Erik van Orsouw

Financial Lines / Professional indemnity / Coverage disputes / Crime insurance / Fraud/ Artinsurance / Warranty & Indemnity (W&I) / Policy review

Erik is heading Kennedy Van der Laan’s liability and insurance practice.

He is an experienced litigator in professional indemnity and insurance claims. His clients include lawyers, accountants, insurance brokers, it companies, architects and engineers, tax specialists and their insurers.

His extensive Financial Lines practice furthermore involves claims, coverage disputes and the review of domestic and international (and specifically London market) insurance policies including Crime, W&I, Art and Insurance Fraud.

Erik did a postgraduate at the University of Oxford and has completed ‘cum laude’ the Grotius Liability specialisation course. He is editor for the Dutch publication “Maandblad voor Vermogensrecht” and is a member of the Dutch associations “Vereniging voor Aansprakelijkheids- en Schadevergoedingsrecht” and “Vereniging voor Verzekeringswetenschap” and chairman of the cultural foundation “Stichting Atelier WG”.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2025 - Insurance - Tier 1

The practice at Kennedy Van der Laan has strong capabilities advising its insurance sector clientele on the gamut of EU and Dutch regulatory matters, as well as assisting with intricate aspects of policy formation. In addition, the team is well-placed to handle complex contentious matters, including product liability cases spanning industry sectors from property to engineering, and handling fraud-related issues. A number of specialists sit at the team’s head, being Erik van Orsouw whose expertise includes professional liability, D&O claims and international coverage disputes; liability specialist Chris van Dijk; ‘smart and modest lawyer’ Peter van den Broek; regulatory expert Jan Broekhuizen; Petra Oskam who assists insurers in PI cases; and professional indemnity and liability specialist Marit van der Pool.

Hall of fame

Erik van Orsouw

Testimonials

'Erik van Orsouw is colourful, practical and to-the-point.'

Chambers Europe 2025 - Insurance - Ranked

Erik van Orsouw advises on complex financial lines, property liability cases and coverage disputes, as well as offering regulatory advice to insurers.

• "Erik van Orsouw is very easy to work with."
• "Eric van Orsouw is a good lawyer in terms of his legal mind and the analysis in his communications."
• "I like his style and knowledge."
• "Erik van Orsouw is a very pleasant and approachable lawyer."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2024 - Insurance - Tier 1

Kennedy Van der Laan advises on standalone insurance law and associated regulatory issues, covering both Dutch and European matters for a client roster that includes insurers, brokers and public bodies. The group handles a range of insurance products, with particular focus placed on casualty, property and engineering and financial lines coverage in addition to a growing class actions practice. The insurance side of the practice is headed by a team consisting of Erik van Orsouw, Chris van Dijk, Frits van der Woude, Peter van den Broek and Petra Oskam, with Jan Broekhuizen taking the lead on matters of insurance regulation. Marit van der Pool joined the firm’s partnership ranks in September 2023, with a defence and coverage practice centred around D&O and professional indemnity claims.
 

Hall of Fame

Erik van Orsouw

Testimonials

• ‘Erik van Orsouw is easygoing, quick and to the point. He has an informal approach and is intelligent. It was a pleasure to work with Marit van der Pool. She is skilled and intelligent and has in-depth knowledge.’
• ‘Erik van Orsouw combines in-depth knowledge with the willingness to listen to other parties in search of a solution.'

Chambers Europe 2024 - Insurance - Ranked

Erik van Orsouw advises on complex financial lines and property liability cases, as well as offering regulatory advice to insurers. "Erik van Orsouw is a terrific lawyer."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - Insurance - Tier 1

Kennedy Van der Laan advises on EU and Dutch financial regulation relating to insurance, as well as handling claims concerning casualty, property and engineering, and reviewing policies. The firm has a strong focus on claims and policy drafting, and clients include insurers, both domestic and international, insurance brokers, pools and loss adjusters. As a member of the international network of Global Access Lawyers, the firm has access to global expertise in insurance and liability law. The insurance practice is led by Chris van Dijk, Frits van der Woude, Peter van den Broek, Erik van Orsouw and Petra Oskam, with Jan Broekhuizen leading the regulatory insurance team. Marit van der Pool specialises in both defence and coverage work in professional indemnity and directors’ and officers’ liability matters.

Hall of Fame

Erik van Orsouw

Testimonials

‘Erik van Orsouw knows exactly what I need as a client. He is practical, to the point, and creative in bringing solutions.’

Chambers Europe 2023 - Insurance - Ranked

Erik van Orsouw advises on complex financial lines and property liability cases, as well as offering regulatory advice to insurers. "Erik is fast and accurate. His legal knowledge is very good." "He's a good-quality lawyer and knows his stuff."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2022 - Insurance - Tier 1

Reflective of Kennedy Van der Laan‘s presence in the insurance market, it generates mandates from a wide variety of clients, notably insurance companies active in the Netherlands, insurance brokers, loss adjusters, insurance brokers and corporates. The firm is highly active in insurance regulatory matters (an area that is led by Jan Broekhuizen), and it also provides assistance with policy drafting and reviews of policy wording. In addition, insurance claims are another key pillar of the practice; a name to note in this space is Peter van den Broek, whose workload includes international claims and construction-related coverage disputes. Frits van der Woude focuses on policy disputes and professional indemnity claims, and he is also an expert in in D&O liability and professional liability. Chris van Dijk and Petra Oskam are particularly well-known for their personal injury expertise. Erik van Orsouw is another experienced practitioner at the firm.
 

Chambers Europe 2022 - Insurance - Ranked

Erik van Orsouw regularly advises on product liability cases, as well as offering regulatory advice to insurers. Market commentators commend his commercial awareness, noting that "he manoeuvres smartly and is honest in his appraisal."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2021 - Insurance - Ranked

Kennedy Van der Laan provides comprehensive advice around insurance regulatory issues, drawing on expertise from its IT, IP, employment and corporate experts. It is experienced in Dutch and European financial services regulation, as well as claims relating to casualty, personal injury, D&O, property and engineering. The team is headed by Erik van Orsouw, Chris van Dijk, Frits van der Woude, Peter van den Broek, Jan Broekhuizen and Petra Oskam. Van den Broek handles insurance and liability law, and policy drafting and coverage disputes.

Testimonials

'Easy accessible and they have a specialised team for bodily Injury claims'

Chambers Europe 2021 - Insurance - Ranked

Erik van Orsouw is the head of the practice and regularly advises insurers on contentious reinsurance matters. He is also known for assisting with professional liability cases.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2020 - Insurance

The team at Kennedy Van der Laan 'provides practical solutions' and also stands out for its 'strong personal relationship' with clients. The firm has a strong record in advising on all aspects of Dutch and European financial services regulation applicable to insurers, brokers and other insurance distributors, as well as assisting with claims and reviewing policy wordings. The 'experienced' Peter van den Broek specialises in product recall. For corporate insurance matters, Jan Broekhuizen is the name to note and Erik van Orsouw leads on work with insurance brokers and intermediaries. Also recommended are Chris van Dijk, Frits van der Woude, Petra Oskam and senior associate Mark Wisse.

Chambers Europe 2020 - Insurance - Ranked
 

Erik van Orsouw advises international insurers on coverage and liability issues. One interviewee describes him as "down to earth, straightforward and pragmatic." Another adds: "He's very good at thinking outside the box and coming up with practical solutions."
 

The Legal 500 EMEA 2019 - Insurance

Kennedy Van der Laan 'has a pragmatic approach, focuses on priorities, and is a great partner'. Peter van den Broek is recommended along with Frits van der Woude and associate Mark Wisse. Senior partners Erik van Orsouw heads the insurance and liability practice and Chris van Dijk has a focus on claims relating to personal injuries. AIG, Zurich, Chubb, and AON are clients and recent work includes advising on large claims in the construction industry; various regulations and advice on insurance and liability issues in connection with the use of asbestos and the insurance implications of product recalls.

Chambers Europe 2019 - Insurance - Ranked

Erik van Orsouw is "extremely responsive, very knowledgeable, and flexible in thinking outside the box," according to one impressed source. His practice includes coverage disputes and professional indemnity matters.

Chambers Europe 2018 - Insurance & Liability - Ranked

"Erik van Orsouw is well regarded by market commentators as a "very notable" lawyer, who is "pleasant to work with." The scope of his expertise includes technical damage claims and coverage disputes, as well as professional indemnity cases involving lawyers, engineers and accountants."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2018 - Insurance & Liability

"Kennedy Van der Laan’s practice handles all kinds of insurance, including directors’ and officers’ (D&O) liability, personal injury and medical malpractice. Group head Erik van Orsouw is supported by Chris van Dijk, Frits van der Woude, Peter van den Broek and Jan Broekhuizen. AIG and Zurich are clients."

• Litigating in several complex professional indemnity cases.
• Assisting crime insurer in high profile case in Dutch market.
• Assisting several (Dutch and London market) insurers with divers coverage disputes regarding design & construct policies.