Hans H. J. Pijls

Hans H. J. Pijls is a partner in the firm’s Detroit office who focuses his litigation practice on property claims, liability insurance coverage matters, motor vehicle liability claims and insurance agent errors and omissions claims. Mr. Pijls also has significant experience and expertise in intellectual property litigation, as well as international litigation.

Mr. Pijls’ transactional practice is concentrated in the automotive industry, in which he acts as general counsel to a number of closely held automotive suppliers.

Mr. Pijls currently serves as the Honorary Consul of The Netherlands for Detroit and Eastern Michigan. His Consular duties include facilitation of trade and other business interests, promotion of scientific, social and cultural exchange activities, issuance of travel documents, protection of Dutch citizens such as prisoners and stranded tourists, shipping and aviation matters, and any other affairs involving Dutch interests within his jurisdiction, which includes Greater Detroit and Lansing.

Mr. Pijls is a graduate of the University of Utrecht Law School in The Netherlands (B.L. 1978, M.L. 1982) and earned a master of laws degree from Wayne State University Law School in 1983. He earned the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (C.P.C.U.) designation in 1986, and the Chartered Financial Consultant (Ch.F.C.) and Fellow, Life Insurance Management Institute (F.L.M.I.) designations in the following year.

Representative Client Work

• Michigan insurance coverage counsel for national and international property, casualty, life and health insurance companies
• Retained by insurance companies to defend multi-million dollar property, auto liability, general liability, errors & omissions, trademark and copyright infringement claims
• Retained by insurance companies to draft policy language for primary and excess/umbrella policies and endorsements

Professional Affiliations

• State Bar of Michigan
• International Bar Association

Academic Appointments

• Adjunct Professor of Insurance Law, Wayne State University Law School (1991-present)
• Adjunct Professor of Conflict of Laws, Wayne State University Law School  (2003-present) 

Community Involvement

• Society of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters
• American Society of Chartered Life Underwriters and Chartered Financial Consultants
• Life Insurance Management Institute (Fellow)
• Urios, Utrecht International Law Association

Publications and Lectures

• “Property Insurance Law Update 2000: Case Law Update & Overview of Coverage Issues,” Plunkett & Cooney Client Seminar, May 2000
• “Liability Insurance Contracts and Choice of Law in the U.S.,” 1996 International Journal of Insurance Law 103
• “Insurance Coverage Under Lost Policies,” 57 Def. Couns. J. 502 (1990)
• Faculty Member, Insurance Claims Supervision Seminar, DRI, Hartford, 1989