Thomas Holst Laursen
Attorney-at-Law
Partner
Plesner's Corporate Finance team handles some of the largest and most complex corporate transactions within capital markets and M&A (sales, buy-side, cross-border, partnering/minority, JVs, carve-out, etc.). The team provides an integrated multi-disciplinary powerhouse to international and national players in M&A and capital markets (both takeovers of listed companies and IPOs, etc.).
With more than 25 years of experience, Thomas is one of the most experienced transaction lawyers in the market, having handled several of the largest and most complex transactions in the Danish market (including the Novonesis merger, SAS restructuring and acquisition, and Simcorp) and the market's recent IPOs (Netcompany and Gubra).
With transactions worth more than EUR 61 billion and 144 transactions (source: MergerMarket), Thomas is one of the highest ranked and recognised transaction lawyers in the market in both numbers and value. Thomas concentrates on M&A and capital markets transactions.
According to Mergerlinks, Thomas ranks as "the No. 1 Top M&A Lawyer in Denmark" in 2023 and leads the market in all recognised rankings of Danish transactional lawyers (Chambers, Legal500, etc.).
Thomas mainly focuses on assisting corporate clients and foundations. Thomas' experience includes M&A mandates, cross-border M&A, take-private transactions, IPOs, ABBs, rights issues, and JV/merger transactions.
Thomas has a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Copenhagen and Cambridge University.
Almost all the matters that Thomas is involved in require a multi-disciplinary team approach and project leadership. Clients continuously seek him and the team for their ability to provide a clear set of priorities, clear communication, and a deep commercial understanding of the client's needs.
Selected cases
- Advised Netcompany on its IPO
- Advised Deutche Borse on acquisition of SimCorp
- Advised Netcompany Group on acquisition of Skandinavisk Data Center
- Advised Novozymes on merger with Chr. Hansen Holding
- Advised EQT Partners on sale of 4% stake in WS Audiology to Widex
- Advised Demant on sale of Oticon Medical to Cochlear
- Advised Kingdom of Denmark on acquisition of 59.4% stake in Copenhagen Airport
- Advised Zealand Pharma on sale to unpublished buyer
- Advised DSV on acquisition of Schenker from Deutsche Bahn
Ratings
Thomas Holst Laursen is recommended and has been inducted into the Legal 500 Hall of Fame as regards Commercial, Corporate and M&A. Further, Thomas Holst Laursen is recommended and listed as a Leading Partner as regards Capital Markets. In addition, he is recommended as regards Insolvency.
"Thomas Holst Laursen is a very pragmatic, solution-oriented lawyer"
"Thomas Holst Laursen - exceptionally good within public M&A, in particular. Pragmatic and solution-focused. Very hands-on and always available"
"Great depth of the teams around Janus Jepsen and Thomas Holst Laursen in capital markets law. Very responsive on all levels"
"Thomas Holst Laursen is very commercially oriented with a clear focus on problem-solving. He gives clear, unbiased and salient advice"
"Thomas Holst Laursen possesses strong strategic understanding which is reflected in his advice. He is good at navigating complex stakeholder landscapes, yet always gives his honest opinion, even when it may not be the most popular which is something that I value highly"
"Thomas Holst Laursen is one of the best negotiators in the Nordics. He had no problem standing firm against a room full of US lawyers"
"Thomas Holst Laursen is a very pragmatic, solution-oriented lawyer"
"Thomas Holst Laursen - exceptionally good within public M&A, in particular. Pragmatic and solution-focused. Very hands-on and always available"
"Great depth of the teams around Janus Jepsen and Thomas Holst Laursen in capital markets law. Very responsive on all levels"
"Thomas Holst Laursen is very commercially oriented with a clear focus on problem-solving. He gives clear, unbiased and salient advice"
"Thomas Holst Laursen possesses strong strategic understanding which is reflected in his advice. He is good at navigating complex stakeholder landscapes, yet always gives his honest opinion, even when it may not be the most popular which is something that I value highly"
"Thomas Holst Laursen is one of the best negotiators in the Nordics. He had no problem standing firm against a room full of US lawyers"
2025
The Legal 500 - Hall of Fame
Thomas Holst Laursen is ranked as a leading individual (Band 1) as regards Corporate/M&A by Chambers Global and Chambers Europe.
"Thomas Holst Laursen is a top-notch lawyer"
"Thomas Holst Laursen is an amazing lawyer"
"Thomas is a very skilled lawyer who is pragmatic; he knows where to pick a fight and where not to"
"Thomas not only is an excellent legal adviser but also helps with key deal-making elements"
"He is one of the few lawyers in Denmark who understands the commercial aspects of a deal without compromising on the quality of the legal advice"
"Thomas Holst Laursen is a top-notch lawyer"
"Thomas Holst Laursen is an amazing lawyer"
"Thomas is a very skilled lawyer who is pragmatic; he knows where to pick a fight and where not to"
"Thomas not only is an excellent legal adviser but also helps with key deal-making elements"
"He is one of the few lawyers in Denmark who understands the commercial aspects of a deal without compromising on the quality of the legal advice"
2025
Chambers Global
Thomas Holst Laursen is listed as a Global Elite Thought Leader as regards Healthcare & Life Sciences - Transactional. Further, he is listed as a Thought Leader and recommended as a Global Leader as regards Capital Markets - Debt & Equity. In addition, he is recommended as a Global Leader as regards M&A and Governance.
most recent
Lexology Index
Thomas Holst Laursen is listed as a Leading Lawyer (Market Leader) as regards Capital Markets: Equity, Private Equity Funds, Private Equity and M&A.
"He is sharp and analytical – but with a sound pragmatic approach" (2023)
"Very strong overall, very commercial, to the point, tells it like it is and does not hold back in negotiations" (2023)
"Very pleasant and knowledgeable. Probably the best lawyer of his generation" (2023)
"Bright, engaging, commercially aware and always professional and collegiate in manner" (2023)
"He is sharp and analytical – but with a sound pragmatic approach" (2023)
"Very strong overall, very commercial, to the point, tells it like it is and does not hold back in negotiations" (2023)
"Very pleasant and knowledgeable. Probably the best lawyer of his generation" (2023)
"Bright, engaging, commercially aware and always professional and collegiate in manner" (2023)
2023 + 2024
IFLR1000
Thomas Holst Laursen is recommended and has been inducted into the Legal 500 Hall of Fame as regards Commercial, Corporate and M&A. Further, he is recommended and listed as a leading individual as regards Capital Markets.
"Thomas Holst Laursen is the natural leader of the firm and is truly a pleasure to work with"
"Thomas Holst Laursen has superb knowledge and a practical pragmatic approach"
"Thomas Holst Laursen is the natural leader of the firm and is truly a pleasure to work with"
"Thomas Holst Laursen has superb knowledge and a practical pragmatic approach"
2024
The Legal 500
Thomas Holst Laursen is ranked as a leading individual as regards Corporate/M&A by Chambers Global and Chambers Europe.
"Thomas has a great approach and is very commercial and knowledgeable" (2024)
"He has strong negotiation skills and a deep knowledge in the nature of transactions" (2024)
"Thomas has a great approach and is very commercial and knowledgeable" (2024)
"He has strong negotiation skills and a deep knowledge in the nature of transactions" (2024)
2019 - 2024
Chambers Global
Thomas Holst Laursen 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. Further, he is recommended and listed as a leading individual as regards Capital Markets.
"Thomas Holst Laursen is seasoned and very sharp" (2023)
"Thomas Holst Laursen is taking a very holistic and considered approach to the legal issues related to the company transition we are working on" (2022)
"Thomas Holst Laursen is seasoned and very sharp" (2023)
"Thomas Holst Laursen is taking a very holistic and considered approach to the legal issues related to the company transition we are working on" (2022)
2022 + 2023
The Legal 500 - Hall of Fame
Thomas Holst Laursen is listed as a Leading Lawyer (Market Leader) as regards Capital Markets: Equity, Private Equity Funds, Private Equity and M&A.
"He is always very open and transparent. He has a friendly nature and has very broad experience. His communication is most often very clear and his knowledge on specific areas is often very deep. He is especially good at strategic advisory. He always does what he promises and his availability is fantastic" (2022)
"Highly skilled; makes things happen; client-first attitude" (2022)
"Thomas Holst Laursen provides thorough solutions. He has a pragmatic and solutions-oriented approach to the challenges presented. He understands the commercial angle and remembers the personal angle can be important, too" (2021/2022)
"He is always very open and transparent. He has a friendly nature and has very broad experience. His communication is most often very clear and his knowledge on specific areas is often very deep. He is especially good at strategic advisory. He always does what he promises and his availability is fantastic" (2022)
"Highly skilled; makes things happen; client-first attitude" (2022)
"Thomas Holst Laursen provides thorough solutions. He has a pragmatic and solutions-oriented approach to the challenges presented. He understands the commercial angle and remembers the personal angle can be important, too" (2021/2022)
2017 - 2022
IFLR1000