The Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL) has appointed Mark Huxley as its new chief executive, with his appointment taking effect on October 1, 2026. He will succeed Laurence Besemer, who has served as the organisation’s chief executive since FOIL made its first CEO appointment in 2009.
Besemer will remain with FOIL until the end of 2026 to support a smooth leadership transition.
Huxley brings almost five decades of experience across the insurance and broader financial services sectors. His career has included frontline claims work within Lloyd’s syndicates, regulatory and operational positions, outsourced claims management and strategic consultancy.
Following around 20 years in Lloyd’s claims and business management, Huxley co-founded one of the UK’s early outsourced professional claims management businesses. He subsequently developed a career as an entrepreneur and adviser across the insurance market. His relationship with FOIL dates back to 2018, when he began working with the organisation as a London Market FOIL special adviser.
A Significant Leadership Role
FOIL represents approximately 8,000 insurance lawyers and paralegals across 61 corporate member firms and 17 Trade & Industry Partners, giving it a significant role within the defendant insurance legal community.
Huxley takes on the leadership position at a time of considerable change across the sector. Artificial intelligence and automation, fraud, regulation, litigation funding, legal costs and broader economic pressures are all influencing the environment in which insurers and their legal advisers operate. These issues have also been identified by FOIL’s current leadership as key priorities for the organisation.
Communication and Engagement in Focus
Communication and engagement are expected to be central themes of Huxley’s tenure, both in FOIL’s external relationships and within the organisation.
Huxley also highlighted the importance of FOIL’s Trade & Industry Partners, whose support plays an important role in the organisation’s activities. He said he wants their contribution to remain recognised and valued as FOIL continues to evolve.
Alongside his professional career, Huxley is involved in the civic life of the City of London, where he represents entrepreneurship and innovation. He also supports charitable initiatives focused on social inclusion, including education, employment access and neuro-inclusion.
Building on Laurence Besemer’s 17-Year Leadership
Since becoming FOIL’s first chief executive in 2009, Besemer has played a key role in establishing the organisation as an independent and respected voice for the insurance legal community.
During his tenure, FOIL strengthened its relationships with government, regulators, insurers and other industry stakeholders. The organisation also expanded its reach across a wider range of insurance classes and specialist areas of law, extended its activities into territories including Ireland, and broadened its membership to include the in-house legal community.
Continuity Under FOIL’s Existing Leadership
Huxley’s appointment as chief executive will operate alongside FOIL’s existing elected leadership structure.
Bridget Tatham, a partner at Browne Jacobson, became FOIL’s president for 2026, succeeding Howard Dean of Keoghs. During his presidential term, Dean focused on civil justice reforms, including the Personal Injury Discount Rate, fixed recoverable costs and the digitisation of court services.
As FOIL enters its next phase, Huxley will also continue to build on initiatives such as “Tomorrow’s FOIL.” The programme supports insurance lawyers during the first five years of their careers, while also helping attract new talent to insurance law and expanding outreach to students.
A Leadership Change Focused on Continuity
Huxley’s appointment represents a continuity-focused leadership transition rather than a fundamental change in FOIL’s direction.
His eight years as a special adviser to the organisation have given him detailed knowledge of FOIL’s priorities and activities before taking on the chief executive role. This provides an established understanding of the organisation that an external appointment would typically take time to develop.
Huxley inherits an organisation representing around 8,000 lawyers across dozens of firms while the insurance legal sector faces simultaneous changes involving artificial intelligence, litigation funding, regulation and broader economic pressures.
His emphasis on communication and ensuring that members feel heard indicates that FOIL’s immediate priority will be maintaining strong engagement across its broad membership while responding to the growing challenges facing insurers and their legal advisers.
