Dr Helmut Janssen, LL.M. (King's College London) | LUTHER Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH

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 (5th edition 2015) 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.

Public Subsidies/State Aid Law
Antitrust Law
International Trade Law
Compliance & Internal Investigations
Commercial & Distribution Law, Product Liability/Product Compliance
Digital Infrastructure

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.

Who's Who Legal (2020): recommended as Global Leader in "Competition" and "Competition - State Aid"
The Legal 500 Germany (2021): Mention in foreign trade law, state aid law and antitrust law ('highly competent contact in all antitrust and competition law issues, confidently leads through notification processes with the antitrust offices, excellent guidance and support for the parties involved, always has the preparation and the antitrust proceedings under control, always solution-oriented').
Who's Who Legal (2020): recommended as Global Leader in "Competition" and "Competition - State Aid"
JUVE Guide (2020/2021): Mentioned under frequently recommended in "Antitrust Law" and "Distribution/Trade/Logistics - Foreign Trade/EU and Antitrust Law"
The Legal 500 Germany (2020): Mentioned in the categories Public Law - State Aid Law, Trade and Distribution Law - Foreign Trade, as well as Antitrust Law ("is very experienced and delivers uncomplicated and targeted client work")
Best Lawyers (2020): Award in "Competition / Antitrust Law"
JUVE Guide (2019/2020): Mentioned under frequently recommended in the sections "Foreign Trade", "State Aid Law" ("pleasant and responsive", competitors) and "Antitrust Law" ("good man", competitors)
The Legal 500 Deutschland (2019): Listed under the categories "Public Law", "Public Procurement Law" and "State Aid Law"
JUVE Guide(2018/2019): Frequently recommended lawyer in the Ribriks "Foreign Trade", "State Aid Law" and "Antitrust Law".
Who's Who Legal, Competition 2018: listed in Lawyers, Belgium
Chambers Europe (2018): Listed under „Competition / European Law - Foreign Expert Germany"
Who's Who Legal, Competition 2017: listed in Lawyers, Belgium
Best Lawyers in Belgium (since 2015): listed in the category Competition/Antitrust Law
Chambers Europe (since 2013): Clients note his “first-class work and in-depth understanding of the Commission's requirements."
Best Lawyers International (2014): listed in the category Competition/Antitrust
Chambers Global (since 2013): Ranking in the category “Competition/European Law – Belgium” and “Corporate/M&A – Germany” ("he will go the extra mile – it's a first-class service.")
JUVE Guide (2010-2017): Ranking in the category "Antitrust Law" as a lawyer who is frequently recommended and in the categories "Brussels Region" and "Foreign Trade"
- Citation: "Highly valued Brussels office that deals with a large range of European law issues. Dr Helmut Janssen's small team improved the relationship with CP Foods, an importer from Thailand, whilst still working closely together with the German offices, for example, the sanitary antitrust proceedings which were carried out together with the Stuttgart office".
- Citation: "Recommended law firm for foreign trade law, which covers this area of law with different focuses at various different offices. The small Brussels office, which has an inconspicuous profile, has successfully continued to develop its relationship with CP Foods, an importer from Thailand. Dr Helmut Janssen was able to build up his network, also with the EU."
JUVE Guide (2009-2017): Ranking in the categories Foreign Trade and the Brussels Region ("Dr Helmut Janssen is especially well-known and praised by his clients for being "thorough and pragmatic") and as a lawyer who is frequently recommended in the category Antitrust Law.

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