The Law and Policy Logic in Regulating Insurance Markets and Products

Gary Hughes discusses the law and policy logic in regulating insurance markets and products Why do we bother regulating contracts of insurance and market players? How do we go about this in New Zealand, and is there evidence that we’ve been any good at it? Join us for a LEANZ seminar where Gary Hughes will survey how the collective forces of the FMA, RBNZ, Commerce Commission, DIA and various MBIE projects have been approaching regulation of insurance markets recently. The seminar is on Thursday 12 November 2026 at Russell McVeagh, Level 30 Vero Centre, 48 Shortland St, Auckland, and online. Doors open at 5PM for networking, with drinks and light refreshments. The seminar will begin at 5.30PM and conclude at 6.30PM, including time for questions. About the speaker: Gary Hughes Gary is a leading independent barrister at Britomart Chambers, with 30 years experience handling regulatory investigations, enforcement and prosecutions, civil disputes, risk or compliance problems. With expertise across financial and insurance sector issues, he is well-known for regulatory or misconduct problems with agencies such as the FMA, Commerce Commission, Serious Fraud Office, RBNZ, Privacy Commissioner, and NZ Police FIU. His insurance practice concentrates on financial lines, D&O or statutory liability cover, including in cutting-edge or complex new regulatory cases, such as the Department of Internal Affairs’ first AML pecuniary prosecution, new Russian Sanctions issues, COFI reforms, or the Commerce Commission’s first criminal anti-competitive cartel case. Gary has been a member of the NZ Law Society’s Law Reform Committee, Chair of the International Bar Association’s AML & Sanctions Experts committee, and invited expert on Ministry of Justice and OECD advisory groups. He is author of the Thomson Reuters Westlaw textbook AML/CFT Workflows & Guidance for Lawyers. Working on insurance law disputes, regulatory problems and creative solutions throughout his career including at leading law firms (Clyde & Co, Chapman Tripp and Wilson Harle) and for a time in-house at Aon UK, Gary’s pragmatic strategic approach is sought after in defusing investigations, and also providing training to Boards and Professional partnerships. From 2004 to 2015 Gary led the Auckland LEANZ seminar education programme, and is an honorary life member of the Law & Economics Association of NZ Inc. See www.law-strategy.nz Online attendance Details to follow