With reform on its way, if you advise insurers, insureds or intermediaries deepen your expertise across the regulatory, contractual and litigious dimensions of insurance law to better serve your clients and navigate evolving legal challenges with confidence. Gain valuable insights into the shifting landscape of prudential supervision, the complexities of professional indemnity coverage and practical approaches to dispute resolution.  

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.

Richard Hargreaves, Partner, Wynn Williams
Originally from the UK, Richard has specialised in New Zealand insurance law for over 10 years. He has a particular focus on professional indemnity defence work. Richard is known for his work defending other lawyers under their professional indemnity policies, operating in the Law Society complaints process and civil courts. He also defends other professionals such as architects, real estate agents, brokers and engineers. Richard's expertise and national profile have been recognised in the Chambers directory, Legal 500, by NZ Lawyer and Insurance Business NZ magazine.Known as a fair operator, Richard's standing often allows pragmatic solutions to be reached quickly. Where no negotiated solution is possible, he is an experienced and effective advocate, as lead counsel in the High Court as well as various regulatory tribunals.

Tim Gunn, Director, Tim Gunn Lawyer
Tim Gunn is a dedicated civil litigation lawyer specialising in insurance law, employment disputes, and civil litigation. He began his legal career in Queenstown before moving to Auckland, Sydney and Christchurch, where he honed his skills at prominent insurance law firms. A pivotal moment in his career was working alongside the late Andrew Hooker at Shine Lawyers, whose passion for justice and dedication to client advocacy inspires his practice. He is now based in Matakana, North of Auckland, NZ where he lives locally with his wife and two children. He is down to earth, approachable individual who acts for all sorts of clients ranging from large businesses to individuals based all around New Zealand. His core values are fairness and pragmatism which means regardless of the client or the values of the dispute. He is intrinsically driven to deliver solution orientated advice with a demonstrated record that he is proud of. He is a vocal advocate for mental health and well practiced in supporting clients through challenging experience with empathy, compassion and clear communication.

Andrew Suggate, Senior Associate, Buddle Findlay
Andrew specialises in financial services law, advising domestic and offshore financial services businesses on all aspects of raising and investing capital, investment structuring, financial product (including insurance) offering and distribution, prudential and conduct regulation, consumer credit, financial advice and other financial services. Andrew has extensive experience working in New Zealand and the United Kingdom advising banks, fund managers, insurers, non-bank deposit takers, FinTechs, private funds, consumer credit providers, financial advice businesses, brokers, investment platform providers and other financial services businesses.