What the team is known for
The team is well regarded and particularly active in the private equity sphere. It advises on M&A across a range of industries such as energy, manufacturing, financial services, technology and retail. Public M&A is another area of expertise, given its experience in public tender offers. The firm acts for a notable client base on issues that frequently involve international elements.

Strengths
"The services went above and beyond the usual legal advisory services and encompassed strategy, cultural elements and negotiation tactics in a very complex project," one client praises, adding that "they were driven, cost-minded, a real group of hands-on allies."

Work highlights
Represented CVC Capital Partners in its acquisition of STARK Group from Lone Star Funds.

Notable practitioners
Jacob Hjortshøj is a standout M&A practitioner offering a wealth of experience in all aspects of M&A transactions.

Ole Nørgaard regularly advises clients on acquisitions and capital raising mandates. Clients enthuse: "He is pragmatic, commercial, and is always good at finding solutions."

Steen Jensen acts for clients on complex demergers and share transfers and public M&A deals. He is also recognised for his capital markets expertise.

Steen Rode assists clients operating in the manufacturing sector, financial services and private equity spaces with cross-border transactions. Sources note that he is very commercially minded.

Chambers and Partners Europe 2022, Corporate/M&A

What the team is known for
The team is well regarded and particularly active in the private equity sphere. It advises on M&A across a range of industries such as energy, manufacturing, financial services, technology and retail. Public M&A is another area of expertise, given its experience in public tender offers. The firm acts for a notable client base on issues that frequently involve international elements.

Notable practitioners
Jacob Hjortshøj is a standout M&A practitioner offering a wealth of experience in all aspects of M&A transactions.

Ole Nørgaard regularly advises clients on acquisitions and capital raising mandates. Clients enthuse: "His pragmatic, commercial, and is always good at finding solutions."

Steen Jensen acts for clients on complex demergers and share transfers and public M&A deals. He is also recognised for his capital markets expertise.

Steen Rode assists clients operating in the manufacturing sector, financial services and private equity spaces with cross-border transactions. Sources note that he is very commercially minded.

Chambers and Partners Global 2022, Corporate/M&A

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 feedback

"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

Bech-Bruun acts on a broad range of corporate transactions, with particular focus on the renewable energy sector and the oil and gas industry. The team has extensive experience in the private equity space, with co-head Jakob Kristensen advising buy-side and sell-side clients and Jacob Hjortshøj acting for an impressive client roster of leading private equity funds. Simon Milthers jointly leads the team and handled several of the largest transactions in Denmark. For contentious matters, Søren Kamp Nørbæk represents clients in court and arbitration proceedings concerning post-M&A and shareholder disputes. Claus Aagaard Nielsen heads up the Aarhus office.

‘They are extremely competent and very nice to work with. Good commercial understanding.’

‘The team is very hands-on and flexible. People are highly involved and cover for each other so tasks are always fulfilled, fast and efficient.’

‘Highly skilled and professional, very good dialogue and responsive to requests, understand our business and expectations, take responsibility and always timely in deliveries.’

‘Very capable and well experienced in M&A. They provide practical and useful advice. They bring efficient business-focused solutions. Easy and smooth to work with, flexible and responsive. High understanding of complex business matters.’

‘We have experienced a unique ability to staff an M&A transaction at short notice, quick to understand our way of working and ability to complete the transaction.’

Legal 500, Commercial, Corporate and M&A