Bio

A member of Plunkett Cooney's Board of Directors, Jeffrey S. Hengeveld focuses his practice primarily in the area of professional liability with an emphasis on claims against attorneys, accountants, insurance agents, and real estate professionals.

Mr. Hengeveld, who serves as Co-Leader of the firm's Professional Liability Practice Group, defends attorneys in legal malpractice actions with various types of underlying cases, including environmental law, collections, bankruptcy, Michigan No Fault Law, medical malpractice, real estate law, divorce and family law, probate law, and banking law. He also regularly consults on ethics issues. 

His accountant malpractice matters typically involve claims of failing to detect fraud and tax matters. He has co-authored a chapter about accounting standards and the duties accountants owe to their clients in a handbook on the subject of fraud deterrence. He also monitors and responds to calls to the MACPA Legal Hotline, which offers free legal advice to MACPA members. 

In the area of real estate, Mr. Hengeveld defends professional liability claims against title companies, property inspectors, and real estate agents and brokers. 

Mr. Hengeveld's practice also involves defending attorneys and debt collectors against claims, including class actions, involving the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Michigan Collection Practices Act.

Representative Client Work

  • Regularly defends lawyers and accountants in malpractice cases
  • Regularly consults with accountants on IRS, AICPA and MACPA issues
  • Regularly defends lawyers and debt collectors in FDCPA and MCPA cases
  • Regularly participates in facilitations, arbitrations and case evaluation hearings
  • Trial experience in both state and federal court
  • Defended property management companies against claims of negligence
  • Serves as Prosecutor for the City of Northville

Professional Affiliations

  • Oakland County Bar Association
  • State Bar of Michigan
  • American Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • ALFA International (International Practice Group; Professional Liability Practice Group Steering Committee)
  • The Association of Credit and Collection Professionals - Members' Attorney Program

Community Involvement

  • Rochester Glens Homeowners Association, President

Publications and Lectures

  • State Professional Liability Trends: Michigan webinar, Co-presenter, CLM, Nov. 13, 2024
  • “Accounting Malpractice: The Ship is Sinking,” presenter, Michigan Association of CPAs East Metro Small Practitioners Monthly Meeting Group, Grosse Pointe, Feb. 28, 2024
  • "Hot Topics in Professional Liability," Co-presenter, ALFA International's 2022 Insurance & Professional Liability Seminar, The Logan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 23, 2022
  • “Hot Topics and Recent Case Law Regarding Legal Malpractice,“ Co-presenter, 2021 Professional Liability Conference, ALFA International Professional Liability Webinar, June 25, 2021
  • “Professional Liability and Insurance Practice Challenges – Confronting the New Normal,“ Co-presenter, 2021 ALFA International Professional Liability & Insurance Virtual Seminar, June 24, 2021
  • “Accounting Malpractice: The Jig is Up,“ Presenter, Accounting for the Tax Practitioner Conference, Michigan Association of CPAs, June 24, 2021
  • “Simple Advice for Complex Times: The Top 5 Pieces of Advice Insurers Can Give to Their Law Firm Insureds,“ Co-presenter, ALFA International Professional Liability Webinar, Sept. 24, 2020
  • “Who’s on First, What’s on Second, I Don’t Know’s on Third - Dealing with Ethical Dilemmas,“ Co-presenter, ALFA International 2019 Professional Liability Mini-Seminar, Aug. 2, 2019
  • “Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: The Basics and Beyond,” Co-Presenter, FDCPA Webinar, June 27, 2019
  • “Know  When to Hold ’em and Know When to Fold ’em,” ALFA International’s Professional Liability Section, Program Chair, Foxwoods Resort & Casino, Connecticut, Aug. 3, 2017
  • MACPA Anti-Fraud Conference, Presenter, May 2013
  • "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage: A Compendium of State Law," Chapter Co-Author, DRI, Copyright 2012
  • Malpractice Avoidance for MACPA Birmingham Small Practitioners Group, Presenter, June 2012 
  • Best Practices for MACPA Lansing Small Practitioners Group, Presenter, January 2011
  • “The Handbook of Fraud Deterrence,” Chapter Co-Author, Wiley Publishing Company, Copyright 2006

Credentials

Education

  • Michigan State University College of Law, magna cum laude, J.D., 2003
  • Michigan State University, James Madison College, B.A., 1999

Admissions

  • Michigan, 2003
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2003
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2011

Honors/Awards

Honors & Recognitions

  • Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating-AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
  • Michigan Super Lawyer in Professional Liability Defense; Michigan Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters publication, 2023
  • Michigan Super Lawyer Rising Star in Professional Liability Defense; Michigan Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters publication, 2008, 2010 - 2017
  • Leading Lawyer in Professional Malpractice Defense Law: including Legal/Technical/Financial, Leading Lawyers Magazine Michigan, 2021
  • Top Lawyer in Legal Malpractice Law, dbusiness Magazine, 2018, 2023
  • Law Review member, Note & Comment Editor
  • American Jurisprudence Award, Research, Writing and Advocacy Research, Writing and Advocacy
  • Best Brief Competition Finalist All School Moot Court Competition

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