Environment in Denmark

Bech-Bruun

Bech-Bruun‘s environment, nature and planning team is headed up by Jacob Schall Holberg and is well renowned in the market for its leading expertise in the environmental aspects of major infrastructure projects, representing both government agencies and leading corporate clients. Holberg is recognised for his work in high-profile environmental disputes, having acted before the District and High Court, as well as the Danish Supreme Court. Other key individual Hanne Mølbeck has 25 years of experience working within the public law sector, particularly advising on the environmental elements of infrastructure projects.

Praxisleiter:

Jacob Schall Holberg


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Hanne Mølbeck


Referenzen

‘Extensive knowledge in the field, and a willingness to provide information to the client.’

Good Responsiveness.’

‘Good and relevant experience.’

Kernmandanten

Femern A/S


Energinet


Metroselskabet I/S


Odense Letbane P/S


Hovedstadens Letbane (The Greater Copenhagen Light Rail)


By & Havn


The Municipality of Lejre


Municipality of Aarhus


Vattenfall


MT Højgaard Projektudvikling A/S


M. Goldschmidt Holding A/S


HOFOR Vind A/S


Relax A/S


Highlight-Mandate


  • Providing general legal advice to Energinet regarding the definition and delimitation of ‘projects’ under the EIA Directive for the Danish electricity transmission grid.
  • Representing Udviklingsselskabet By & Havn I/S (City & Harbor) in a significant environmental dispute regarding the Lynetteholm project, a 275-hectare artificial peninsula in Copenhagen.
  • Representing Udviklingsselskabet By & Havn I/S (City & Harbour) in a high-profile environmental case concerning the ‘Fælledby’ urban development project in Copenhagen.

Horten

Horten‘s environment practice group provides legal advice across all areas of environmental regulation, including on obtaining environmental permits, emission and pollution issues, natural resources matters, and work arising from renewable energy projects. The team also assists the firm’s M&A group with conducting environmental due diligence reports. Notable individuals Henriette Soja, who leads the practice, and Anne Sophie Kierkegaard Vilsbøll both specialise in environmental law and the related planning, construction, climate change and supply regulation matters. Of counsel Poul Hvilsted is recommended for contentious work.

Praxisleiter:

Henriette Soja


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Tue Trier; Anne Sophie Kierkegaard Vilsbøl; Poul Hvilsted; Marie Bockhahn


Referenzen

‘Henriette Soja has given us valued legal advice in a difficult case. She was quick to understand our dilemma and come up with different solutions.’

‘Top tier, handles complex legal questions with a very positive energy and attitude.’

‘In my opinion Horten is already known in Denmark for its enormous capacity and expertise, especially regarding legal matters and areas in public law.’

Kernmandanten

Aalborg Portland A/S


DSB


Norlys a.m.b.a.


HOFOR A/S


Novafos A/S


Roskilde Sten & Grus ApS


Solum Roskilde ApS


TDC Net A/S


Vandcenter Syd A/S


Aalborg Forsyning A/S


BIOFOS A/S


KLAR Forsyning A/S


Gribskov Forsyning A/S


I/S Vestforbrænding


I/S Norfors


Nordværk I/S


Ørsted A/S


Teleindustrien


Fonden Marselisborg Lystbådehavn


Ferskvandscentret Kursus


The Danish Construction Association


The Danish Road Directorate


The Municipality of Allerød


The Municipality of Aarhus


The Municipality of Billund


The Municipality of Brøndby


The Municipality of Copenhagen


The Municipality of Favrskov


The Municipality of Guldborgsund


The Municipality of Kolding


The Municipality of Lyngby-Taarbæk


The Municipality of Naestved


The Municipality of Odense


The Municipality of Syddjurs


The Municipality of Sønderborg


The Municipality of Frederikssund


Highlight-Mandate


  • Providing continuous legal assistance to The City of Copenhagen in relation to the urban development project on Amager Fælled.
  • Providing legal assistance to The City of Copenhagen in relation to the establishment of Lynetteholm.

Poul Schmith

Poul Schmith‘s environmental and energy law team is regularly involved in high-profile projects relating to the government’s sustainability initiatives. It has also recently seen increased work stemming from the private sector, which complements the firm’s public sector work. Notably, Britta Moll Bown often litigates before the Danish district courts and the supreme court in matters relating to the protection of nature and environmental assessments. Other key contact Kim Christian Højmark has more than ten years experience advising entities from the public and private sectors on complex and high-profile environmental matters.

Praxisleiter:

Kim Christian Højmark; Britta Moll Bown


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Louise Solvang Rasmussen; Thomas Haugsted; Josephine Fie Legarth Aggesen


Referenzen

‘The environmental team is highly experienced and skilled, due to many years of specialisation in this area. Not only for advice, but also regarding court cases.

‘Britta Moll Bown is highly experienced. She has attended the Supreme Court many times, and is very skilled.’

‘Poul Schmith’s environmental law practice is a leader in its field. The team delivers high-quality advice on complex issues within the highly regulated area of environmental law. Their guidance, along with their support in litigation, is invaluable to us as we undertake major infrastructure projects across the country.’

Kernmandanten

The Danish Environmental and Food Board of Appeal


The Danish Planning Board of Appeal


The Danish Environmental Protection Agency


The Danish Business Authority


Rail Net Denmark (Banedanmark)


The Danish Energy Board of Appeal


The Danish Road Directorate


The Danish Ministry of Environment


Danish Ministry of Defence Estate Agency


The Danish Ministry of Defence


The Danish Ministry of Transportation


The Danish Energy Agency


The Danish Coastal Authority


The Chemicals Inspectorate of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency


Danish Veterinary and Food Administration


The Greenland Ministry of Mineral Resources


Aarhus Municipality


Gentofte Municipality


Frederiksberg Municipality


Svendborg Municipality


Kerteminde Municipality


Roskilde Municipality


Helsingør Municipality


Ballerup Municipality


Albertslund Municipality


Ringsted Municipality


Sønderborg Municipality


Region Hovedstaden


Sund & Bælt A/S


A/S Øresund


Egmont International Holding


Highlight-Mandate


  • Assisting Sund & Bælt A/S and A/S Øresund with environmental and pipeline issues during the preparation phase of a DKK20-25bn new Eastern Ring Road (Østlig Ringvej) constructed as a submerged tunnel along the east coast of Amager.
  • Representing Banedanmark in numerous cases concerning compensation for the electrification of the railway.
  • Advising the Environmental Protection Agency in connection with a massive landslide near Randers, the clean-up of which is estimated at DKK500m.

DLA Piper Denmark

DLA Piper Denmark‘s environment department is a part of the firm’s wider real estate team, and stands out for its expertise in matters relating to liability for contaminated soil and environmental impact assessments. The team is headed up by Line Marie Pedersen, who is a renowned expert in the fields of municipality and local planning, environmental impact assessments, and climate change projects. Fellow key contact Per Vestergaard Pedersen has specialist knowledge and experience in environmental issues relating to minerals and mining, oil and gas, hydropower, and climate matters. Håkun Djurhuus joined from Lundgrens in early 2025.

Praxisleiter:

Line Marie Pedersen


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Per Vestergaard Pedersen; Håkun Djurhuus


Referenzen

‘Strong very experienced team. Very good cooperation around the cases.’

‘Line M. Pedersen always helps us with Environmental matters in a prompt, constructive and very professional way.’

‘Line Marie Pedersen and her team maintain a particularly high legal level in the field of environmental law. Line has an in-depth knowledge of special contamination of soil and groundwater both in relation to the legal framework and insurance coverage.’

Kernmandanten

The Danish Petroleum Industry Association (Drivkraft Danmark)


The Greenland Government, Ministry of Agriculture, Self-Sufficiency, Energy and Environment


The Greenland Government, Ministry of Business, Trade, Mineral Resources, Justice and Gender Equality


Crossbridge Energy A/S (former A/S Dansk Shell)


AIG Europe S.A


DCC Energy Center A/S


Topdanmark Forsikring A/S


Chubb Insurance Company


The Danish Central Stockholding Entity (FDO)


Copenhagen Airports A/S


Colas Danmark A/S


Avista Oil Danmark A/S


The City of Copenhagen


The municipality of Frederiksberg


HOFOR


Frederiksberg Forsyning A/S


Vestforsyning A/S


SONFOR Group


Maabjerg Energy Center A/S


The Danish Petroleum Industry Association’s Energy Saving Pool


Lidl Danmark K/S


Mobility Denmark (Former the Danish Car Importers Association)


H. Lundbeck A/S


Landsbyggefonden


Vestegnens Kraftvarmeselskab, VEKS


Falck Danmark A/S


Shell International


Cloudberry Energy ASA


Etex Group


Highlight-Mandate


  • Assisting FDO in connection with the reassessment of existing environmental approvals, including the establishment of new conditions with a view to compliance with Best Available Technic (BAT).
  • Advising A/S Dansk Shell on environmental approvals, pollution conditions, nature protection, etc. in connection with the operation of the refinery in Fredericia.
  • Advising Chubb for several years regarding insurance claims under Chubb’s environmental liability insurance policies.

Gorrissen Federspiel

Gorrissen Federspiel’s environment team is comprised of energy and infrastructure, litigation, and real estate experts, and is particularly renowned for its work involving the environmental issues arising from energy project developments and transactions, corporate transactions and real estate mandates. Leading the team is Lotte Eskesen, who regularly handles the environmental aspects of major renewable energy wind and solar projects, and Hans-Peter Jorgensen, who has over 30 years' experience in complex real estate matters and the related environmental implications.

Praxisleiter:

Lotte Eskesen; Hans-Peter Jørgensen


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Hanne Jespersen Hansen


Referenzen

‘The team in Aarhus is hard-working and to the point. Very good at thinking on their feet.’

‘Lotte Eskesen is simply a very good lawyer. She has a sincere interest in her cases, she has a very broad understanding of the law, and she is extremely efficient. The same goes for Hanne Jespersen Hansen who has a down-to-earth, pragmatic an solution-oriented approach to cases.’

‘Gorrissen Federspiel’s environmental practice stands out for its multidisciplinary team, offering comprehensive expertise in due diligence processes. The team covers all environmental aspects of a project, from regulatory compliance to risk assessment, ensuring potential clients receive full coverage of their needs.’

Kernmandanten

Encavis AG


Vestas Wind Systems A/S


ADA Green Energy A/S


Vestforbrænding I/S


Skovgaard Energy A/S


SDK Freja A/S


Novo Nordisk A/S


Nordic Waste A/S


Køge Kyst P/S


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised Encavis AG in connection with the acquisition and subsequent project development of a 500 MW PV pipeline of solar projects in Denmark.
  • Advised Nordic Waste A/S in connection with the occurrence of a large landslide on the grounds operated by Nordic Waste A/S and used for soil remediation.
  • Advising Vestforbrænding I/S (VF) on environmental matters relating to the establishment of a new corporate structure to meet requirements in Danish legislation regarding the corporate structure of Danish incineration and recovery facilities and in respect of the planned construction of a CO2 capture facility next to VF’s energy-from-waste facility.

Haugaard | Braad

Haugaard | Braad‘s environment department is a part of the firm’s wider public law team, and is headed up by Flemming Elbaek, who has worked exclusively with environmental and public law for almost 20 years, often acting as the main adviser to major manufacturing and utilities companies. Other key individual Helle Ina Elmer is a specialist lawyer within the areas of environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment, as well as EU environmental law in general.

Praxisleiter:

Flemming Elbaek


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Helle Ina Elmer


Referenzen

‘Flemming Elbaek is a truly stand-out specialist when it comes to environmental law – in short, simply, the Expert! Friendly and approachable and yet at the same time ready to fight your case.’

‘Working with Flemming Elbaek has been a great pleasure. Flemming is extremely grounded in his extensive knowledge of Danish and European environmental law, regulations, case law, and practice. This makes his insights and assessments very convincing and robust.’

‘One of the few leading advisers across all aspects of Danish and EU environmental legislation.’

Kernmandanten

Port of Aalborg


Municipality of Rebild


Municipality of Horsens


Municipality of Brønderslev


Danfoss A/S


Aarhus Vand A/S (Utilities of Aarhus)


Danish Agriculture and Food Council


Aalborg Portland A/S


HOFOR A/S (Utilities of Copenhagen)


Udviklingsselskabet By & Havn I/S


Topsøe A/S


European Energy A/S


KLAR Forsyning A/S (Utilities of the municipalities of Køge, Greve, Solrød og Stevns)


Metroselskabet I/S


Sund & Bælt Holding A/S


The Danish Road Directorate


Municipality of Vesthimmerland


Municipality of Solrød


Central Denmark Region


RWE Renewables Danmark A/S


Capital Region Denmark


Port of Roenne A/S


Highlight-Mandate


  • Providing legal advice to RWE Renewables Danmark A/S regarding the planning and permitting of Thor Offshore Wind Farm in the North Sea.
  • Providing legal advice to Metroselskabet I/S (The Copenhagen Metro) regarding the EIA of the new metro line M5 in Copenhagen.
  • Assisting Aarhus Vand A/S (Utilities of Aarhus) with the EIA and permits regarding ‘Helhedsplan Tangkrogen’ which is a large urban developing plan covering a large harbour near area in the centre of Aarhus. An element of the plan is a project regarding the establishing of a new treatment plant called Aarhus ReWater.

Kromann Reumert

Kromann Reumert’s environment and planning law department often represents commercial and industrial entities as well as public authorities in environmental and planning law litigation. The group stands out for its expertise in environmental-related planning law issues, and team lead Kim Trenskow is particularly experienced in identifying and handling environmental and planning transaction-based issues. Other key contact Jeppe Lefevre Olsen has a specific focus on waste, water, and environmental protection law.

Praxisleiter:

Kim Trenskow


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Jeppe Lefevre Olsen; Mikkel Vindfeldt


Referenzen

‘Strong performance from Kim Trenskow and Mikkel Vindfeldt.’

‘Mikkel Vindfeldt is dedicated and easy to work with, well prepared, bright – every thing you need from a lawyer.’

Kernmandanten

Ørsted


Danish Crown


MariboHilleshög


Musholm A/S


Aquapri A/S


Snaptun Fisk Export A/S


The Central Denmark Region


Skamol A/S


NGF Nature Energy Biogas A/S


Aalborg Municipality


Oiltanking Copenhagen A/S


HOFOR A/S


Novozymes A/S


Q8 Denmark


DSK – De Samvirkende Købmænd


Danish Aquaculture


The Regional Council of Southern Denmark


Gentofte Municipality


Odense Municipality


Wind Estate A/S


Frederiksberg Municipality


Morsø Municipality


Billund Municipality


Skanderborg Municipality


Odder Municipality


Kredsløb


Sønderborg Forsyning


EWII


Verdo


Norlys


DANVA Dansk Vand- og Spildevandsforening


Industrial Water Solutions


DLF Beet Seed ApS


Eurowind Energy


European Energy A/S


Jammerbugt Municipality


Coop Danmark A/S


Beveridge & Diamond PC


Andel


Fidelis New Energy


Kronospan


Aarhus Municipality


Highlight-Mandate


  • Representing Dansk Akvakultur and AquaPri A/S before the Eastern High Court in a landmark case regarding the interpretation of the Habitat Directive in connection with the environmental approval of sea farming activities.
  • Representing De Samvirkende Købmænd (DSK) in the current legal proceedings regarding the legalisation of the major shopping mall (Field’s) in Copenhagen.
  • Representing HOFOR in ongoing permitting processes regarding the construction of offshore wind farms and assisting HOFOR on various legal matters related to the processes.

Plesner

Plesner‘s environmental law team is renowned for handling complex matters spanning transactions, litigation, and advisory issues. The team particularly stands out for its work within the energy sector, particularly renewable energy projects. Leading the team is Niklas Korsgaard Christensen, who often advises on the environmental aspects of the implementation and transfer of large projects and the related dispute resolution. Fellow co-head Marcus Elskær Mollerup has extensive experience in handling environmental due diligence on energy M&A transactions.

Praxisleiter:

Niklas Korsgaard Christensen; Marcus Elskær Mollerup


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Sara Sadolin


Referenzen

‘The team consists of several highly competent lawyers. The team has valuable knowledge of the practice of central regulation and handling of complaints, which is so important to assess the risk in our business. Also the team have important insight into EU regulation of nature and protected animals, which plays a major role in our project. The team works fast and with close dialogue with the customer.’

Kernmandanten

Gaz-System S.A.


RWE Renewables


Udviklingsselskabet Kildedal P/S


Stena Recycling A/S


Equinor ASA


Innargi A/S


Rudersdal Municipality


Fortum Waste Solutions A/S


Icopal Danmark/BMI Group


Lokaltog A/S


Sund & Bælt Holding / A/S Øresund


Freja Ejendomme


NCC Industry A/S


TotalEnergies


Evida


Highlight-Mandate


  • Assisting Udviklingsselskabet Kildedal ApS with multiple aspects of a project regarding the urban development of a new urban area near Kildedal Station in the vicinity of Copenhagen.
  • Assisting Thor Wind Farm I/S, an affiliate to RWE Renewables Sweden AB, as the concessionaire in the future largest offshore wind park in Denmark, Thor, with a capacity of 1 GW.
  • Advising French energy major TotalEnergies in connection with the conclusion of a new strategic cooperation with European Energy.

SIRIUS advokater

The environmental law team at SIRIUS advokater has extensive experience providing advice at the intersection of environmental and public law, in areas including planning law, nature protection, climate change, and environmental-related litigation. The practice also has a considerable track-record advising clients in the public utility sector and local governments. Søren Stenderup Jensen focuses his practice on environmental issues and the related administrative, planning, and nature protection matters. Kurt Helles Bardeleben mainly focuses on the environmental aspects of real estate and construction law.

Praxisleiter:

Søren Stenderup Jensen; Kurt Helles Bardeleben


Referenzen

‘The firm has an excellent group of very competent lawyers – representing a broad field of regulations.’

‘A very personalised and individual service with an extremely good knowledge of our business and any legal-problems connected.’

Kernmandanten

NCC Industry A/S


Trelleborg AB


Telenor A/S


Nordic Waterproofing A/S


Municipality of Køge


Arwos Forsyning A/S


Din Forsyning A/S


SK Forsyning A/S


NK-Forsyning A/S


KLAR Forsyning A/S


Clearidium A/S


NPV A/S


UTF Holding ApS


Taasinge Elementer A/S


VEKS


FSK Foreningen Skaansomt Kystfiskeri


Municipality of Stevns


Municipality of Slagelse


Field’s A/S


Indsamling på Tværs I/S