Join a distinguished panel of insurance barristers as they unravel the complex landscape of the insurance industry, with a special focus on mitigating the risk of cybercrime activity and natural disasters. Unravel the “Wayne Tank” principle and Contracts of Insurance Bill. Benefit from best practice guidance to manage and reduce clients’ exposure to climate threats and catch up on the latest cases shaping insurance law in 2025.

Presenters

Gary Hughes, Barrister, Britomart Chambers
Gary is a leading independent lawyer at Britomart Chambers, specialising in all types of regulatory investigations, enforcement and disputes, advocacy, and advice. His insurance practice has a focus on financial lines, D&O, or statutory liability cases. He has deep expertise in resolving issues with business crime regulators – especially the Commerce Commission, Financial Markets Authority, AML/CFT Supervisors, Serious Fraud Office, Privacy Commission, and other government agencies. Widely known for specialist work on Competition law and Anti-Money Laundering cases, Gary is a member of the NZ Law Society Law Reform Committee, Chair of the International Bar Association’s AML & Sanctions Experts committee, and author of the Thomson Reuters textbook AML/CFT Workflows & Guidance for Lawyers. At the cutting edge of regulatory issues, his work includes the DIA’s first AML/CFT pecuniary penalty case, Russian Sanctions Act issues, and defending the first criminal cartel prosecution in New Zealand. Gary has worked on insurance law disputes and problems throughout his 28-year career including at leading law firms (Clyde & Co, Chapman Tripp and Wilson Harle) and for a period in-house at Aon UK. That ranges from defending claims against directors/managers, to policy coverage disputes, to Commerce Commission or RBNZ prudential investigation of insurance companies. Gary’s pragmatic strategic approach also makes him a sought-after trainer of Boards and Professional partnerships. Admitted in NZ (1996), also qualified in England & Wales and Supreme Court of NSW Australia.


Grant Shand, Principal, Grant Shand Barristers & Solicitors
Grant Shand is the principal of Grant Shand Barristers and Solicitors. He is New Zealand’s leading natural disaster lawyer.  Since 2012 he has done hundreds of cases arising out of the Canterbury earthquakes and is still involved in two earthquake class actions against EQC and many court proceedings.  He is now involved in flooding and landslip cases around the country, including two class action flooding cases against local authorities. 


Toby Gee, Barrister and Mediator, Lambton Chambers
Toby Gee has more than 24 years’ experience as a trial lawyer and specialist counsel. He completed his training as a barrister in the Inner Temple, London in 1992-1993. From 1993 until 2013, he practised as a barrister at Crown Office Chambers in London, instructed by many leading UK firms of solicitors to represent insurers, other corporate entities, government entities and individuals in civil claims at all levels up to and including the Court of Appeal. Toby’s main specialisms are in insurance, commercial/contractual disputes, professional liability, medico-legal matters, product liability (medical and non-medical), engineering and construction, and health and safety. In 1997 Toby was a Pegasus Scholar at Chapman Tripp Sheffield Young (as it then was) in Wellington. While on a sabbatical from his London practice in 2005-2006, as well as working in the policy group at ACC he worked with several Wellington barristers on a variety of civil disputes. As well as being a barrister, Toby is an accredited mediator. He is also a member of the governance board of the New Zealand Choral Federation, and a trustee of St Mark’s Church School, Wellington.


Bruce Gray KC, Barrister, Shortland Chambers
Bruce is a King's Counsel, having been appointed in 2006. Bruce has extensive trial and appellate experience in a range of civil law areas. This experience includes appearing in respect of construction of policies of insurance and in respect of parties who are indemnified under policies of insurance. Bruce was a long-standing member of the Council of the Legal Research Foundation and was its Director of Research for 13 years. Bruce is the Provincial Chancellor of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia.


Julia Whitehead, Special Counsel, MC
Julia has extensive expertise as an insurance lawyer acting for insurers and insureds. She has advised insurers and reinsurers on representative actions, complex professional indemnity issues, and product liability matters. With a wealth of experience as a defendant lawyer, Julia brings a unique understanding of the defence approach to civil cases, and the insurance drivers that often underpin them. Julia is an experienced civil litigator appearing in a wide range of courts and tribunals. Her subject matter specialisms include construction law (including product liability), health law, and regulatory matters. She has acted for leading New Zealand and global engineering and architecture firms for more than a decade.