Henrik Sjørslev
Henrik Sjørslev specialises in insolvency law and restructuring.
Henrik is the Danish as well as Nordic Practice Group Head of DLA Piper’s Finance Group.
He has a right of audience before the Danish Supreme Court and is recognised by IFLR1000, Chambers and The Legal 500 within insolvency and restructuring. He is also a certified insolvency lawyer and on the list of trustees regularly appointed by the Danish Maritime and Commercial High Court.
Henrik has long-standing hands-on experience and in-depth expertise within all areas of insolvency law and has been involved in a vast number of matters with international aspects. His clients include creditors with exposure to insolvent enterprises. He provides advice relating to out-of-court turnaround processes. Moreover, he advises on the sale and purchase of distressed enterprises (distressed M&A).
Henrik is Chairman of the governing body of Kuratorforeningen (the association of trustees appointed by the Danish Maritime and Commercial High Court) and sits on the governing body of the Danish Association of Insolvency Lawyers. He is also a member of the Board of Directors and former Managing Partner of DLA Piper Denmark.
Furthermore, for a number of years, Henrik has co-authored “The International Insolvency Review” published by Law Business Research and authored “Insolvency” published by Chambers Global Practice Guide.
The European Association of Restructuring and Insolvency Professionals (INSOL Europe)
The International Bar Association (IBA)
Kuratorforeningen (the association of trustees appointed by the Danish Maritime and Commercial High Court)
The Danish Association of Insolvency Lawyers
- SAS – Scandinavian Airlines System – acting for the Unsecured Creditors’ Committee in the Chapter 11 process initiated by the SAS Group in the summer of 2022 before the United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York. Founded in 1946, SAS is the largest airline in Scandinavia. The Government of Denmark and the Government of Sweden are the largest shareholders in the company, each holding 21.80% of the shares. The SAS group owes an aggregate debt of approx. SEK 30bn and, through the Chapter 11 process in the US, the company intends to attempt to convert a substantial portion of the debt into shares and seek new share capital in the market, while continuing to implement its comprehensive business transformation plan entitled SAS Forward. The Unsecured Creditors’ Committee is to ensure the best possible solution for the unsecured creditors.
- OW Bunker A/S under konkurs (in bankruptcy) – acting for a group of 24 Danish institutional investors led by major Danish pension funds ATP and PFA in a pending legal action before the Eastern High Court of Denmark concerning compensation due to prospectus liability and misstatements to the market in connection with the initial public offering (IPO) and subsequent collapse of OW Bunker A/S. OW Bunker was listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen, Copenhagen Securities Exchange, in March 2014 and a mere 7 months later the company went bankrupt following heavy losses on fuel contracts and on a fraudulent subsidiary in Singapore. In 2013 – the year before the IPO – OW Bunker had a revenue of DKK 92.3bn and was Denmark’s second largest company by revenue. The action for compensation is expected to come to a close at the Eastern High Court of Denmark during 2025.
- E. Pihl & Søn A/S under konkurs (in bankruptcy) – trustee of the bankruptcy estate of a major Danish construction company with activities on all continents except Australia. Pihl & Søn went bankrupt in 2013 and, following 10 years of international transactions, litigation and arbitration, the proceedings came to a close in 2023. The year before the bankruptcy, Pihl & Søn had 3,400 employees and a revenue of DKK 5.4bn. In Denmark, the company was known especially for iconic building and construction projects such as the Great Belt Bridge, the Royal Opera House and the Royal Playhouse in Copenhagen as well as the renovation of the exclusive Hotel d’Angleterre and the headquarters of the Confederation of Danish Industry in Copenhagen. Loss-making projects outside Denmark as well as substantial funds tied up in litigation and arbitration proceedings caused the bankruptcy.
Partner, DLA Piper Denmark, since 2017
Partner, LETT (DLA Piper Denmark), 2015-2017
Managing Partner, LETT (DLA Piper Denmark), 2013-2015
Partner, LETT (DLA Piper Denmark), 2011-2013
Attorney, Nordia, 2003-2011
Attorney, Schiersing & Sjørslev, 1998-2003
Attorney, Grønningen 17, 1996-1998
Attorney, Henrik Sjørslev advokatfirma, 1995-1996
Assistant Attorney, Norsker & Jacoby, 1993-1995
Assistant Attorney, Skaaning Retoft Poulsen, 1991-1993
Member of the Board of Directors of DLA Piper Denmark, since 2012
Chairman of the governing body of Kuratorforeningen (the association of trustees appointed by the Danish Maritime and Commercial High Court), since 2023
Member of the governing body of Kuratorforeningen (the association of trustees appointed by the Danish Maritime and Commercial High Court), 2019-2023
Member of the governing body of the Danish Association of Insolvency Lawyers, since 2015
A representative of the Association of Danish Law Firms in the European Insolvency Practitioners Association (EIP), since 2017
Henrik is recognized as 'Highly regarded' by IFLR1000.
"He has deep knowledge and experience of complex financing/restructuring matters, which he turns into a valuable resource for us. He understands complex matters and sees solutions."
"He is outstanding and best in class in his field."
"Responsiveness and ability to find solutions."
"Excellent lawyer."
Henrik is recognized by Chambers within 'Restructuring/Insolvency' in Band 1.
"Henrik Sjørslev is a leading insolvency practitioner in Denmark and delivers excellent work."
"He is an overall great attorney with great knowledge and commitment."
"Henrik is a terrifically strong lawyer and a strong business man, able to see where the next potential big insolvency matter and dispute might be."
"Henrik is strongly involved in cross-border insolvency matters; he's been in the market for many years."
"Strong insight and business acumen."
"He has a good pragmatic and commercial approach, he knows his stuff and he is easy to communicate with."
"Henrik Sjørslev is noted by market commentators as an important figure in the market. He is experienced handling a range of insolvency matters on behalf of bankrupt debtors."
Henrik is recognized by The Legal 500 as 'Leading partner' within ’Insolvency’.
"Henrik Sjørslev is extremely experienced and handles large-scale insolvency matters. Always available on a very short notice."
"Henrik Sjørslev is widely recognised within the restructuring and insolvency field in Denmark. He is extremely experienced and handles also very big international cases with an impressive overview and ability to find viable solutions."
"Henrik Sjørslev has skills, knowledge, drive as well as a very strong understanding."
"Henrik Sjørslev is very knowledgeable and able to come up with solutions to almost all problems."
"DLA Piper is large in Denmark and has an international approach to the tasks that no other law firm has in Denmark. In addition, their network ensures an international perspective. DLA Piper is among the leading lawyers in M&A and Insolvency."
’It is an efficient team and the communication with related parties is very informative.’
’I think the team is very service-minded, always willing to help and adjust, so that our customers can get the best help.’
Co-author of “The International Insolvency Review”, Law Business Research, 2013, 2014 and 2015
“Insolvency”, Chambers Global Practice Guide, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022