Christian Th. Kjølbye

Attorney-at-Law, Partner, LL.M.

Christian Th. Kjølbye is a partner in our Dispute Resolution team.

Christian's focus areas are:

  • M&As
  • Structured sales processes
  • Listed companies – take-over bids
  • Foundation law – commercial and non-commercial foundations
  • Arbitration proceedings – Danish and international arbitration, especially in M&As and transaction-related cases

Christian's track record includes some of the largest M&As in Denmark. Christian also has in-depth sector specialisation, eg in telecommunications, IT/consultancy businesses, logistics businesses and the food/beverage segment. He advises clients on take-over bids and management and governance.

Christian is one of Denmark's leading foundation law advisors. He advises a range of the largest commercial foundations in Denmark on strategic issues related to the foundation’s businesses and objects, eg in relation to grants, governance and object amendments etc.

Moreover, he is chairman and a member of various boards of trustees. Christian was an expert member of Erhvervsfondsudvalget (commercial foundations committee) in 2012 and contributed to the travaux preparatoires of the Danish Act on Commercial Foundations.

Christian is also highly experienced in arbitration proceedings. Christian has conducted a series of important international arbitration proceedings relating to M&A guarantee requirements, loyal duty of disclosure and other transaction-related disputes with a high degree of complexity, expert witnesses etc. Christian has also served as arbitrator and umpire in a range of Danish and international arbitration proceedings.

Christian has an LL.M from New York University and lectures in and gives presentations on corporate law and foundation law subjects.

Highlights

  • Brdr. Hartmann - public take-over bid from Lactosan-Sanovo
  • Dagbladet Børsen - advisor to Bonnier, the Swedish media group, in connection with Bonnier's sale of the Danish business daily Dagbladet Børsen to JP/Politikens Hus
  • Danisco A/S - DuPont's take-over of Danisco (via a public take-over bid)
  • Danske Færger - establishment of Danske Færger through a merger between Bornholmstrafikken A/S, Sydfynske A/S (which was an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Clipper Group A/S) and Færgen
  • Louis Poulsen Lighting A/S - sale of Louis Poulsen Lighting A/S to Polaris
  • Post Nord - merger between Post Danmark A/S and Posten AB
  • Sanistål - rights issue
  • Sanovo Greenpack Embalagens do Brasil Ltda - Brdr. Hartmann's acquisition of Sanovo Greenpack Embalagens do Brasil Ltda from Lactosan-Sanovo Holding A/S
  • Scandlines - sale of ferry company Scandlines
  • Skagen Designs - sale of Skagen Designs to US company Fossil
  • Telenor - contemplated merger between Telenor's and Telia's Danish businesses in a new joint company
  • Trustpilot - advisory services related to Vitruvian Partners' investment in Trustpilot
  • Trustpilot - venture investments in Trustpilot
  • Welltec - PFA's investment in Welltec

Arbitration

  • International arbitration proceedings as attorney for a German company which filed a complaint against a global Danish company in a case involving the Danish company's sale of a subsidiary to the German buyer. Extensive claim for damages on the basis of non-performance of financial guarantees and violation of the seller's loyal duty of disclosure as well as production of evidence of the size of the loss, eg on the basis of the DCF loss calculation
  • Attorney for a distributor (in Germany, Switzerland and Austria) against a Danish company regarding the Danish company’s wrongful termination of the distribution agreement, with completion of a material claim for damages against the Danish company
  • Umpire of arbitration tribunal in a case involving the cancellation of an acquisition of a share in a limited partnership in Germany based on incorrect information in the underlying prospectus documents
  • Arbitrator in international arbitration proceedings between a US company and a Swiss company involving questions about the determination of the purchase price in an international business transaction
  • Extensive experience in general as an attorney or arbitrator in cases involving shareholders' agreements in connection with arbitration proceedings and arbitration complaints related to M&As, especially regarding the alleged violation of the seller's loyal duty of disclosure, financial guarantees and tax guarantees, not to mention purchase price calculations

Ratings

  • Christian Th. Kjølbye is recommended and has been inducted into the Legal 500 Hall of Fame as regards Commercial, Corporate and M&A (2024)

  • Christian Th. Kjølbye is ranked as a Senior Statesman as regards Corporate/M&A by Chambers Global and Chambers Europe. 

    Senior statesperson Christian Kjølbye is noted for his longstanding experience in the field. He offers strategic advice on cross-border M&A deals.

    "Christian provides an insightful and client-oriented approach, setting the right team for the task" (2024)

  • Christian Th Kjølbye is recommended as a "Global Leader" as regards Telecoms & Media (2023+2024)
  • Christian Th. Kjølbye is listed as a Leading Lawyer (Highly Regarded) as regards Capital Markets: Equity and M&A (2019-2023)

  • Christian Th. Kjølbye has been inducted into the Legal 500 Hall of Fame as regards Commercial, Corporate and M&A. He is recommended as regards Commercial, Corporate and M&A (2023)

  •  

    Christian Th. Kjølbye is ranked as a Senior Statesman as regards Corporate/M&A by Chambers Global and Chambers Europe.

    Senior statesman Christian Kjølbye is noted for his longstanding experience in the field. He offers strategic advice on cross-border M&A deals (2022+2023)

  • Christian Th. Kjølbye has been inducted into the Legal 500 Hall of Fame as regards Commercial, Corporate and M&A. He is recommended as regards Commercial, Corporate and M&A (2022)

  • Christian Th. Kjølbye has been inducted into the Legal 500 Hall of Fame as regards Commercial, Corporate and M&A. He is recommended as regards Commercial, Corporate and M&A (2021)

     

  •  

    Christian Th. Kjølbye is ranked as a Senior Statesman as regards Corporate/M&A by Chambers Global and Chambers Europe.

    Christian Kjølbye is noted for his longstanding experience in the field. He advises clients on cross-border M&A deals (2021)

     

  • Christian Th. Kjølbye is recommended and listed as a leading individual (Hall of Fame) as regards Commercial, Corporate and M&A (2020)

  •  

    Christian Th. Kjølbye is ranked as a leading individual as regards Corporate/M&A by Chambers Global and Chambers Europe.

    Christian Kjølbye assists clients with acquisitions and divestments. He is recognised as a "skilled and experienced"  lawyer in M&A transactions. He advises public sector clients and energy companies (2020)

  • Christian Th. Kjølbye is listed as a leading individual as regards Commercial, Corporate and M&A. Further, Christian Th. Kjølbye is recommended as regards Telecoms.

    Christian Th. Kjølbye "stands out as a very capable lawyer" with "a great insight into legal issues" and "a friendly, understanding and hardworking attitude" (2019)

     

  •  

    Christian Th. Kjølbye is ranked as a leading individual as regards Corporate/M&A by Chambers Global and Chambers Europe.

    Christian Th. Kjølbye has a strong track record in the corporate/M&A field. He has experience advising on transactions and commercial agreements (2019)


  • Christian Th. Kjølbye has in January 2018 been inducted into the Legal 500's Hall of Fame for his continuous excellence within the practice area: Commercial, Corporate and M&A. Before 2018, the Hall of Fame only featured leading lawyers from the US.

    The Legal 500 Hall of Fame highlights individuals who have received constant praise by the clients for continued excellence. The Hall of Fame highlights, to clients, the law firm partners, who are at the pinnacle of the profession. In EMEA, the criteria for entry is to have been recognised by The Legal 500 as one of the elite leading lawyers for seven consecutive years. 

  •  

    Christian Th. Kjølbye is ranked as a leading individual (Band 1) as regards Corporate/M&A by Chambers Global and Chambers Europe.

    According to clients, Christian Th. Kjølbye is very "efficient, both in his approach to the process as well as in his advice". He has noteworthy expertise in acting for clients on mergers and structured sales processes and recently led the firm's work on a significant corporate transaction in the Danish media sector (2018)

  • Christian Th. Kjølbye is listed as a leading individual as regards Commercial, Corporate and M&A (2018) 

     

  • Christian Th. Kjølbye is listed as a Leading Lawyer (Highly Regarded) as regards Capital Markets: Equity and M&A (Financial and Corporate 2018)
  • Christian Th Kjølbye is listed as an expert with respect to both Telecoms & Media and Corporate: Mergers & Acquisition (2017)
  •  
    Christian Th. Kjølbye is ranked as a leading individual (Band 1) as regards Corporate/M&A by Chambers Global and Chambers Europe (2017)
  • Christian Th. Kjølbye is listed as a leading individual as regards Commercial, Corporate and M&A (2017)
  • Christian Th. Kjølbye is listed as a Leading Lawyer as regards Capital Markets: Equity and M&A (Financial and Corporate 2017)
  •  

    Christian Th. Kjølbye is ranked as a leading individual (Band 1) as regards Corporate/M&A by both Chambers Global and Chambers Europe.

    Christian Th. Kjølbye remains a leading figure for Danish M&A transactions, while also advising high-profile clients on complex multi-jurisdictional mandates (2016)

  • Christian Th. Kjølbye is listed as a leading individual as regards Mergers & Acquisitions (2016)

  •  
    Christian Th. Kjølbye is listed as a Leading Lawyer as regards Capital Markets (Equity) as wells as M&A (2016)
  • Christian Th. Kjølbye is listed as an expert with respect to Corporate - Merger & Acquisition.

    Christian Th. Kjølbye is listed as an expert with respect to Telecommunications Media & Technology - Telecoms and Media (2016)

     

  •  
    Christian Th. Kjølbye is ranked as a leading individual as regards Capital Markets by Chambers Global as well as by Chambers Europe. Christian Th. Kjølbye focuses primarily on public M&A and corporate finance, and is noted for his expertise in the telecommunications industry. He is described as a "highly skilled lawyer who is really pleasant to work with".

    Christian Th. Kjølbye is ranked as a leading individual (Band 1) as regards Corporate/M&A by Chambers Global as well as by Chambers Europe. Interviewees describe Christian Th. Kjølbye as "one of the stars of the team," with one saying: "He is one of the best lawyers I've worked with so far - an unbelievably hard worker who demonstrates very strong knowledge." Kjølbye recently advised Targetti Sankey on its sale of Louis Poulsen Lighting Group to Polaris Private Equity (2015)
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    Christian Th. Kjølbye is recommended as regards Energy.

    Christian Th. Kjølbye is listed as a leading individual as regards Mergers & Acquisitions.

    Christian Th. Kjølbye is recommended as regards Capital Markets (2015)

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    Christian Th. Kjølbye is listed as a Leading Lawyer as regards M&A as well as Equity Capital Markets (2015)
  • Christian Th. Kjølbye is listed as a leading individual as regards Mergers and Acquisitions in the Banking, Finance and Transactional Law (2015)

  •  
    Christian Th. Kjølbye is ranked as a leading individual as regards Capital Markets by Chambers Global as well as by Chambers Europe. He is a "rising star" of the capital markets practice. According to one peer, he is "absolutely someone I would refer work to." He is also recognized as a leading corporate/M&A expert.
     
    Christian Th. Kjølbye is ranked as a leading individual (Band 1) as regards Corporate/M&A (2014)
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