DE EN

Dr Helmut Janssen, LL.M. (King's College London)

Lawyer │ Partner , Location Head

Brussels, Dusseldorf

+32 2 627 7763 / +49 211 5660 18763 / +49 1520 16 18763

helmut.janssen@luther-lawfirm.com

Dr Helmut Janssen, LL.M. (King's College London)

Areas of practice

Public Subsidies/State Aid Law

│

Antitrust Law

│

International Trade Law

│

Compliance & Internal Investigations

│

Commercial & Distribution Law, Product Liability/Product Compliance

│

Energy

│

Health Care & Life Science

│

Information Tech & Telecommunications

Dr Helmut Janssen specialises in European and German antitrust law. His advisory services include, in particular, providing preventive advice (e.g. on compliance systems) and defending his clients against antitrust infringement allegations, assisting with foreign and domestic merger control proceedings, reviewing and structuring distribution systems and cooperation agreements between competitors. Helmut Janssen also advises on a wide range of public grant cases (EU state aid law). A further area of expertise is international trade law (WTO and EU anti-subsidy/antidumping law). Helmut Janssen has 20 years of experience dealing with EU institutions. Furthermore, he has authored a reference textbook on antitrust law (6th edition 2023) and numerous specialist and academic publications on antitrust and state aid law. He is a member of the antitrust sections of the International Bar Association, the American Bar Association and of the leading German antitrust and state aid associations.

Court-approved antitrust mediator

Dr Helmut Janssen is an antitrust mediator approved by the competent German Court of Appeal. As a mediator, he specialises in the out-of-court settlement of claims arising under antitrust law, e.g. for damages, supply and injunctive relief. A procedure before an antitrust mediator offers several advantages. An agreement concluded by the parties in front of a court-approved mediator has the same effect as a state court judgment.

Antitrust mediators
Rules of procedure

Read more Read less

Vita

Dr Helmut Janssen studied law and political science at the University of Münster (Germany), was a research assistant at the Institute of International Business Law and later gained his Doctorate of Law Degree summa cum laude from the University of Münster. He was awarded his Master of Laws (LL.M.) from King’s College London (England). He completed internships with the German Foreign Office, a Member of the European Parliament and a German court of appeal. He was admitted to the German Bar in 1997 and has worked in Hamburg (Germany), Toronto (Canada), Budapest (Hungary) and Brussels (Belgium). Helmut Janssen has been the head of Luther’s Brussels office since 2003.

Honors and distinctions

Chambers Global 2025, Germany: Ranking in "Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad (Expertise Based Abroad) | Germany – Belgium" (first ranking from 2012 to 2019) and Chambers Global 2025, Belgium: Ranking in “Competition: EU (Foreign Expertise) – Germany” (first ranking from 2013 to 2016)
Chambers Germany 2025: Ranking in "Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad (Expertise Based Abroad) | Germany – Belgium".
Chambers Global 2019: Ranking in "Competition/European Law - Foreign Expert for Germany" (first ranking in 2012)
Chambers Global 2016: Ranking in "Corporate/M&A: Competition (Experts Based Abroad) - Belgium" (first ranking in 2013)
JUVE Guide 2024/2025: Award "Leading Name in Antitrust Law (over 50 years)" (first awarded in 2022/2023, "good lawyer with a willingness to find pragmatic solutions", competitor) and listed under “Frequently Recommended” in "Antitrust Law" (first listed in 2009/2010), in "State Aid Law" (first listed in 2016/2017, "extensive experience and in-depth legal knowledge", competitor) and in "Foreign Trade Law" (first listed in 2009/2010)
The Legal 500 Germany 2025: Recommendations in the categories "Public Law - State Aid Law" (first recommendation in 2019, "Helmut Janssen: Pragmatic and solution-oriented.") and "Commercial and Distribution Law - Foreign Trade Law" (first recommendation in 2020) and mention in the category "Antitrust Law" (first recommendation in 2020, "Helmut Janssen: broad range of experience in competition law, state aid law, energy; always approachable, knows companies and their business models very well. Very competent, thinks practically, structured. Teams very good, very good accessibility.")
Lexology Index 2025 (former WWL Who’s Who Legal): Award "Thought Leader" in "Thought Leaders - Competition" (first award in 2022)
Lexology Index 2024 (former WWL Who’s Who Legal): Recommendation “Global Leader” in “Competition" and "Competition – State Aid” (first recommendations in 2019)
Best Lawyers (Belgium) 2023: Recommendation in "Competition/Antitrust Law" (first recommendation in 2014)

Read more Read less

Clients

Defense against claims of price fixing allegations before the European Commission and the US Department of Justice (sanitary equipment industry), action before the General Court and the European Court of Justice (pending, C-604/13 P)
Defense against anti-trust infringement allegations before the European Commission and in the action before the European Court of Justice (Calciumcarbide, T-400/09)
EU merger control proceedings, such as clearing the establishment of a joint venture within the pharmaceutical industry (Sanacorp/Cerp Rouen/Millennium), the acquisition of control of Extra-Holding over the Israeli IDB Group (EXTRA HOLDING / DOLPHIN / IDBD), the participation of Post NL, Madsack Media Group and Georg von Holtzbrinck in a joint venture for postal services (MVD/POSTCON/ADVO)
Numerous German and multi-jurisdiction merger control proceedings (e.g. Phase-II proceeding for the hospital Friedrichshafen in the acquisition of the Tettnang hospital; ThyssenKrupp in an IT outsourcing project).
Numerous consultations of investors and public companies on the legal structure of an investment, as well as defense against grievances made by third parties before the European Commission (subvention law, EU subsidy control)
Numerous actions before the General Court oft eh EU against state aid decisions of the European Commission (e.g. T-230/14, T-235/14, T-276/14, T-109/15, T-294/15, T-319/15)
Comprehensive advice of an importer in opposition to the introduction of importation quotas by the EU, assistance of the involved government in WTO-related questions, successful negotiations with the Commission in the legislation procedure
Approval of a medical product by the European Commission

Read more Read less

Publications

Read more Read less

Blog posts

Read more Read less

Lectures

Read more Read less

Lawyer, Partner, Location Head

Newsroom

all News

Exemption from the cartel prohibition: Beemster cheese

ECJ clarifies conditions for restrictions on active sales in exclusive distribution contracts under the Vertical Block Exemption Regulation

27.05.2025 | Blog

A person reaches out to interact with a digital interface displaying icons related to law and justice, including scales, a gavel, a handshake, a magnifying glass, a book, and speech bubbles, symbolizing legal services and collaboration.

Kartellrecht in der Personalabteilung – Abwerbeverbote, Einstellungsbeschränkungen & Gehaltsabsprachen

01.07.2025 | Event

Three medical professionals in white lab coats walk together down a well-lit hospital corridor. Their backs are to the viewer as they proceed along a smooth floor, flanked by large windows that allow natural light into the space.

Protective shield proceedings: Luther advises hospital group "Pfeiffersche Stiftungen" on merger with Magdeburg University Hospital

02.07.2025 | PR

A child with long hair is blowing bubbles into the air during sunset. The bubbles are large and colorful, floating upwards against a golden and blurred background, creating a joyful and whimsical atmosphere.

Soap bubble container is not packaging within the meaning of the Packaging Act – Luther achieves landmark judgement for toy manufacturers

30.06.2025 | PR

A bronze statue of Lady Justice, blindfolded, holding a pair of scales. She symbolizes impartiality and fairness in the justice system, representing the idea that justice should be administered without bias. The background is blurred, focusing on her figure and scales.

Lawsuits against Chinese opponents? Public service of documents facilitates legal proceedings before German courts.

24.06.2025 | Blog

Preservation of loss carry-forwards despite acquisition of more than 50% of the shares

18.06.2025 | Blog

News Arbitration Landscape – Singapore: Shaping the Future of Arbitration: Updates to SIAC Rules 2025

18.06.2025 | Blog

ECJ clarifies conditions for restrictions on active sales in exclusive distribution contracts under the Vertical Block Exemption Regulation

27.05.2025 | Blog

An abstract graphic depicting a global trade theme, featuring shipping containers and cranes in a port. Superimposed are outlines of continents with light lines connecting them, symbolizing international shipping and connectivity. The overall tone is blue, suggesting a technological and modern approach to logistics.

Managing trade barriers - What the new US tariffs mean for international supply contracts

06.05.2025 | Blog

A silver statue of Lady Justice stands on a table, holding a sword in one hand and scales in the other. The background includes blurred books and papers, symbolizing law and justice. The statue represents fairness and the legal system.

General Court bolsters up the European Commission: Dismissal of action brought by German fragrance company for annulment of inspection decision authorising a dawn raid to be conducted on the undertaking.

05.05.2025 | Blog