After nearly nine decades, Denmark is ending the long-standing “Kammeradvokaten” system that gave one private law firm exclusive rights to represent the state. A new model, led by government attorneys, will now take over this responsibility.
A Historic Change in Denmark’s Legal Structure
The Danish government has reached an agreement to abolish the title “Kammeradvokaten,” marking the end of 89 years where one private firm, Poul Schmith/Kammeradvokaten, held a monopoly on representing the state in legal cases. The reform will replace the arrangement with a new office, the State Attorney, which will handle the state’s legal affairs going forward.
Surprisingly, Denmark was the only country in the world that had outsourced all of its state litigation to a private law firm. That arrangement made Poul Schmith Denmark’s largest legal office, a powerhouse with a turnover of about 650 million kroner last year. Critics, however, argued that the system concentrated too much power in one place and created unfair competition in the legal sector.
Division Within the Danish Legal Profession
The former system stirred strong emotions within Denmark’s legal community. Many practitioners believed the state’s exclusive partnership with Poul Schmith/Kammeradvokaten fostered imbalance and excluded other firms from fair competition. Over time, this isolation even led the company to withdraw from the Danish Bar Association, symbolizing how deep the internal divisions had grown.
Meanwhile, managing partners at Poul Schmith argued that the arrangement brought efficiency and consistency to the state’s legal affairs. The firm maintained that a centralized structure safeguarded legal quality and provided the government with a unified legal front. They viewed the criticism as misplaced and emphasized that the setup had served the state well for decades.
A Shift Toward Public Management
Under the new model, much of the state’s legal work will move in-house. Government-employed lawyers will now represent Denmark in court, a system similar to the one already functioning in Norway.
For experts, this transition is about more than efficiency and finances. It is also a matter of legal independence and integrity. They stress that the state must be capable of defending its interests without relying entirely on private firms.
Still, not every case will be handled internally. Some legal assignments, especially specialized cases, will be opened for competitive bidding. This ensures that experienced private firms continue to play a role, though their exclusive status will disappear.
Open Competition and New Opportunities
Although Poul Schmith will lose the right to use the title Kammeradvokaten, the firm is expected to continue as a major player in government-related legal services. As part of the reform, legal work worth more than 200 million kroner annually will either be brought in-house or put out to tender.
According to company representatives, these changes will not harm their operations. In fact, they say open competition could expand opportunities for all major legal firms. Denmark’s legal community, including many of the top law firms in Copenhagen, might now gain more access to state contracts and responsibilities previously reserved for one entity.
Lessons From the Norwegian Model
Denmark’s adoption of a system resembling Norway’s reflects a growing emphasis on the state’s legal self-reliance. In Norway, government-employed attorneys manage most public litigation, supported by private counsel when necessary. The Danish government aims to strike a similar balance between public control and private expertise.
Interestingly, the transition could also strengthen ethical oversight and transparency in state legal affairs. By bringing more work inside the public administration, authorities hope to limit potential conflicts of interest that could arise from private firms representing both government and corporate clients.
While change is never simple, the dissolution of the Kammeradvokaten monopoly marks a major restructuring of how Denmark organizes and controls its legal representation.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Top Law Firms in Copenhagen
The Danish Dream: Best Lawyer in Denmark for Foreigners
TV2: Kammeradvokaten har skabt “stor splittelse” i branchen, siger professor
