Christian Karhula Lauridsen

Attorney-at-Law, Partner

Christian Karhula Lauridsen is a specialist in complex litigation and other contentious matters.

According to international ranking firms, Christian is considered by clients to be "top-notch for complicated issues" and a "strategic mastermind". Sources say that he is "extremely analytical and straightforward" and "particularly strong on complex investigations, where every stone needs to be turned". He "thinks outside the box", "has great business acumen", and "is brilliant, always convincing, and extremely impressive in the courtroom". (Chambers and Legal 500)

In his early career, Christian was involved in a broad range of litigation matters and investigations ranging from the Supreme Court case concerning the compatibility of the Danish membership of EU with the Danish constitution, the arbitration cases regarding the construction of the Great Belt Bridge (the third longest suspension bridge in the World), and the comprehensive investigation in the Faroese banking case involving examination of more than 70 politicians, public servants and businesspeople, to a number of important EU cases regarding parallel import and registration of pharmaceuticals.

According to Chambers, Christian is "one of the best competition practitioners in the market". He has extensive experience in complex competition law investigations and litigation matters, as evidenced most recently by his victory in the more than 15-year long excessive pricing case for Ørsted – the largest and most significant competition law complex of cases ever in Denmark. He succeeded in having the relevant decisions from the Danish Competition Council, the Danish Competition Appeals Tribunal and the Danish Maritime and Commercial High Court overturned in their entirety; the first time this was achieved where it was not due to a preliminary ruling from the ECJ.

He also represented Danfoss in the largest ever cartel related damages case complex in Denmark and was the first to file negative declaratory actions ("torpedoes"), which had not previously been used in Denmark in competition related cases. He has also represented other Danish companies in some of the largest ever EU cartel cases involving Danish companies. Christian and his colleagues in Plesner are the only ones in Denmark having practical experience with both the European Commission's leniency programme and settlement procedure.

Christian has a combined Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Copenhagen and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven as well as a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in competition law, EU law and IP law from the University of Cambridge (Jesus College). He was seconded to work at the group secretariat of Carlsberg and has been an associated professor at Copenhagen Business School. Christian is the chairman of the Danish Competition Law Society.

Highlights

  • Ørsted - defended successfully Ørsted and Elsam in a number of complex court cases against the Danish competition authorities concerning the alleged excessive pricing on the electricity spot market in Denmark and in relation to the follow-on damages claims from more than 1.100 companies The case complex is the largest ever in Denmark.
  • Danfoss - defended Danfoss in the Refrigeration Compressors case. It was the first cartel case with joint dawn raids by EU, US and Brazilian authorities and one of the first cartel cases to be settled under the European Commission's new settlement procedure. Coordinated the criminal/administrative investigations in multiple foreign jurisdictions. Represented Danfoss in the largest ever cartel related damages case complex in Denmark and coordinated the defense in follow-on damages actions in multiple jurisdiction.
  • Diesel Motor Nordic - represents the company at the Danish Maritime and Commercial High Court regarding an alleged prevention of parallel import. The Danish Competition Authority, Dutch and Swedish competition authorities conducted coordinated dawn raids, and the Danish agency has described the case as "one of the longest-running investigations".
  • Victor Hasselblad - defended the Swedish camera producer Victor Hasselblad in a European Commission investigation regarding Hasselblad's alleged refusals to license essential IP rights and bundling of products – similar to the Microsoft case. After several years of investigation, the complaints were rejected by the European Commission.
  • CRT cartel - represented an international home electronics manufacturer in a damages action related to the CRT cartel.
  • The local banks case - defended seven Danish banks in the Local Banks case. All serious allegations by the Danish Competition Authority and the Danish Competition Council against the seven banks as to cartel activities, agreements on market partitioning and price coordination were dismissed by the Danish Competition Appeals Tribunal.
  • Energy E2 - advised Energy E2 in relation to the Danish Competition Authority's investigation of Energy E2's pricing behavior. Energy E2 was acquitted of all allegations, and the General Director of the agency stated that it had been "one of the most extensive investigations we have had in modern time".
  • Dansk Rørindustri - represented Dansk Rørindustri in the Pre-insulated Pipes case, one of the first EU cartel cases involving a Danish company. The case established a number of important principles of EU competition law.
  • Ørsted - assisted the state-owned company with state aid advise in relation to the contribution by, inter alia, Goldman Sachs of capital in the company. The contribution was one of the largest ever in Europe.
  • Innovation Fund Denmark - assisted the largest state-owned foundation in Denmark, Innovation Fund Denmark, in creating a pragmatic and state aid compliant IPR frame-work for the foundation's funds to private companies and universities for the development of new and important technologies.
  • Semler (formerly Skandinavisk Motor) - represented successfully the importer of Audi in the European Court of Justice's Case C-125/05 Vulcan Silkeborg regarding the interpretation of the motor vehicle block exemption regulation.

Ratings

  • Christian Karhula Lauridsen is and has continuously for many years been ranked by Chambers and Legal 500 as a leading individual (Band 1) as regards Competition and European Law. Furthermore he is listed as an expert within Competition and Antitrust by ExpertGuides and ranked as a global leader, pre-eminent lawyer and expert with respect to Competition by Who's Who Legal.

  • Christian Karhula Lauridsen is recommended and listed as a leading individual as regards EU and Competition (2023+2024)

  • Christian Karhula Lauridsen is recommended as a "Global Leader" as regards Competition (2023)

  • Christian Karhula Laurisen is ranked as a leading individual as regards Competition/European Law.

    Christian Karhula Lauridsen is particularly focused on contentious competition law matters, representing clients in investigations into allegations of excessive pricing, as well as acting for them on appeals against Danish Competition Council decisions and on damages claims. (2023)

  • Christian Karhula Lauridsen is recommended and listed as a leading individual as regards EU and Competition (2021+2022)

    "I have been working with Christian Karhula Lauridsen and Daniel Barry on very complex cases involving several jurisdictions. Both are extremely strong in analysing complex cases and by that also develop the strongest arguments and the best tactics. Not a single stone is untouched – and therefore they are able to develop the best strategy for how to handle the cases" (2021)

  • Christian Karhula Lauridsen is ranked as a leading individual as regards Competition/European Law. 

    Christian Karhula Lauridsen is a notable competition practitioner who advises clients on complex competition law disputes, including those with criminal aspects (2022)

  • Christian Karhula Lauridsen is ranked as a leading individual (Band 1) as regards Competition/European Law.

    Christian Karhula Lauridsen advises clients on complex competition law disputes, including those with criminal aspects. He is praised by a client as "an outstanding litigator who is able to comprehend extremely complex matters and come up with new legal aspects and arguments" (2021)

  • Christian Karhula Lauridsen is recommended and listed as a leading individual as regards EU and Competition (2020)

  • Christian Karhula Lauridsen is ranked as a leading individual (Band 1) as regards Competition/European Law.

    Christian Karhula Lauridsen advises clients on complex competition law disputes, including allegations of abuse of dominance and anti-competitive agreements. He receives praise from market sources due to his excellent business understanding within the sector (2020)

  • Christian Karhula Lauridsen is experienced in representing high-profile clients before the competition authorities, and also deals with damages and appeals. He is considered to be a "strategic mastermind" by sources, who say he is "always willing to find solutions to move things forward" (2019)

  • Christian Karhula Lauridsen has significant experience in competition-related damages claims, and has defended DONG Energy on damages cases relating to alleged excessive pricing in the energy markets. He also handles EU cartel work including cases involving multi-jurisdictional dimensions.

    Clients recognize his "very high standing" in this practice area, noting that "he's extremely detail-oriented and thinks outside of the box" (2018)

  • The group includes renowned Christian Karhula Lauridsen (2018)

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    Christian Karhula Lauridsen has a wealth of experience in competition law (2017)

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    Christian Karhula Lauridsen receives praise from clients: "He is definitely a strong lawyer, specialised in complex matters. He is very good at going in depth into competition law issues" (2016)

  • Christian Karhula Lauridsen is listed as a Life Science Star as regards Non-IP Litigation (2015)

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    Respected partner Christian Karhula Lauridsen is widely praised for his competition expertise and adept handling of international cases. "He has great business acumen and turns every stone to find solutions", impressed sources say (2014)

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    Market commentators describe Christian Karhula Lauridsen as one of the best competition practitioners in the market. Sources say: "He is extremely analytical and straightforward. He is particularly strong on complex investigations, where every stone needs to be turned" (2013)
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    Christian Karhula Lauridsen is considered by clients to be "top-notch for complicated issues" (2013)
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    Christian Karhula Lauridsen wins glowing reviews on all sides. Sources are greatly impressed by his "ability to provide clear advice on extremely complex legal matters" and by his "understanding of the economics of competition law." He has worked on some of Denmark's biggest cartel cases of late (2012)

  • Christian Karhula Lauridsen has received the ILO Client Choice Award 2011 in the category "Competition Law".

    "Christian Karhula Lauridsen has proven extremely valuable to us in very difficult and complex cases"
    "He is definitely among the very best external lawyers we have ever used."
    "He has a high degree of expertise in competition law, as well as significant knowledge of the related economic and financial aspects, which is of paramount importance in this field"
    "Mr. Lauridsen is able to communicate and deliver the core arguments of a case in a clear, precise and compelling manner"     (2011)

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    Christian Karhula Lauridsen is well-known for acting on significant cartel and abuse of dominance cases in recent years and his knowledge and commercial approach is appreciated.

    "He has a good ability to address both the legal and economic aspects of the mandate" (2011)

  • Christian Karhula Lauridsen has received the ILO Client Choice Award 2010 in the category "Competition Law".

    "Dedication to serve us as a client in a very effective and timely manner, superb strategic abilities and capacity combined with a deep insight into competition law matters"
    "Capable of preparing the right strategy to be used in the different matters – so his advice is not limited to pure legal matters"
    "He is very communicative - which means that you always feel that Mr Lauridsen is on top of the situation"
    "He is also heading a team of highly skilled lawyers"     (2010)

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    Christian Karhula Lauridsen "has excellent analytical skills, is extremely knowledgeable and always delivers on time" (2009)
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    Sources comment that Christian Karhula Lauridsen "is brilliant, always convincing, and extremely impressive in the courtroom" (2009)

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