Christian Th. Kjølbye

Christian's focus areas are litigation and arbitration proceedings, corporate and regulatory advisory and investigations, fraud issues, and fit & proper matters.

Christian has participated as either counsel or arbitrator in numerous Danish and international arbitration proceedings (under the rules of i.a. DIA, ICC, LCIA, VIAC) regarding a range of matters, including contractual disputes, shareholder agreements, D&O liability, auditors liability and transaction/post M&A related disputes.

Cases handled by Christian and his team have i. a. centered around purchase price adjustments, earn-out disputes, put/call options and claims for breach of warranty issues. The disputes have involved a high degree of complexity, as well as expert opinions and testimony, written affidavits and various procedural and jurisdictional issues.

Christian was for many years also part of Plesner's M&A and corporate practice group. He has represented clients in a number of the largest and most complex transactions and privatizations in Denmark. His clients have included the Danish State, large international and domestic corporations, P/E funds and family owned businesses. 

The "hands-on" experience and commercial understanding earned through working for many years with all aspects of M/A processes has proven valuable for Christian and his team, i. a. in connection with cases involving negligence and breach of fiduciary duties, including also the disclosure duty on the part of the seller, and the importance of buyer's knowledge and due diligence in respect of the target business.

Christian is active as chairman or board member of a number of Danish companies and Foundations. He has taken an active part in the management and development of Plesner, and he has held board positions in numerous Danish companies, including i.e. Finansiel Stabilitet (the state owned company taking over distressed banks after the financial crisis in the years following 2009).

Christian holds a Master's degree in law from the University of Copenhagen and from New York University School of Law. He is admitted to the Supreme Court of Denmark, a certified arbitrator and is frequently appointed as arbitrator in Danish and International arbitration proceedings.

Christian is ranked as a senior statesman within M&A.