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

Dr Helmut Janssen specialises in European and German antitrust  law. His advisory services particularly include providing preventive advice (compliance) 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 assists in 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 experience in dealing with EU Institutions. Furthermore, he has authored a reference textbook on antitrust law (5th edition in 2015) and numerous professional articles on antitrust and state aid law.

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, injunctive relief, and supply. 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

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

Dr Helmut Janssen studied law and political science at the University of Münster (Germany) and was an assistant at the Institute of International Business, later earning his Doctorate of Law Degree there. He earned his Master of Laws (LL.M.) from King’s College, London (England). 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 headed Luther’s Brussels office since 2003.

• 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

• 20.09.2022: Luther Kartellrechtsfrühstück 2022 I Hamburg „Das neue Vertriebskartellrecht"
• 14.09.2022: Luther Kartellrechtsfrühstück 2022 I München „Das neue Vertriebskartellrecht"
• 08.09.2022: Luther Kartellrechtsfrühstück 2022 I Düsseldorf „Das neue Vertriebskartellrecht"
• 14.11.2013: Compliance Management als wichtiges Instrument zur Sicherung des Unternehmenserfolges "Do‘s and Don‘ts" - Fallstricke bei der Prävention und Aufklärung von dolosen Handlungen im Unternehmen, Fraud Management Konferenz 2013
• 14.11.2013: Compliance Management als wichtiges Instrument zur Sicherung des Unternehmenserfolges "Do‘s and Don‘ts" - Fallstricke bei der Prävention und Aufklärung von dolosen Handlungen im Unternehmen, Fraud Management Konferenz 2013