Join us for a comprehensive afternoon seminar designed for legal professionals advising insurers, insureds and intermediaries. From the shifting prudential supervision landscape to the practical realities of professional indemnity coverage and dispute resolution, you will gain essential insights into the regulatory, contractual and the litigious dimensions of insurance law.
Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Early Bird Discount ends 19 Dec 2025
2.00pm to 3.00pm Navigating the Changing Insurance Prudential Supervision Landscape
- Statutory snapshot: an overview of the Insurance Prudential Supervision Act (IPSA) and related legislation, prudential requirements and RBNZ supervisory and enforcement powers
- Context and reform agenda: modernisation of the IPSA in the context of global and domestic failures and in response to IMF Financial Sector Assessment Programme and Trowbridge-Scholten, and interaction with other financial markets reform (contracts of insurance, conduct and deposit takers changes)
- Looking forward: a practical guide for insurers and their advisers on responding to the changes to the regulatory perimeter, solvency and other standards, new supervisory and enforcement powers and other proposed IPSA updates
Presented by Andrew Suggate, Senior Associate, Buddle Findlay
Description
Attend and earn 3 CPD Hours
3.00pm to 4.00pm Professional Indemnity Insurance: What it Covers and What it Doesn’t Cover
An introduction to PI insurance and the risks it covers:
- Common claims and coverage issues under PI policies
- Recent developments and the future impact of the Contracts of Insurance Act 2024
Presented by Richard Hargreaves, Partner, Wynn Williams
4.00pm to 4.15pm Afternoon Break
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the evolving regulatory framework governing insurance in New Zealand, including the Insurance Prudential Supervision Act (IPSA)
- Identify key coverage issues and risks under professional indemnity insurance policies
- Develop practical strategies for managing insurance law disputes
4.15pm to 5.15pm Navigating and Managing Insurance Law Disputes
- Policy interpretation principles
- Claims preparation and evidence gathering
- Dispute resolution pathways (internal and external)
- Client and expectation management
- Legislative and regulatory updates
Presented by Tim Gunn, Director, Tim Gunn Lawyer
Presenters
Richard Hargreaves, Partner, Wynn WilliamsOriginally 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.
