Professional Liability
Henk is ranked as a “rising star” in professional negligence (Legal 500, 2025). He has experience of claims brought against a range of professionals, including builders, architects, employer’s agents, structural engineers, public authorities and legal professionals. In claims arising from litigation, he is particularly well-equipped to advise in cases where the underlying claim relates to one or more of his core practice areas. Henk is very familiar with the law on duties of care, assumptions of responsibility and loss of chance and he welcomes the opportunity to give seminars on these (and other) topics.
Selected Cases
- Acting for an architectural services provider and its director in the defence of a multi-party professional negligence claim (c. £800k) (Firdous v Ecclesall Design Ltd & Ors [2025] EWHC 90 (TCC)).
- Acting and advising in various building defect claims (c. £2m) involving alleged professional negligence on the part of contractors and/or architects.
- Acting for and advising homeowners in claims arising from the withdrawal of natural rights of support and/or interference with accrued rights of support.
- Acting on behalf of a law firm in a claim relating to cost assessments under the Solicitors Act 1975 (including at an oral application for permission to appeal).
- Acting for a defendant police force in a claim involving an alleged assumption of responsibility for a valuable consignment of goods in the exercise of police functions and an allegedly negligent failure to safeguard those goods (claim dismissed following a seven-day trial, led by Laura Johnson KC).
- Advising on issues arising from the settlement of a personal injury claim (c. £200K) and advice given in relation to a liability to re-pay monies received pursuant to a statutory compensation scheme (sole counsel).
- Advising the in-house professional liability department of a large national law firm on a range of claims intimated against it by its former clients.
- Acting on behalf of a law firm in claim arising from an allegedly negligent failure to advise on a likely encroachment onto neighbouring property during a conveyancing process and associated losses relating to cost of rectification and litigation expenses.
Awards
- Lord Brougham Scholar, Lincoln’s Inn (2017)
- Lord Denning Scholar, Lincoln’s Inn (2018)
Articles
News
Qualifications
- BSc. Politics & Philosophy, First Class, London School of Economics
- GDL, City University
- BPTC, City University
Memberships
- PIBA
- SCL
- COMBAR
- LCLCBA
Rankings
Recommendations
“Henk is exceptionally talented at explaining the most complex of issues in a simplistic manner, which is appreciated by both us as instructing solicitors, and by our clients.”…”a really strong junior with good experience of dealing with clients and tricky cases.”
Chambers & Partners, 2026
“Henk has excellent attention to detail and a rigorous approach to claims. He is particularly good at balancing the commercial and legal interests of the client and giving pragmatic advice.”…”A junior who is able to deal with the complex of instructions, leaving no stone unturned.”…”Henk’s advice is to the point and straightforward. He is very amiable and a lovely man.”
Legal 500, 2026
“Henk’s advice is to the point and straightforward. He is very amiable and a lovely man.”
Legal 500, 2026
“He drafts documents with close attention to detail and a keen eye for the issues that matter.”
Chambers & Partners, 2025
“Henk pays great attention to detail and has an air of authority.”
Chambers & Partners, 2025
“Outstanding attention to detail and clear unambiguous advice.”
Legal 500, 2025
“Henk is excellent, pragmatic and concise in his advice.”
Legal 500, 2025
“Henk is very knowledgeable and helpful. He has great attention to detail and is very good on cross-examination.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
“Henk is very clever and has a knack of being able to simplify difficult and complex concepts.”
Legal 500, 2024
“Sharp technical knowledge and a practical approach to tactical litigation.”
Legal 500, 2023
