Olaf Koktvedgaard
- Dispute Resolution
- Competition and EU
Olaf Koktvedgaard is a highly experienced advisor in EU and competition law and related economic business regulation, merger control and State aid with a focus on disputes. Olaf’s work focuses to a great extent on the interaction between public enterprises and government. He has extensive experience within dominance issues, State aid, cartel investigations and criminal defence and related investigations. He regularly acts before the Danish competition authorities, the Danish courts, the European Commission and the European Court of Justice.
Highlights (Panel content)
Featured cases
- Acted for public service broadcaster TV 2 Danmark (Denmark’s largest TV channel in terms of viewer numbers) in a large complex of cases regarding state aid and follow on damages for breach of competition rules. The case has been brought before the EU Court of Justice and the Eastern High Court and has involved claims for more than DKK 3 billion in total
- Acts for PostNord and Post Danmark in state aid cases before the Court of First Instance
- Defence counsel for Henning Kjeldsen and others in a case regarding violation of the Danish fish quota system (acquittal by the Danish High Court)
- Defence cousel for Danske Bank in the Flexinvest Fri case
- Acted for HMN Naturgas in a cartel case at the Danish High Court, as well as defence counsel in the subsequent criminal case
- Acts for Clear Channel Denmark (a part of the world's largest outdoor advertising company, Clear Channel International) in the High Court in a case against the Danish Competition Authorities regarding alleged cartel activity
- TV 2 Danmark in State aid proceedings before the Danish High Court and the ECJ on preliminary reference filed by NENT. The case is a landmark case concerning the notion of “illegality interest” and with a claimed amount of DKK 1.8 billion one of the largest State aid cases in Denmark (ongoing)
- Acts for Ørsted (Denmark’s largest energy provider, formerly known as DONG) in a case before the Danish Utility Regulator regarding the price of third-party transportation of natural gas in the upstream system from the North Sea to Denmark. A previous order was overturned by a final judgment from the Danish High Court
- Acted for FIH Holding A/S and FIH A/S in State aid proceedings against the European Commission before the General Court where the Commission decision was set aside
Rankings (Panel content)
Olaf is ranked in Band 2 in Chambers and Partners, ranked as Leading Individual (Hall of Fame) in The Legal 500 and recommended by Who’s Who Legal (Competition and State Aid).
“is characterised by a rare ability to transform his comprehensive expertise and keen business understanding into clear and understandable advice on highly complex matters” (Client testimonial, Chambers and Partners, 2023)
“I value his ability to take very complex matters and make them understandable in a wider context and find novel solutions." (Client testimonial, Chambers and Partners, 2021)
”the foremost lawyer in his field of expertise.” (Client testimonial, Chambers and Partners, 2020)
"an expert in Danish antitrust matters who is very cerebral, solutions-oriented and happy to roll his sleeves up." (Client testimonial, Chambers and Partners, 2020)
“Olaf Koktvedgaard has a rare ability to approach a challenge with novel ideas and often rendering optimal results. Excellent ability to focus on obtaining the goal at hand based on profound experience and keen business understanding.” (Client testimonial, The Legal 500, 2020)
Medlemskaber (Panel content)
Member of
- IBA
- The Danish Bar and Law Society