Direct access barrister
Dirk van Heck
Barrister · Mercantile Barristers · Called 2001
Dirk van Heck is a barrister specialising in privacy, data protection and commercial litigation, authorised to conduct litigation since 2014. He has acted in leading High Court privacy cases and runs matters from...
Regions served: Nationwide · London and South East
About Dirk
Dirk van Heck is a barrister who acts on a full-service basis in High Court disputes concerning privacy law, breach of confidence, misuse of private information, harassment and anonymity orders, including advocating for two of the defendants in the leading social-media case of LCG v OVD [2023] EWHC 2058 (KB). He also handles many data protection cases and regularly advises on the GDPR, and his wider commercial practice covers company, partnership and insolvency disputes, fraud and asset recovery, professional negligence, banking and financial services, contract, construction and cross-jurisdictional and offshore matters.
Having previously worked for a leading international law firm overseas, Dirk was well placed to gain authorisation to conduct litigation when this became available to self-employed barristers in 2014, and has since run cases from inception to trial while continuing to undertake direct-access work and accept instructions from solicitors. As a trained mediation advocate, he is as comfortable with alternative dispute resolution as with fighting cases through the courts.
Notable cases
- LCG v OVD [2023] EWHC 2058 (KB), leading social-media privacy trial; acted for two defendants.
- Hyslop v 38/41 GHC Residents Company Ltd [2018] EWHC 3893 (QB), landlord and tenant; forfeiture, service charges and relief from sanctions.
- Fowler v Barron [2008] EWCA Civ 377, beneficial interests of an unmarried couple in the Court of Appeal.
- Al Nasser & Al Masri Trading Co WLL v Munir [2022] EWHC 1174 (QB), default judgments, fraud and registration of foreign judgments.
- Van Heck v Giambrone & Partners Studio Legale Associato [2022] EWHC 1098 (QB), conflict of laws and parallel proceedings.
- Vitrition UK Ltd v Caine & Ors [2022] EWHC 51 (Comm), breach of contract and fiduciary duty; relief from sanctions.
- Relfo Ltd (in liquidation) v Varsani [2012] EWHC 2168 (Ch), restitution, knowing receipt and tracing.
- Cukurova Finance International Ltd v Alfa Telecom Turkey Ltd (Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal), relief pending appeal to the Privy Council.
Professional & academic
- MA (Cambridge), First Class; Postgraduate Diploma in Law
- Jules Thorn Scholar and Astbury Scholar of the Middle Temple
- Keble College International Advanced Advocacy Course; Bar Council Mediation Advocacy training
- Called to the Bar of England and Wales and of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (British Virgin Islands)
- Public Direct Access qualified; authorised to conduct litigation
What clients say
My company recently had the privilege of being represented by Dirk in a county court action. He showed a great ability to cut through the issues and focus on the facts. Calm and eloquent, he quickly exposed the smokescreens and inconsistencies put up by the defence and resoundingly won us the day. I would have no hesitation recommending Dirk as an excellent commercial barrister and advocate.
Anthony Dallison, CEO, Fern Marketing Ltd.
Dear Dirk, I just want to thank you for your assistance in our recent employment tribunal. We were all grateful for your professional yet charming manner throughout the proceedings. You made us feel as though you had a genuine interest in our case and calmly guided us through our first such tribunal, reducing the stress levels by some measure. We felt that you were a 'safe pair of hands', and the icing on the cake at the end of it all was that we won! I will not hesitate to recommend colleagues to you for advice and assistance... - Colin Farmer FCA, Partner, Alliotts Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors.
Dirk acted for me on a complicated trust of land case and successfully won the case for me due to his in depth knowledge and professional capability. He is also extremely personable and totally dedicated to his work.
Alison Middleton, homeowner.
Areas of practice
- Commercial property
- Company and commercial
- Contracts
- Debt recovery
- Employment - employer
- Housing in multiple occupation
- Privacy & GDPR
- Property & housing
Direct Access means you can instruct Dirk directly, without going through a solicitor first. Barristers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).
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