Reinhard Willemsen

Reinhard Willemsen

Areas of practice

Restructuring & Insolvency
Commercial & Distribution Law, Product Liability/Product Compliance
Mobility & Logistics
Automotive

Reinhard Willemsen mainly advises domestic and international companies across a variety of industries in restructuring situations. In this context, he primarily advises on reorganisation proceedings under the German Corporate Stabilisation and Restructuring Act and on debtor-in-possession and protective shield proceedings with a view to protecting his clients from liability and reorganising the company, if possible.

Reinhard Willemsen’s services also include carrying out preparatory work and providing legal assistance before the application to open insolvency proceedings is filed, as well as advising creditors, companies and companies’ executive, supervisory and other bodies prior to insolvency on all matters pertaining to insolvency law, in particular with regard to said bodies’ liability. He further specialises in enforcing and defending insolvency-specific rights and claims, in particular, liability claims against managing directors and rights to contest transactions performed by the debtor before the insolvency proceedings were opened.

In addition to reorganisation and insolvency law, Reinhard Willemsen also advises and assists in matters pertaining to commercial and distribution law, including the implementation of distribution structures, the negotiation of supply and distribution agreements, and dispute resolution, in and out of court, with a special emphasis on warranty and liability issues.

For some years now, he has also been supporting clients in mass actions.

Vita

After studying law and carrying out his legal training in Cologne (Germany), Reinhard Willemsen began his career working in the Auditing Department of Price Waterhouse. In 1998, he transferred to Luther's predecessor law firm, where he soon became interested in recapitalisation and insolvency law due to his profound knowledge and experience in accounting and bookkeeping. He has managed this practice area since 2004. Reinhard Willemsen is a lecturer teaching company law as part of the “RUBlaw-active” course at Ruhr University in Bochum (Germany).

Honors and distinctions

  • The Legal 500 Germany 2025: Mention in the category "Restructuring" (first recommendation in 2023, first mention in 2016, "Reinhard Willemsen: Professionally competent, with open communication, determined.")
  • Best Lawyers 2025: Recommendation "Restructuring and Insolvency Law" (first recommended in 2021)

Clients

  • Legal advice to a wholesaler operating worldwide
  • Legal advice to a well-known automotive supplier on the development of sales structures that provide protection from insolvency-related risks and defence against claims arising from insolvency-related rights to rescind
  • Legal advice to a leading mechanical engineering company operating worldwide, especially with regard to the setting up and further development of sales structures and purchasing processes, the drafting and negotiation of B2B contracts, and representation in court
  • Drafting of numerous General terms and conditions, in particular, in the areas of “retail” and “consumer products”
  • Legal advice to various renowned large foreign investors on how to defend against claims arising from insolvency-related rights to rescind and representation in court
  • Legal advice to, and representation in court of, a well-known energy group in all matters pertaining to commercial and distribution law
  • Transaction advice to numerous creditors, debtors and insolvency administrators

Publications

Memberships

  • Bundesverband Deutscher Unternehmensberater (Vorstandsmitglied im Fachverband Sanierung)
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