What the team is known for
Well-regarded team particularly active in the private equity sphere. Advises on M&A across a range of industries such as energy, manufacturing, financial services, IT and retail. Public M&A is another area of expertise, with experience in public tender offers. Acts for a notable client base on issues which frequently involve international elements.

Strengths
Clients appreciate the firm's "impeccable client service," adding: "The team delivers work of the highest standard in a timely manner."

The lawyers are described as "highly responsive, technically excellent and well connected" by respondents.

Work highlights
Acted for Asahi Kasei on its DKK8.9 billion acquisition via a Danish SPV of a 90% stake in Veloxis Pharmaceuticals.

Notable practitioners
Jacob Hjortshøj is a standout practitioner offering experience in all aspects of M&A transactions. One satisfied client enthuses: "He always provides extraordinarily precise advice in a timely fashion. He has very impressive negotiation skills and a unique understanding and judgement of which issues have key importance and how to address them."

Ole Nørgaard regularly advises clients on acquisitions and capital raising mandates. A respondent notes that "he knows what the business needs and gives commercially viable solutions."

Steen Jensen acts for clients on complex demergers and share transfers and public M&A deals. He is described as "very hands-on, responsive and pleasant to work with" by one satisfied client, who also appreciates that "Jensen has deep market knowledge and can help foreign clients navigate the Danish regulations."

Steen Rode enters the rankings on the back of strong client feedback. He assists clients operating in the financial services and private equity spaces with cross-border transactions. Interviewees report: "His strategic and commercial thinking is outstanding; he is a quick thinker, very energetic, ahead of the process and always totally committed to clients and their success."

Chambers and Partners Europe, Corporate/M&A

What the team is known for
Well-regarded team particularly active in the private equity sphere. Advises on M&A across a range of industries such as energy, manufacturing, IT and retail. Public M&A is another area of expertise, with experience in public tender offers and intra-group mergers. Acts for a notable client base on issues which frequently involve international elements.

In the Danish market Bech-Bruun is recognised for its strong M&A and projects teams. It also boasts of a very credible banking and restructuring and insolvency offering.  

The M&A and projects teams have strong presences in Aarhus and Copenhagen, and complete several of the market’s biggest transactions, especially within the energy and oil and gas sectors. In projects, geothermal projects, offshore pipelines and wind farm developers often create work for the team.  

A key staffing change during the research period saw partner Søren Meisling retire from the M&A team after over four decades at the firm.

Recent Deal Data highlights 

• Axcel acquisition of majority stake in Phase One
  Genmab Nasdaq IPO
  Maersk Drilling Nasdaq Copenhagen IPO
  Nord Stream 2
  Teradyne €121 million acquisition of Mobile Industrial Robots
  Total $7.45 billion acquisition of Maersk Oil & Gas
  Total acquisition of Chevron Denmark
  Vineyard 800MW wind farm

Client feeback

"The firm showed a high understanding of our complex business and our specific needs. They were very flexible and provided good follow-up. They also had a very good understanding of the different stages in the negotiations and provided great sparring in terms of strategy."

IFLR1000, Mergers and acquisitions

Ranked: tier 1

Headed up by Simon Milthers and Jakob Kristensen, Bech-Bruun is frequently instructed on a broad array of domestic and cross-border M&A transactions. A key area of focus for the ‘creative, strategic and commercial’ department is high-value corporate and capital markets transactions for energy and energy-related clients, as well as private equity transactions and corporate structuring matters. Steen Rode has vast experience advising private equity funds,  Jacob Hjortshøj is well versed in corporate law and stock exchange law, and Ole Nørgaard handles complex M&A transactions. The team also includes Claus Aagaard Nielsen and Søren Kamp Nørbæk.

‘The team always stands out both in regards to subject-matter expertise on all aspects of M&A and professionalism in regards to ensuring a good collaboration environment with the counter-parts that ensures the job gets done – even when there are different viewpoints on both legal matters or business perspective.’ 

‘The team is extremely commercial and hence very good to work with. Also they can balance their own role which is often something advisors have a hard time doing.’ 

‘Bech-Bruun is not merely the sharpest legal team, they are also trusted advisors to the client’s management team, advising on strategic considerations, commercial aspects and negotiation tactics. Importantly, they create a good atmosphere with counterparts, leading to constructive solutions, rather than just pressing insular points. They also have the courage to help their clients find reasonable compromises in a negotiation.’

‘Very easy going but highly skilled team. Bech Bruun is very focused on giving the type of advice that can easily be used/implemented by their clients – which also creates value for money for the clients. They are very close to their clients which enables them to give the best service and advice.’ 

‘Creative, strategic and commercial, while maintaining top-notch integrity. In a field, where many other lawyers are good, Bech-Bruun goes the extra mile for their clients, and are always accessible.’

Legal 500, Commercial, Corporate and M&A