Denmark profits targeted

Osborne Clarke OWA is lobbying for a change in establishment regulation in Denmark, as it plans to probe deeper into Scandinavia following the announcement of its Danish merger earlier this month.

Partners in London and Denmark told the Gazette they would look at Sweden once Osborne Clarke has tied the knot with Pedersen & Jantzen on 1 January.

Pedersen's partner Anders Hansen and Osborne Clarke partner Per Troen, said they were keen to get the Danish government to push through legislation which would allow them to share profits.

Mr Hansen said: 'Even though the European Commission has decided it should be possible for lawyers to do business in other countries, and Denmark has passed legislation in May, it is still not possible for foreign lawyers to be owners.

We are trying to change the rules.' He condemned current foreign ownership rules as 'old-fashioned'.

The Danish Law Society and government are in favour of the changes, but they are not considered a priority.

The Danish Law Society's president, Jon Stockholm, said that foreign lawyers are not recognised as lawyers under Danish law.

The European establishment Directive provides that recognition of foreign lawyers is voluntary.

Osborne Clarke used to work closely with Norwegian firm Horton, but parted company when the firm merged with another Norwegian firm, Lindh Stabell.

Meanwhile, a number of lawyers have left Lagerlf & Leman, Linklaters' allied firm in Stockholm, to set up their own firm in Gothenburg.

Mr Troen said: 'It would be too early for us to speak to them.'

Anne Mizzi