Profile

Dr. Andreas Helm

Lawyer | Partner | Certified Building and Architectural Lawyer

Andreas Helm has been a recognized and experienced expert in private construction law and real estate law for many years. He advises domestic and foreign investors, corporations (DAX and M-DAX), medium-sized companies, portfolio holders, project developers, banks, and family offices.

In addition to providing traditional legal advice, Andreas Helm sees his work as strategic support: he assists clients in the economically sensible structuring of projects and transactions, risk management, and the achievement of viable results in negotiations. His advice is consistently informed by his in-depth industry knowledge and a keen understanding of processes, market standards, interfaces, and decision-making logic in the real estate industry.

One focus of his many years of practice is advising on numerous complex project developments. As a specialist lawyer for construction and architectural law and lecturer in private construction law (IREBS International Real Estate Business School), Andreas Helm advises on the structuring of projects and the drafting and negotiation of planning and construction contracts (general contractor and general engineer contracts, GMP contracts, and (general) planning, project management, and project development contracts) and provides legal construction project management support during the construction phase.

Another focus of his work is advising on complex real estate transactions in all asset classes and of all sizes. Andreas Helm accompanies the entire transaction process – from structuring and due diligence to the drafting and negotiation of the relevant transaction documentation to signing/closing and implementation.

In addition, Andreas Helm advises on the structuring and implementation of joint ventures as well as on corporate law issues relating to real estate investments and project developments (in particular investment, governance, and shareholder agreements) . Another focus is on financing and collateral structures – including mezzanine financing – as well as on providing legal support for restructurings in the real estate industry, particularly at the interface between financing, contract structure, and project implementation.

Finally, Andreas Helm assists in the drafting and negotiation of complex commercial lease agreements in all asset classes.

Andreas Helm has been a lecturer at the University of Regensburg (IREBS – International Real Estate Business School) for private construction and architectural law since 2008, gives talks and lectures for immoebs e.V. on construction law and for the Real Estate Academy of the European Business School (ebs) on insolvency law in the real estate industry. Andreas Helm is also the author and editor of numerous publications on real estate and construction law.

Andreas Helm has been listed in rankings for many years and has been recommended and highlighted every year since 2013 in the JUVE HANDBUCH Wirtschafts-Kanzleien (JUVE Handbook of Commercial Law Firms) and since 2016 in LEGAL 500 Germany, among others, as:

  • “Customer-oriented and entrepreneurial,” “very competent and collegial,” “very conscientious,” JUVE Handbook 2015/2016
  • “The renowned Andreas Helm is the key figure,” LEGAL 500 Germany 2015
  • “Skilled negotiator,” LEGAL 500 Germany 2017
  • “Calm and level-headed approach, goal-oriented, no vanity, professional expertise,” JUVE HANDBUCH Wirtschafts-Kanzleien 2021/2022
  • “Uniquely combines first-class legal advice with a high degree of tactical negotiating skills,” LEGAL 500 Germany 2021
  • “One of the best negotiators in the market,” LEGAL 500 Germany 2021
  • “Dr. Andreas Helm is an excellent negotiator, always thinking one step ahead of the others,” LEGAL 500 Germany 2022
  • “Very good negotiator,” “good network in Munich and the surrounding area,” JUVE HANDBUCH Wirtschafts-Kanzleien 2021/2022
  • “Fast, reliable, incredibly broad knowledge,” LEGAL 500 Germany 2023
  • “He negotiates in a very practical manner and presents good solutions. He cannot be ruffled. Always objective and courteous,“ LEGAL 500 Germany 2023
  • ”Andreas Helm is serious, trustworthy, and professional, as well as creative in complex negotiation situations, and is solution-oriented,“ LEGAL 500 Germany 2023
  • ”Frequently recommended,“ ”very experienced,” JUVE HANDBOOK Commercial Law Firms 2024/2025
  • “Andreas Helm is a great negotiator,” LEGAL 500 Germany 2025
  • “Collegial, competent,” “frequently recommended,” JUVE HANDBOOK Commercial Law Firms 2025/2026

According to HANDELSBLATT / BEST LAWYERS 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, as well as WIRTSCHAFTSWOCHE 2025, he is one of Germany’s best lawyers in private construction law and real estate law.

Biography

Law studies
in Munich

Research assistant
Ludwig Maximilian University Munich (LMU)

Tutor
at the Hemmer Law Tutoring Center, Munich, Augsburg, Passau

Doctorate
LMU under Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Claus-Wilhelm Canaris

Admission to the bar
2002

Certified Building and Architectural Lawyer
since 2010

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Die Jungen Unternehmer BJU der Familienunternehmer e.V., Munich and Southern Bavaria regional group
until 2011

Memberships
Building and Architectural Law Working Group of the German Bar Association (DAV)
Association for the Promotion of the Faculty of Law of Ludwig Maximilian University Munich e.V.

Foreign language
English

Expertise

Real estate law
Real estate transactions (asset and share deals), due diligence reviews, advice in the post-closing phase, joint venture agreements, heritable building rights agreements

Private building and architectural law
Legal construction project management, drafting of construction contracts, planner contracts and project management contracts, legal advice during construction, neighbor law agreements, conceptual design of property project developments, drafting of property development contracts, advice on the execution of property development contracts

Commercial tenancy law
Drafting of commercial tenancy agreements (office, retail, hotel logistics), advice on tenancy agreements in the context of project development, due diligence on tenancy agreements, advice on the execution of commercial tenancy agreements for landlords and tenants

Publications

I. INDEPENDENT WORKS

  1. Die Einordnung wirtschaftlicher Leistungserschwerungen in das Leistungsstörungsrecht nach der Schuldrechtsreform, (Zugleich ein Beitrag zur Bestimmung der tatbestandlichen Voraussetzungen des § 275 Abs. 2 BGB sowie zur Klärung des Verhältnisses von § 275 Abs. 2 BGB zu § 275 Abs. 1 BGB und zur Störung der Geschäftsgrundlage im Sinne von § 313 BGB), 220 pages, Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang, 1st Edition, 2004.
  2. Bauleitung und Objektüberwachung von A-Z, Praxishandbuch zur kostengerechten, termingerechten, rechtssicheren und qualitätsorientierten Bauausführung, (Aleweld /Helm, eds.), looseleaf with approx. 1500 pages, Kissing: WEKA Baufachverlag, 2004. Complete editing of the following chapters:
    • Part 3: Bauvertragsrecht (ATV, Bauvertrag, Besondere Leistungen nach der HOAI, Besondere Leistungen nach VOB/C, Gesamtschuldnerische Haftung, Grundleistungen nach der HOAI, Nebenleistungen nach der VOB/C Pauschalverträge, Sicherheitsleistung, Vertragsstrafe), approx. 190 pages.
    • Part 4: Ausschreibung und Vergabe (Grundzüge des Vergaberechts und des Vergabeverfahrens), approx. 200 pages.
    • Part 5: Baudurchführung: Kosten- und Terminkontrolle (Abfall und Entsorgung, Baueinstellung durch Behörden, Objektbetreuung, Objektüberwachung), approx. 125 pages.
    • Part 6: Nachtragswesen: Bearbeitung des rechtlichen Teils, approx. 150 pages.
    • Part 7: Bauabnahme und Schlussrechnung, approx. 100 pages.
    • Part 8: Haftung und Mängelbeseitigung (Architektenhaftung, Baumangel, Kündigung des Bauvertrages, Mangel des Architektenwerks, Mangelbeseitigung, Selbständiges Beweisverfahren, Verjährung), approx. 200 pages.
    • Part 9: Risikomanagement: Baugrundrisiko, Bauhandwerkersicherheit, Baustrafrecht, Insolvenz am Bau, Versicherungen im Bauwesen, Pauschalierung von Architektenhonoraren, approx. 140 pages
    • Part 10: Rechtsprechung, approx. 60 pages
  3. Bauleitung im Grund- und Tiefbau, haftungssichere Durchführung von Bauvorhaben, (Aleweld /Helm, eds.), looseleaf with approx. 1000 pages, Kissing: WEKA Baufachverlag, 2004. Complete editing of the following chapters:
    • Part 3: Bauvertragsrecht von A-Z, approx. 150 pages.
    • Part 4: Ausschreibung und Vergabe von A-Z, approx. 50 pages
    • Part 6: Nachtragswesen von A-Z: Bearbeitung des rechtlichen Teils, approx. 150 pages.
    • Part 7: Bauabnahme und Schlussrechnung, approx. 100 pages.
    • Part 8: Haftung und Mängelbeseitigung (Architektenhaftung, Baumangel, Kündigung des Bauvertrages, Mangel des Architektenwerks, Mangelbeseitigung, Selbständiges Beweisverfahren, Verjährung), approx. 200 pages.
  4. Musterformulare für die Bauleitungspraxis auf CD-Rom, Mustersammlung mit Musterbriefen und Musterverträgen, Kissing: WEKA Baufachverlag, 2002

II. COLLABORATION ON COLLECTED WORKS

  1. “Architektenrecht” in: Schulte/Stellmann, Immobilienökonomie II, rechtliche Grundlagen, 3rd Edition, Oldenbourg Verlag
  2. “Kontrolle der Bauausführung und Vertragsgestaltung” in: “Maßtoleranzen im Hochbau – Kontrolle der Bauausführung”, in: Schlapka/Tiltmann/Helm, Maßtoleranzen im Hochbau – Kontrolle der Bauausführung, ca. 600 p., Kissing: WEKA Baufachverlag, 2004. Editing of the following parts:
    • Part 10: Bauabnahme und Kontrolle, 180 pages
    • Part 11: Vertragsgestaltung, 100 pages

III. ESSAYS AND COMMENTARIES ON JUDGMENTS

  1. Die Auswirkungen der Schuldrechtsreform auf das Baugewerbe, Munich, 2002, 48 pages, published on the Internet at www.wekamedia.de.
  2. “Das Organisationsverschulden des Werkunternehmers nach der Schuldrechtsreform”, in: Schlapka/Tiltmann/Helm (eds.), Maßtoleranzen im Hochbau – Kontrolle der Bauausführung, 12 pages, Kissing: WEKA Baufachverlag, 2002.
  3. “Die freie Auftaggeberkündigung gem. §§ 649 S. 1 BGB, 8 Nr. 1 VOB/B (Teil I)”, in: Baurecht und Baupraxis (BrBp) 2004 – November edition), Deutscher Anwaltverlag.
  4. “Die freie Auftaggeberkündigung gem. §§ 649 S. 1 BGB, 8 Nr. 1 VOB/B (Teil II)”, in: Baurecht und Baupraxis (BrBp) 2004 – January 2005 edition), Deutscher Anwaltverlag.
  5. “Anforderungen an die Formulierung des selbständigen Beweisantrags zur Hemmung der Verjährung”, in: NZBau, Neue Zeitschrift für Baurecht und Vergaberecht, 6/2011, pp. 328 to 335.
  6. “Vermieterwechsel: Bleibt Bürgenhaftung unberührt?”, in: IMR 2011, p. 413.
  7. “Arglist nicht kausal für Kaufentschluss: Haftungsausschluss greift dennoch nicht!” in: IMR 2011, p. 463.
  8. “Architektenplanung ignoriert Steuervorteile: Schadensersatz?” in: IBR 2011, p. 596.
  9. “Kaufpreis 100 % über Wert: Kaufvertrag sittenwidrig!” in: IMR 2012, p. 202.
  10. “Handwerkliche Nachlässigkeiten begründen keine Arglisthaftung!” in: IBR 2012, p. 385.
  11. “Vereinbarung der Betriebskostenpauschale auch konkludent möglich!” in: IMR 2012, p. 1022.
  12. “Mietanpassung bei nicht mehr fortgeschriebenem Index?” in: IMR 2013, p. 62.
  13. “Abschied vom Ersatz fiktiver Mängelbeseitigungskosten?” in IBR 2014, p. 414.
  14. “Zur Ausführung von Dachstuhl-, Gauben- und Dämmarbeiten gehören auch die Anschlüsse!” in: IBR 2015, p. 12.
  15. “Sechs Monate für Einwendungen sind nicht mehr angemessen!” in: IBR 2015, p. 54.

Teaching

Teacher
at the University of Regensburg for private building law (IREBS)

Lecturer

  • at the University of Regensburg on property purchase agreements
  • on private building law at immoebs e.V.
  • for the Real Estate Academy of the European Business School (EBS) in the field of insolvency law in the real estate industry

Seminars
on legal support for real estate transactions

WAGENSONNER Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaft mbB
Nymphenburger Straße 70
80335 München

Telefon
 +49 89 123 985 – 0

E-Mail
andreas.helm@wagensonner.com