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Lars Loftager Joergensen leads the tax practice of Deloitte in Denmark which comprises 34 partners and another 174 fee earners. The firm is recognised for its transfer pricing and indirect tax expertise in particular but has ability across a full range ... [more]

Lars Loftager Joergensen leads the tax practice of Deloitte in Denmark which comprises 34 partners and another 174 fee earners. The firm is recognised for its transfer pricing and indirect tax expertise in particular but has ability across a full range of tax issues. Søren Reinholdt is respected by competitors for his corporate tax capabilities and is commended for aligning his extensive knowledge to the commercial requirements of clients. Deloitte's Danish operations are coordinated from Copenhagen, but it has tax professionals in most of their offices around the country. Clients include multinational engineering groups, biotech companies, and food producers. A number of financial institutions also rely on the firm for tax advice in Denmark. The firm has a good reputation for tax advice in financial services matters, with Kjeld Bergenfeldt noted by peers for his capital markets expertise in particular.

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Ernst & Young in Denmark has ability across the full range of tax services. Department head Niels Josephsen is recommended by competitors for his corporate tax expertise. He is still visible in the marketplace as a practitioner despite the responsibility ... [more]

Ernst & Young in Denmark has ability across the full range of tax services. Department head Niels Josephsen is recommended by competitors for his corporate tax expertise. He is still visible in the marketplace as a practitioner despite the responsibility of being a department head. With transfer pricing expected to remain a feature of the tax market this year, Thomas Bjerre, widely praised by peers for his capability in this area, is sure to be in demand. New additions to the tax practice this year have pushed the number of fee earners past 100, not including partners, meaning that it is now of a comparable size to the tax practices of the other big-four firms in Denmark. This year the practice handled the tax issues arising from the initial public offering (IPO) of a Danish media group. In particular, the firm advised on the tax treatment and implications for the company and its employees relating to an employee incentive share scheme. The team also advised on the transfer pricing matters involved in the pre-listing restructuring of a Danish food group, involving substantial liaison with the tax authorities to ensure compliance.

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KPMG has a tax department in Denmark consisting of nearly 200 tax advisers lead by Soren Sonderholm. The firm provides a full range of tax services across Denmark and has an especially strong reputation in indirect tax, corporate tax advisory work and ... [more]

KPMG has a tax department in Denmark consisting of nearly 200 tax advisers lead by Soren Sonderholm. The firm provides a full range of tax services across Denmark and has an especially strong reputation in indirect tax, corporate tax advisory work and M&A. Their transfer pricing service has also garnered a good reputation and Henrik Lund is well respected by his fellow practitioners for his work in that area. With a steadily increasing flow of M&A transactions this year, the firm's M&A and crossborder structuring service lines have been busier than last year. In both of those areas, but in M&A advisory work in particular, Anders Bjørn is highly regarded by his competitors.

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Law firm Plesner is recognised by other firms as the market leader in tax controversy, but it provides a full range of tax services. The firm's indirect tax practice is also identified as especially strong by other tax professionals. Tom Kári Kristjánsson ... [more]

Law firm Plesner is recognised by other firms as the market leader in tax controversy, but it provides a full range of tax services. The firm's indirect tax practice is also identified as especially strong by other tax professionals. Tom Kári Kristjánsson is well regarded by competitors for his VAT expertise and has built a strong reputation in indirect tax matters since he joined the firm two years ago. Practitioners are unanimous that Hans Severin Hansen, the head of Plesner's tax team, is the best tax litigator in the country. One of his peers said:"Quite simply he is the number one litigator in Denmark. It is hard to think of someone else who is even in the same league." In late 2010 Hansen was awarded the Christrup Prize, awarded every three years in recognition of outstanding performance in litigation, by a panel of Supreme and High Court judges and Law Society members. The practice has been especially active in disputes relating to beneficial ownership, an issue that has dominated the Danish tax market this year. They successfully represented FS Invest II against the tax authorities over withholding tax on a dividend paid by a Danish subsidiary to its ultimate holding company in Luxembourg. This was one of the most high profile cases in Denmark concerning the issue of beneficial ownership and was decided in favour of the taxpayer. The tax authorities appealed the decision and the case is awaiting a hearing before the Eastern High Court. The firm has also been active this year in financial services and M&A. They acted for Danish company AP Moller-Maersk Group in its purchase of a €172 million ($248 million) stake in DFDS and oversaw the sale of listed Danish company Maconomy to Deltek. Both of these deals required detailed attention to the structures of the companies involved to minimise tax liability arising from the transactions.

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After their national merger with Grant Thornton in July, PwC has extended its capabilities in Denmark. With a team of 17 partners and 140 other fee earners before the merger, it was already one of the largest tax practices in Denmark. Led by Henrik Faust ... [more]

After their national merger with Grant Thornton in July, PwC has extended its capabilities in Denmark. With a team of 17 partners and 140 other fee earners before the merger, it was already one of the largest tax practices in Denmark. Led by Henrik Faust Pedersen, the team has capabilities in transfer pricing, indirect tax, M&A, cross-border structuring and corporate tax. They have an impressive list of clients including multinationals such as Novo Nordisk, Novozymes, DONG Energy and Leo Pharma as well as Danish companies such as Vestas and TDC. The firm's work this year has included advising on the tax implications of Danish food group Chr Hansen Holding's IPO on the Danish stock market. The offering raised $2.7 billion and required close attention to cross-border structuring issues as a result of the group's international subsidiaries. Susanne Nørgaard advised Scandinavian Tobacco Group on its merger with Swedish Match to create the second largest cigar company in the world. Because Swedish Match had a number of international subsidiaries, responsible for the sale of goods, distribution and intellectual property rights for the group, the deal required adaptation and use of complicated cross-border structures. PwC is well placed to deal with Danish matters with cross-border elements due to their extensive international network.

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Anders Oreby Hansen is the new head of the tax department at Bech-Bruun – Taxand, which comprises four partners and 16 other fee earners. Former department head Nikolaj Bjørnholm left for Hannes Snellman during the year and some competitors suggest will ... [more]

Anders Oreby Hansen is the new head of the tax department at Bech-Bruun – Taxand, which comprises four partners and 16 other fee earners. Former department head Nikolaj Bjørnholm left for Hannes Snellman during the year and some competitors suggest will mean a decline in the practice. However, most of their clients, including high-profile ones such as consulting company Quartz+Co, ING Life and pump manufacturer Valco, have stayed with the practice. Hansen also has a strong reputation in corporate tax and is singled out for his ability by Norwegian as well as Danish practitioners. The firm has been especially active this year in M&A and restructuring, with Hansen coordinating the tax restructuring of the SEB Card Nordic group. The deal involved a series of cross-border de-mergers and in some instances re-mergers to facilitate the transfer of assets as efficiently as possible. Both tangible and intangible assets had to be vested in specific legal entities to ensure they were grouped coherently for commercial use, with Hansen and his team ensuring that no unnecessary tax liabilities were incurred. The firm acted on the merger of two rival tax advisory firms when Grant Thornton merged with PwC in Denmark. The team from the firm advised on the tax implications of the integrated partner structure for the merged firm and also handled EU merger control issues.

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Bruun & Hjejle continued its modest expansion this year with one associate joining their tax team. Their expertise covers all tax issues, though competitors regard their tax controversy practice as particularly strong. Søren Lehmann Nielsen, the head ... [more]

Bruun & Hjejle continued its modest expansion this year with one associate joining their tax team. Their expertise covers all tax issues, though competitors regard their tax controversy practice as particularly strong. Søren Lehmann Nielsen, the head of the tax department, is identified by peers as strong in this area and is suggested as the next in line to replace Hans Severin Hansen as the country's leading tax litigator. This year the practice represented a Danish telecommunications provider in a case concerning transfer pricing principles for capital gains receipts, resulting in the first High Court decision on the matter. The firm is also capable in tax matters beyond controversy. It had the second largest flow of M&A transactions in Denmark for 2010-2011, resulting in an increase in transactional work for the tax team. One example was the advice provided to PensionDanmark by Jan Steen Hansen in relation to its involvement in a joint venture to invest in offshore wind farms. Tobias Steinø, a senior associate with the firm, is recognised by peers for his growing presence in cross-border structuring. He was responsible alongside Hansen and Nielsen for advice to Bank DnB Nord in the structuring of the largest real estate transaction in Denmark during 2010. The deal was worth DKr1.97 billion ($375 million) and involved a unique hybrid structure since the company disposing of the property was in bankruptcy. This would have normally resulted in additional tax liability for the client, though the structure used meant the charges did not apply. Despite only forming in 2009, Bruun Hjejle's breadth of expertise has attracted several Danish and Nordic companies to the firm for tax advice including telecommunications company TDC, Norwegian financial institution Bank DnB Nord and energy company Energimidt.

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Arne Mollin Ottosen is head of the Kromann Reumert tax practice and is highly recommended by competitors as a corporate tax specialist, as is newly promoted partner Michael Nørremark. The firm has been active in tax controversy this year as the tax authorities ... [more]

Arne Mollin Ottosen is head of the Kromann Reumert tax practice and is highly recommended by competitors as a corporate tax specialist, as is newly promoted partner Michael Nørremark. The firm has been active in tax controversy this year as the tax authorities have pursued transfer pricing affairs strongly. Eduardo Vistisen acted for a multinational company in the two biggest transfer pricing disputes ever in the country and Ottosen thought the matter likely to be referred to the Supreme Court. The firm's corporate tax and structuring expertise were at the fore of work conducted on the IPO of TDC and the simultaneous exit of a consortium of corporate shareholders. Substantial pre-listing restructuring was conducted to obtain a tax efficient exit for those shareholders, but Ottosen and Nørremark also had to consider and accommodate the commercial requirements of TDC after the listing. Corporate structures were also a focal point in the takeover of Danisco to ensure the most positive tax treatment possible for the payment to the sellers. Other clients of the firm include the asset management company Blackstone and Danish bank FIH.

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The tax department of Accura has a strong transactional focus and this is borne out by the work completed under department head Ole Schmidt this year. The firm handled all the aspects of the establishment of a joint venture on behalf of Royal Ten Cate, ... [more]

The tax department of Accura has a strong transactional focus and this is borne out by the work completed under department head Ole Schmidt this year. The firm handled all the aspects of the establishment of a joint venture on behalf of Royal Ten Cate, including the tax implications. The transaction required close attention to the structures involved to ensure that the joint venture company was consolidated with Royal Ten Cate for tax purposes. If the firm has not been especially visible in the market this year this may be due to the difficult environment for transactions where the firm's strength lies. Nevertheless, the firm has bolstered its team this year by recruiting some experienced practitioners. Incentives specialist Carsten Kähler, who has significant private equity and M&A experience has joined from Ernst & Young, while Lene Pihl, skilled in a range of transactional work, joined from MAQS. These additions ensure the firm is well placed to take advantage of the rebound in transactions and private equity work noted in the marketplace and which practitioners expect to accelerate in the next year.

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Jakob Skaadstrup Andersen leads the tax department of law firm Gorrissen Federspiel and is the sole partner there. Six other fee earners make up the practice. The firm has a good ability in transactional tax matters and much of the tax team's work is ... [more]

Jakob Skaadstrup Andersen leads the tax department of law firm Gorrissen Federspiel and is the sole partner there. Six other fee earners make up the practice. The firm has a good ability in transactional tax matters and much of the tax team's work is closely related to that of their well regarded corporate and finance departments. As such, several of their clients are financial institutions such as RBS, the UK bank, and Fidelity Investments. They have been strengthened this year by the addition of Lars Fogh, the former head of tax at Accura, an experienced tax adviser noted for his corporate tax work.

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The tax department of Lett Law has particular expertise in tax controversy and litigation, but is capable in a number of other areas of tax. Department head Claus Holberg specialises in corporate advisory work and M&A tax issues. Indirect tax also provides ... [more]

The tax department of Lett Law has particular expertise in tax controversy and litigation, but is capable in a number of other areas of tax. Department head Claus Holberg specialises in corporate advisory work and M&A tax issues. Indirect tax also provides a significant amount of work for the firm, where partner Artur Bugsgang has expertise.

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Finnish firm Hannes Snellman is a new addition to the ranks of the firms of tax advisers and lawyers in Denmark this year. Former Bech-Bruun – Taxand leader Nikolaj Bjørnholm now heads the tax department at the firm's Danish office. Bodil Tolstrup also ... [more]

Finnish firm Hannes Snellman is a new addition to the ranks of the firms of tax advisers and lawyers in Denmark this year. Former Bech-Bruun – Taxand leader Nikolaj Bjørnholm now heads the tax department at the firm's Danish office. Bodil Tolstrup also joined the firm from Bech-Bruun and other notable practitioners have joined from Plesner and Horten. Such additions have strengthened their tax capabilities and with the high-profile Bjørnholm leading the practice, competitors expect them to become more visible in the market over the next year. The practice has secured some well known companies as tax clients, with Thomas Cook Airlines and GE Money Capital relying on the firm for tax advice this year. [hide]

Nicolai Thorsted is head of the tax department at Horten which comprises three other partners and one other fee earner. A significant amount of the tax department's work comes in the shape of support provided to the firm's busy M&A and finance departments. ... [more]

Nicolai Thorsted is head of the tax department at Horten which comprises three other partners and one other fee earner. A significant amount of the tax department's work comes in the shape of support provided to the firm's busy M&A and finance departments. They gave advice this year to Nordic bank SEB on the tax implications of the financing of private equity group Ratos' acquisition of Telia Stofa from TeliaSonera. The firm also conducts standalone tax work and has particular expertise in cross-border structuring and VAT and customs issues.

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Lind Cadovius has a relatively small tax department, with Jess Thiersen the sole partner with expertise in tax. However, senior associate Jørgen Cadovius is also recognised as an experienced tax lawyer. The firm covers a range of corporate tax issues, ... [more]

Lind Cadovius has a relatively small tax department, with Jess Thiersen the sole partner with expertise in tax. However, senior associate Jørgen Cadovius is also recognised as an experienced tax lawyer. The firm covers a range of corporate tax issues, but has a particular focus on VAT and customs. Thiersen is also skilled in tax controversy and transactional tax issues and specialises in M&A.

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