his time as chairman of IBA's Maritime and Transport Law Committee. He provides assistance with infrastructure projects and has extensive knowledge about ferry service and train and harbour projects. He has extensive experience with matters pertaining to Greenland. Peter assists a number of Danish and international NGOs in the transport sector. He also has a political network and is often involved in cases that also involve social considerations and public opinion. Finally, Peter has extensive experience as a speaker and lecturer and he regularly speaks at company events, associations and educational institutions.

Rising stars

Thomas Edelgaard Christensen

Thomas Edelgaard Christensen

Gorrissen Federspiel

Thomas Edelgaard Christensen focuses on litigation and arbitration and advises on all legal areas specific to the shipping, port and yard industries and other maritime industries. Thomas advises on traditional maritime and transport law, commercial law in general as well as regulatory matters such as ship recycling, planning law, environmental permits, ferry services tenders, crewing and sea safety requirements, passenger rights and border control. Thomas has also experience in criminal law and internal investigations within these areas. Thomas has a particular knowledge of Greenlandic law, the laws of the seas and conflicts of laws issues, including in respect of Brexit. Finally, he has worked with aircraft financing and registration of security rights in aircraft in Denmark and internationally.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Peter Appel

Other key lawyers

Morten Hans Jakobsen, Morten Berggreen, Johan Casper Hennings, Thomas Edelgaard Christensen