Ranked: Band 1

What the team is known for
Bech-Bruun is a full-service law firm assisting clients with the full gamut of IP strategy, registration, protection and enforcement. The team frequently handles contentious and non-contentious copyright, trade mark, and design rights matters. It also acts on patent disputes in the pharmaceutical and technology sectors. Bech-Bruun has additional expertise in the commercialisation of IP, including distribution, licensing and franchise agreements. The firm is also experienced in mandates involving international elements.

Strengths
"Bech-Bruun provides broad coverage and in-depth knowledge. The team pre-aligns to our demands and always delivers to full satisfaction."

"The lawyers are always available and flexible, and they are good at being commercial."

"The team delivers understandable and straight-to-the-point legal advice even on complex matters."

Work highlights
Bech-Bruun represented Edwards Lifesciences in patent infringement proceedings against the distributors of a type of heart valve, as well as against competitor company Meril.

Notable practitioners
Claus Barrett Christiansen acts for clients on trade mark and design infringement disputes and issues of marketing law.

"Claus is an experienced lawyer who perfectly understands trade mark law and always knows what to do. He's easy to work with, has great legal knowledge and is very thorough in his advice."

"He is an excellent lawyer in terms of client service and the quality of legal work provided."

"Claus Barrett Christiansen demonstrates great client service and commercial awareness, and deals with complex aspects."

"He is easy to deal with and very calm. He is a very experienced litigator."

Dan Bjerg Geary advises on the IP aspects of franchise, distribution and licensing agreements. He has additional experience in disputes arising from the alleged misappropriation of trade secrets as well as patent and copyright infringements.

"Dan is very strong and has a commercial mindset."

"Dan is always available for his clients. He answers within short notice, and is one of the most skilled franchise lawyers in the Danish market. Most remarkable is his ability to combine legal insight with great commercial understanding."

"He is very good in technical matters."

"Dan Bjerg Geary is always accessible and easy to contact."

Klaus Madsen is an expert in patent disputes and also assists clients with disputes concerning the misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of contract issues. He often represents pharmaceutical companies.

"He's very strategic in his thinking and is able to simplify a case."

"Klaus is fantastic. He is very good with strategy and always hits the mark. He is very bright and open to respond any questions."

Martin Dræbye Gantzhorn assists pharmaceutical companies with IP issues such as patent infringement and regulatory matters. He also acts in disputes pertaining to marketing and advertising issues.

"Martin Dræbye Gantzhorn is an excellent and fully trusted adviser."

"He deals with cross-border aspects very well. He gets to the point easily and understands complexity. He's aware of the commercial elements of matters, focusing on the aspects that are important for clients."

Jeppe Brinck-Jensen is proficient in a broad range of contentious IP mandates, ranging from patent and SPC disputes to trade secret cases. His clients primarily belong to the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors.

"Jeppe Brinck-Jensen is highly skilled in the legal discipline as well as commercial focus and customer centricity. He delivers to-the-point advice with an incredible ability to carve out less important parts and go straight to the heart of the matter."

"Jeppe is really good at analysing complex situations and finding optimal solutions. He's fast at understanding technical aspects and translating them into legal advice."

Chambers and Partners Europe 2023, Intellectual Property

What the team is known for
Bech-Bruun is a full-service law firm assisting clients with the full gamut of IP strategy, registration, protection and enforcement. The team frequently handles contentious and non-contentious copyright, trade mark, and design rights matters. It also acts on patent disputes in the pharmaceutical and technology sectors. Bech-Bruun has additional expertise in the commercialisation of IP, including distribution, licensing and franchise agreements. The firm is also experienced in mandates involving international elements.

Notable practitioners
Claus Barrett Christiansen Claus Barrett Christiansen acts for clients on trade mark and design infringement disputes and issues of marketing law.

• "Claus is an experienced lawyer who perfectly understands trade mark law and always knows what to do. He's easy to work with, has great legal knowledge and is very thorough in his advice."
• He is an excellent lawyer in terms of client service and the quality of legal work provided."
• "Claus Barrett Christiansen demonstrates great client service and commercial awareness, and deals with complex aspects."
• "He is easy to deal with and very calm. He is a very experienced litigator."

Dan Bjerg Geary Dan Bjerg Geary advises on the IP aspects of franchise, distribution and licensing agreements. He has additional experience in disputes arising from the alleged misappropriation of trade secrets as well as patent and copyright infringements.

• "Dan is very strong and has a commercial mindset."
• "Dan is always available for his clients. He answers within short notice, and is one of the most skilled franchise lawyers in the Danish market. Most remarkable is his ability to combine legal insight with great commercial understanding."
• "He is very good in technical matters."
• "Dan Bjerg Geary is always accessible and easy to contact."

Klaus Madsen is an expert in patent disputes and also assists clients with disputes concerning the misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of contract issues. He often represents pharmaceutical companies.

• "He's very strategic in his thinking and is able to simplify a case."
• "Klaus is fantastic. He is very good with strategy and always hits the mark. He is very bright and open to respond any questions."

Martin Dræbye Gantzhorn assists pharmaceutical companies with IP issues such as patent infringement and regulatory matters. He also acts in disputes pertaining to marketing and advertising issues.

• "Martin Dræbye Gantzhorn is an excellent and fully trusted adviser."
• "He deals with cross-border aspects very well. He gets to the point easily and understands complexity. He's aware of the commercial elements of matters, focusing on the aspects that are important for clients."

Jeppe Brinck-Jensen is proficient in a broad range of contentious IP mandates, ranging from patent and SPC disputes to trade secret cases. His clients primarily belong to the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors.

• "Jeppe Brinck-Jensen is highly skilled in the legal discipline as well as commercial focus and customer centricity. He delivers to-the-point advice with an incredible ability to carve out less important parts and go straight to the heart of the matter."
• "Jeppe is really good at analysing complex situations and finding optimal solutions. He's fast at understanding technical aspects and translating them into legal advice."

Chambers and Partners Global 2023, Intellectual Property

Ranked: Tier 1

Bech-Bruun is a market leader for patent work and houses the ‘best life sciences practice in Denmark’. It is also prominent in trade marks, design issues and marketing work, with practice co-head Claus Barrett Christiansen being an expert in this area. Mikkel Friis Rossa jointly leads the team with Christiansen, who is also a key practitioner of the firm’s Chinese desk, representing Chinese multinationals on all aspects of IP, with a focus on online sales. The group also has significant expertise in tech transfers, transactional work and licensing issues, with Dan Bjerg Geary taking the lead on these mandates. For patent infringement cases, Klaus Ewald Madsen is recommended.

"The best life sciences practice in Denmark. the very high degree of knowledge on statutory law, industry practice. Understands the market. Efficient and easy to work with."

"The team excels in readily usable advice and a commercial mindset. Availability is great and the legal and technical competencies are wide-ranging within the relevant technology fields."

"They are fast, competent and have a commercial mindset. Compared to other companies I have worked with, they are unique both because of their knowledge and skills, creative thinking and problem-solving approach."

"Bech-Bruun Denmark has the strongest, most professional, globally focused Intellectual Property practice in the world."

"The best IP team I have ever worked with! Proactive, knowledgeable and always reachable."

Legal 500, Intellectual Property

Patent contentious
Ranked: Tier 1

Trade Mark contentious
Ranked: Tier 1

Copyright & related rights
Ranked: Tier 2

Trademark prosecution
Highly recommended

“Bech-Bruun has the strongest, most professional, globally focused IP practice in the world,” enthuses one patron. “Its team is skilled, sophisticated and responsive; and while they have diverse specialisations in sub-areas of IP, they never lose the bigger picture.” Another interviewee comments: “Bech-Bruun is full of tough, experienced litigators with a can-do attitude and the will to fight cases through to the very end. They understand business priorities, have a commercial mindset and show in-depth knowledge of international policies and procedure.” An example of the high level at which it operates is Claus Barrett Christiansen’s recent work with Bang & Olufsen in designing a completely new global brand and design strategy. “Immensely qualified and well respected”, Barrett Christiansen “has an excellent sense of balancing a client’s legal and commercial interests and is definitely classed as one of the best lawyers in the country”. He has also been representing the Salling Group in a headline-grabbing case that is now pending at the Supreme Court concerning the interpretation of the Enforcement Directive when calculating damages from brand infringement and dilution. Also garnering glowing reviews is Inge Kirstine Skou, who has been advising Royal Unibrew on its trademark strategy and has “both broad and in-depth knowledge of branding issues”. Clients appreciate “her meticulousness and professionalism, as well as her pragmatic and dedicated approach”.

WTR 1000, 2021