What the team is known for
Well-respected team best known for handling contentious medical patent cases. Also active in the trade mark and copyright area, including anti-counterfeiting of products, as well as handling large data protection and compliance projects. Offers considerable expertise in the life sciences sector and represents pharmaceutical companies as well as many notable brands from other sectors. Advances to the top band this year, marked by the strengthening of its partner bench through the arrival of Martin Dræbye Gantzhorn from Horten and several client wins for the team, including Danfoss, Tommy Hilfiger and Carlsberg.

Strengths
Sources praise the team's high level of client service and expertise, saying: "We are very pleased with the level of service we received, which overall was second to none. We are impressed by the response time which makes us feel highly valued as customers. The team we work with demonstrates top-class legal insight combined with a great understanding of our business needs."

Another client adds: "They provide to-the-point advice on a market-leading level, and they fully understand our business, always providing commercial and applicable advice."

Work highlights
Advised Teva Pharmaceuticals on patent infringement proceedings against Astra Zeneca concerning the product Quetiapine.

Represented Royal Copenhagen in a case concerning trade mark and copyright infringement of Royal Copenhagen's 'Mega Fluted'brand against Porsgrund.

Significant Clients
Philip Morris, ECCO, Bestseller, Rockwool International.

Notable practitioners
Klaus Madsen frequently advises clients from the pharmaceutical sector on patent and life sciences law, and is a highly regarded patent litigator. He also acts on behalf of clients on marketing and design law matters.

Claus Barrett Christiansen was recently promoted to practice head of the IP team. He provides regular advice on trade mark, design and copyright law, with a focus on contentious matters. Sources agree that he is "an extremely knowledgeable, skilled and talented lawyer who has a practical understanding of the challenges in this field."

Martin Dræbye Gantzhorn is particularly active in the pharmaceutical sector, and is noted for advising clients from the pharmaceutical and food industries on patents and regulatory matters. He climbs the rankings this year on the basis of strong client feedback, and is highly regarded by sources who say: "He is very personable, and he really listens and understands the complexity of a situation. He has a good network which he uses to solve problems and he is very quick and responsive. He is engaged and active in this area, as well as enthusiastic and passionate, so you really get above and beyond."

Christian Vinding Thomsen focuses predominantly on the life sciences and pharmaceutical sector, advising on a mixture of IP, regulatory and compliance issues. Clients recognise him as someone who is "very strategic and experienced, and who provides valuable input."

Sources say Mikkel Friis Rossa"has built an impressive business in a very short space of time" due to his "can-do attitude and impressive business understanding." The same source adds that "he never over-complicates or over-sells, and his in-depth legal knowledge allows him to offer clear opinions and operational advice without any reservations." Rossa focuses on IPR, data protection and trade mark matters as well as marketing law.

Chambers and Partners Europe, Intellectual Property

Klaus Madsen frequently advises clients from the pharmaceutical sector on patent and life sciences law, and is a highly regarded patent litigator. He also acts on behalf of clients on marketing and design law matters.

Claus Barrett Christiansen was recently promoted to practice head of the IP team. He provides regular advice on trade mark, design and copyright law, with a focus on contentious matters. Sources agree that he is "an extremely knowledgeable, skilled and talented lawyer who has a practical understanding of the challenges in this field."

Martin Dræbye Gantzhorn is particularly active in the pharmaceutical sector, and is noted for advising clients from the pharmaceutical and food industries on patents and regulatory matters. He climbs the rankings this year on the basis of strong client feedback and is highly regarded by sources, who say: "He is very personable, and he really listens and understands the complexity of a situation. He has a good network which he uses to solve problems and he is very quick and responsive. He is engaged and active in this area, as well as enthusiastic and passionate, so you really get above and beyond."

 Sources say Mikkel Friis Rossa "has built an impressive business in a very short space of time" due to his "can-do attitude and impressive business understanding." The same source adds that "he never overcomplicates or oversells, and his in-depth legal knowledge allows him to offer clear opinions and operational advice without any reservations." Rossa focuses on IPR, data protection and trade mark matters as well as marketing law.

Christian Vinding Thomsen focuses predominantly on the life sciences and pharmaceutical sector, advising on a mixture of IP, regulatory and compliance issues. Clients recognise him as someone who is "very strategic and experienced, and who provides valuable input."

Chambers and Partners Global, Intellectual Property

Bech-Bruun fields an ‘impressive team of legal experts’ that is ‘ready for any task related to IP’. Klaus Ewald Madsen represented Teva Pharmaceuticals in a patent case against AstraZeneca. ‘Professional and pragmatic’ Dan Bjerg Geary advises Fiskars Denmark on all IP matters, including trade mark and design portfolio management, licensing, counterfeit and infringement work. Life sciences expert Martin Dræbye Gantzhorn arrived from Horten.

Legal 500, Intellectual property

Patent Editorial 2017
Bech-Bruun is one of the top-tier firms for patent litigation in this jurisdiction. "We regard the overall service level as second to none. Response times continue to impress and make us feel highly valued as customers," says one client. The firm operates from offices in Copenhagen and Aarhus. Its standout patent litigator is Klaus Ewald Madsen. He is supported by lawyers such as Arly Carlquist, Mikkel Friis Rossa and Christian Vinding Thomsen, who advises on regulatory matters in the life science sector. One client regards IP transactions specialist Rossa as "an upcoming star" and admires his "to-the-point advice, can-do attitude and impressive business understanding". The firm welcomed Martin Dræbye Gantzhorn as partner in its life sciences and healthcare practice. "Martin is very sharp, you notice when you're up against him," says a rival. Johnny Petersen is a notable associate.

Trade Mark & Copyright Editorial 2017
Market commentators say Bech-Bruun is one of the best Danish law firms to instruct for trade mark disputes. The firm's trade mark prosecution practice has steadily grown over recent years under the leadership of soft IP litigator Claus Barrett Christiansen. According to one client, Christiansen delivers "excellent on-time work … with a great understanding of the client's needs". An opponent says Christiansen is "pleasant and extremely knowledgeable". Niels Andersen, Mikkel Friis Rossa and the "very clever" Arly Carlquist are among the partners who advise on copyright and technology-related IP matters including transactions. Rossa "never overcomplicates or oversells", according to one client who adds: "He offers clear opinions without the usual and dreadfully tiring reservations and qualifications." The client continues: "As a bonus, Mikkel's impressive response time and welcoming nature makes you always feel as his number one client."

IP litigator and franchising specialist Dan Bjerg Geary, who recently joined the firm as partner, has already started impressing clients with his "theoretical knowledge" and "pragmatic commercially-minded" advice. Copyright specialist Peer Petersen left the firm to head up Bird & Bird's IP practice in Denmark. Louise Mühlbach Breining and Inge Kirstine Skou are the rising stars to watch.

One of the most highly respected full-service outfits in Denmark, Bech-Bruun has all angles covered; its “highly professional, excellent trademark lawyers” work shoulder to shoulder with their banking and finance and tax counterparts to make sure that no commercial opportunities pass unnoticed. A Shanghai representative office is a unique selling point and gives the firm a competitive edge when it comes to inbound and outbound Asia work.

Claus Barrett Christiansen’s leadership of the IP group is robust and resolute, a reflection of his litigation skills. “He’s the breadwinner of the practice – a very skilled attorney who deserves the highest of recommendations.”

Dan Bjerg Geary recently joined forces with him to successfully demonstrate the likelihood of confusion on behalf of Fiskars Corporation in a trademark infringement case, consequently securing the company’s mark. “Dan’s a really dedicated lawyer who always performs at the top level, providing pragmatic advice that perfectly matches his clients’ needs.”

WTR 1000, 2018