We aim at providing modern and commercially sound legal services that ensure success for our clients. That is the core of our business. We advise clients across oil and gas and renewables, including leading Danish oil and power corporations, renewable energy companies and investors, and other blue-chip energy companies.
Our clients choose us because we synthesize technically, legally, and financially complex problems. We deliver this analytical process and service based on our in-depth knowledge of the factors that are essential to successful preparation, completion and operation of projects, including assessment of design, financing, regulatory and operating risks.
Our experience and strong competences are key factors in offering our clients advice that adds maximum value. We constantly focus on maintaining and developing a very high level of specialization, industry-specific knowledge and in-depth expertise in individual sectors.
Our team advise clients on, among other things:
Over the past decades, our energy and infrastructure team have obtained wide experience within project development by advising clients on large-scale energy and infrastructure development projects within both the private and the public sector. Within energy this includes the development of facilities and plants for the exploitation, production and transport of energy (oil, gas, biogas, power, hydrogen etc.) onshore as well as offshore. Within infrastructure, this, includes the development of airports, railways, bridges, cable connections etc.
When advising on project development, we are often involved in all phases of the project development, including in relation to procurement, regulatory matters, acquisition of property and drafting, negotiation and management of related project agreements as well as contract and claims management. Through this work our team have obtained in-depth knowledge of drafting and negotiating DSA (Development Services); EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction); O&M (Operation and Maintenance) and TCM (Technical and Commercial Management) contracts as well as other related varieties such as EPCI (EPC and Installation), EPCM (EPC Management) and EPCMQ (EPC Management and Qualification) contracts. In that context, we have also obtained extensive experience with respect to the FIDIC regime.
For many years, we have been involved in some of the largest and most complex off take agreements in Denmark.
We have advised Danish and international developers, producers, operators and corporate consumers of energy in the form of both power, oil and gas. In this respect, we have particularly obtained a market leading position within the following:
In recent years, new energy sources, such as hydrogen, have entered the market and we expect to see an increase of off take agreements within these renewable sources of energy. At this point in time, we have already been involved in one of the largest hydrogen projects (Power-to-X) in Denmark.
By combining our market-leading renewable energy expertise with our market-leading debt capital markets and banking & finance expertise, we advise corporates and financiers on the structuring and issuance of all types of green and sustainable finance, including:
The market for green and sustainable finance has grown rapidly in recent years and continues to evolve as increasing regulatory pressures and demand from investors promote the incorporation of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in financing and investment portfolios. Plesner has thorough knowledge of the relevant industry standards and legal frameworks, such as ICMA principles, LMA principles and the EU Taxonomy Regulation, and we continue to be at the forefront of the developments.
We advise on all regulatory matters of relevance for the energy and infrastructure sector. Clients regularly seek our advice on matters regarding larger energy assets, including publicly subsidized assets, and development projects which require a variety of permits and consents from administrative authorities.
Our team are seasoned in the strategic aspects of handling regulatory matters, including in approaching the Danish administrative authorities to secure an efficient process or solve issues. In our daily work, we combine and make use of our vast knowledge of the general principles of Danish public administrative law and our in-depth experience with regulation on energy matters to ensure the best possible results in complex regulatory processes.
In recent years, Plesner has been involved in dispute resolution for around 80% of Danish C20 companies.
From the start until the conclusion of a case, we work closely with our clients on planning a strategy for the conduct of the case. We have tactical and commercial competences as well as advice on risks and risk management, including specific views as to which risks we believe are feasible and which are not.
Within energy and infrastructure, we have assisted large clients - both private and public clients - in a great variety of medium and large-scale arbitration and litigation proceedings concerning mostly claims relating to large energy and infrastructure projects. In that connection, we have obtained extensive experience in conducting both arbitration and litigation proceedings in many different venues, including the Danish Arbitration Institute, the Danish Building and Construction Arbitration Board as well as litigation before all Danish courts.
Plesner is listed in "Tier 1" as regards Project Development: Energy (2021+2021/2022+2022)
"Clear, concise and commercially pragmatic advice" (2021/2022)
"High level across different fields of expertise" (2022)
Within Energy Plesner is a first tier firm.
Plesner has a strong track record in handling large-scale energy projects and transactions.
"Very pragmatic advisers and clear client friendly advice. Good sector knowledge"
"Excellent knowledge and abundance of experience in the field, combined with sound commercial understanding"
"Excellent understanding of negotiation structures and situations"
"Very responsive, very commercial and succinct"
"All are really excellent. Very responsive. Really high-quality advice" (2022)
Within Energy and within Shipping and Transport, Plesner is a first tier firm.
The team at Plesner is adept at handling large-scale offshore infrastructure development mandates including oil and gas and offshore wind projects.
"Pleasant team with great client service"
"Good industry knowledge, and helpful and responsive" (2021)
Within Energy and within Shipping and Transport, Plesner is a first tier firm.
Shipping and Transport: "One of the top firms in Denmark, which provides the best and most comprehensive coverage and counselling" (2020)
Prominent team which routinely assists with regulatory matters and project development and is particularly active on M&A mandates in the energy sector. Works with clients across oil and gas and renewables, including leading Danish oil and power corporations and wind energy investors. Also offers experience in contract negotiations, licensing issues and research and development agreements.
"Very responsive and quick"
"High quality, with a good energy practice" (2020)
Prominent team noted for its business-oriented approach to the energy sector. Routinely assists with regulatory matters, project development and energy-related dispute resolution and is particularly active on M&A mandates in the energy sector. Works with clients across oil and gas and renewables, including leading Danish oil and power corporations, wind energy investors and other blue-chip energy companies. Draws strong praise for its expertise in contractual matters relating to energy supply and installation, including EPC contracts. Also advises on cross-border matters.
"Commercial and market-oriented," together with the ability to provide "good all-round legal work"
"Delivers a substantial amount of work within a short time schedule" (2019)
"Customer-oriented, fast, practical and at a high legal standard"
"High degree of flexibility"
"Quality responses and holistic perspective"
"A wide knowledge of cross-border legal systems" (2018)
Prominent team noted for its business-oriented approach to the energy sector. Routinely assists clients with regulatory and corporate matters, project development, M&A and energy-related dispute resolution. Works with clients across oil and gas and renewables, including leading Danish oil and power corporations, wind energy investors and other blue-chip energy companies (2017)
Within Energy, Plesner is a first tier firm.
Niklas Christensen heads Plesner's "top" practice, which advises on regulatory matters, large project developments and disputes (2016)
"The firm's lawyers are always very committed and provide relevant advice and high-level service on complicated legal matters within the time and scope agreed. They are all excellent lawyers and we are very satisfied with their service"
"We are satisfied because the lawyers deliver whatever we agree upon in due time and they make sure to follow up on things" (2016)
Plesner's Greenland desk comprises four lawyers who regularly advise on Greenlandic and Danish-Greenlandic matters. The team recently advised an energy company on the acquisition of drilling licences in Greenland, and regularly publishes advice on working in Greenland (2015)
Strong practice with substantial experience in regulatory issues, project development, M&A and disputes. Also noted for its wind power expertise, especially in turbine supply and operations and maintenance agreements. Noted for its capabilities in matters related to North Sea oil and gas.
"The people assisting us are very experienced and specialised in the energy sector; the attitude and proactiveness is really good"
"Very good at giving ad hoc advice on short deadlines, and good at understanding the commercial issues and broader strategic perspective"
"The firm is helpful and insightful; I wouldn't hesitate to reach out to it again" (2015)
Comprehensive energy practice with particular expertise in offshore pipeline projects and upstream oil and gas.
"A very impressive, customer-focused law firm"
"Very good in the energy sector, and especially in financial contracts" (2014)
Plesner’s infrastructure and energy practices are among the best in Denmark, with both widely viewed as excellent across board. The firm has a particularly strong track record in project development and an outstanding reputation for EPC work (2014)
We advise on all strategic and legal aspects of energy and infrastructure transactions. Transactions of a certain size require extensive specialist knowledge, teamwork, broad perspective and, not least, experience in relation to both the legal and the commercial aspects of the transaction. We advise our clients within this field and strive to ensure that such advice adds maximum value to the client.
At the core of our strategy is collaboration. We do everything as a team – for the benefit of our clients - and we constantly strive to remain the law firm in Denmark which provides the most value-adding legal services to our clients.