Steen Petersen

Focused, forceful, proactive commercial, corporate and litigation attorney with a focus on constructive solutions and value creation.

Availability, trust, innovation and creating added value for clients are key words in Steen’s many years of work as an effective, results-driven corporate and private law attorney. With more than 30 years of litigation experience in all types of civil disputes and criminal cases at all levels of the courts, incl. the Supreme Court, Steen is often in court—sometimes 10–15 times per month depending on the size and duration of the cases. He also teaches at JUC in European fundamental rights and at JUC e-learning in Supreme Court case law within board liability, compensation following acquittal in criminal cases, double punishment across EU law, and family reunification – Biao v. Denmark – before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Steen has, among other things, argued a landmark Grand Chamber case – Biao v. Denmark – before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg (ECtHR) in 2015 before 17 European judges. In April 2016, Steen’s clients prevailed by a vote of 12–5. The 26-year rule on family reunification was set aside, and new legislation was enacted in Denmark.

In 2019–2021, Steen represented a number of innocent internet users who were sued by foreign film companies in all 24 judicial districts in Denmark for illegal downloading of films. He secured acquittals for many in the District Court and the High Court.

Steen was also defence counsel in the so-called Umbrella cases 2019–2021, where 1,000 young people across Denmark were charged with illegal downloading and file sharing of child sexual abuse material. He secured acquittals for several or had their sentences reduced significantly.

In 2017–2025, Steen represented in the District Court and the High Court a number of property owners whose properties were subject to a registered right of repurchase for the City of Copenhagen, which in a given year could repurchase the specific properties very cheaply and far below market prices.

In 1996, the Municipality introduced a scheme under which the specific owners could, against payment, postpone the repurchase date or buy themselves out of the registered easements entirely.

However, on 1 April 2017, the Municipality, without notice, changed the principles for buyouts, causing the owners’ buyout amounts to increase markedly by more than 400%.

Very few owners therefore had the financial means to buy out and have the burdensome registered easements removed from the Land Register.

Because other owners in a so-called Association for Hjemfaldspligt had brought their lawsuits first, Steen’s clients’ cases were, for reasons of procedural economy, postponed pending a final judgment in the Association’s comparable lawsuits.

Steen’s clients therefore joined as third-party interveners in both the District Court and the High Court in support of these owners’ claims. The complex main hearings in the District Court in 2022 and the High Court in 2025 took 2 x 4 days.

Unfortunately, the Hjemfald Association did not prevail in either the District Court or the High Court, and the postponed cases therefore had to be withdrawn in autumn 2025.

From 2017–2025, Steen’s clients’ legal costs were fully covered by the legal expenses insurance included in their home insurance policies.

In another lawsuit against the City of Copenhagen, in May 2026 Steen’s clients succeeded in establishing that they did not have to demolish their carport, which had been built on an approximately 40 m2 area subject to protected forest obligations. They and previous owners had acquired title to the area by adverse possession. The Municipality did not appeal the judgment.

CV

• Baker Tilly Legal Law Firm / Attorney-at-law (Supreme Court)
• Ret & Råd Glostrup ApS and Wivi Larsen 1999–2024
• Right of audience before the High Court, 1984, and the Supreme Court, 1989
• Attorney-at-law since 1982

Client recommendations

Attorney Steen Petersen

Attorney Steen Petersen, Baker Tilly Advokater in Valby, has assisted me for several years in a complicated defects case regarding my bathroom in my co-operative apartment.

We won the case on isolated taking of evidence with inspection and expert appraisal 100%, but we have now had to sue the responsible previous transferor of the co-operative share, who still refuses to remedy the significant defects in my bathroom with shower enclosure in accordance with the expert report’s instructions.

Without Steen Petersen’s great commitment and effective professional efforts, and his personal support, my son and I would never have endured this very burdensome lawsuit, which is still ongoing.

We will continue the fight, and I am confident that Steen will get me all the way to the finish line, so that my son and I can soon have a normal life again.

Steen therefore receives my warmest recommendation as a highly skilled and professional adviser as well as a forceful attorney.

Egon Kristensen

Recommendation of attorney Steen Petersen:

Recommendation of attorney Steen Petersen:

We have had the great pleasure of having attorney Steen Petersen as our legal representative in an extensive lawsuit concerning defects in real property. From the first contact, Steen has demonstrated exceptional professionalism, thoroughness and dedication.

We were served with a writ on 23 December 2022 and immediately contacted Steen during the Christmas holidays. Despite being on holiday, he took on the task right away, reviewed the relevant documents and quickly got the case underway. His commitment and swift action gave us reassurance in an otherwise uncertain situation.

Throughout the process, Steen has been an invaluable support. He has kept us continuously informed, participated in inspections and expert appraisal proceedings, and been available whenever we needed legal advice. His ability to take responsibility and act proactively has been decisive for the outcome of the case.

It has been clear that Steen has fought for our case with great professional skill and perseverance. His efforts led the opposing party to give up and withdraw the case. Although we do not have legal expertise, it has been easy to see that he has defended our interests with great professionalism and strength.

We can warmly recommend Steen Petersen to anyone who needs a competent and committed attorney. His professional expertise, strategic approach and personal commitment make him an extremely valuable legal adviser.

On a scale from 1–10, Steen gets a 10 from us.

Best regards from Lise & Egon