ELSA symposium spotlights regulation, AI and investor sentiment in Dublin

The European Life Settlement Association brought global market participants to Dublin on Sept. 15 for a symposium focused on Ireland’s role, legal and regulatory risk, investor sentiment and artificial intelligence. The gathering comes as the life settlement sector weighs how Europe’s changing policy and technology landscape could affect future market development.

Why it matters: - The Dublin symposium put four pressure points in the life settlement market on the same stage: regulation, investor appetite, AI and Ireland’s role in the sector. - The discussion matters because the life settlement industry depends on legal clarity, stable capital flows and operational discipline as it develops across Europe and globally. - ELSA also used the event to bring members together ahead of its Annual General Meeting, where the association reviewed activities and helped shape future direction.

What happened: - The European Life Settlement Association hosted the Dublin Life Settlement Symposium 2026 on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Byrne Wallace Shields in Dublin. - The event drew investors, asset managers, legal professionals, service providers and other market participants from across the international life settlement market. - Professor Federico Fabbrini of Dublin City University and Harvard Kennedy School opened the program with a keynote on Ireland and Europe in a changing global landscape. - David Naughton of Byrne Wallace Shields followed with a session on Ireland and the life settlement market. - The formal program ended with a panel on artificial intelligence titled Artificial Intelligence: Misuse, Overuse and No Use.

The details: - Fabbrini discussed Ireland’s and Europe’s opportunities and challenges in a changing geopolitical environment, including the economic, political and geopolitical factors likely to shape the region’s future. - Naughton addressed Ireland’s role in the sector, its legal framework, its investment environment and opportunities for market development. - A session titled Life Settlement Litigation: Current Issues and Developments focused on litigation affecting the industry, recent developments and practical approaches to legal and regulatory risk. - Ryan McTernan of Fifth Season Investments chaired that litigation session. - Richard Krebs of Orrick and Lee Pepper of ArentFox Schiff presented during the litigation session. - Manu Mazumdar of Conning presented preliminary results of the ELSA-Conning Investor Sentiment Survey 2026. - The survey presentation highlighted current capital market trends, investor priorities and expectations for the life settlement market. - Matthew Sheridan of Health Data Analytics Institute chaired the AI panel. - Phil Hall of Longevity Holdings and Vince Granieri of Predictive Resources joined the AI discussion. - The panel looked at where artificial intelligence is already being used in life settlements, where it can add value, where use may be excessive and what operational, ethical and regulatory questions come with wider adoption. - ELSA members attended the association’s Annual General Meeting after the symposium. - The AGM gave members a chance to review ELSA’s activities, hear updates from the Executive Committee and help shape the association’s future direction. - Byrne Wallace Shields hosted the symposium. - Symposium sponsors were Coventry Capital, Corry Capital Advisors, Fifth Season Investments and Preston Capital. - ELSA thanked all speakers, chairs and panellists who contributed to the program. - ELSA was founded in 2009 to set standards for participants in the European life settlement industry. - ELSA represents institutional investors, life settlement asset managers and service providers in Europe and around the world. - ELSA says it promotes transparency through industry standards and accurate information for investors, regulators and the media. - More information is available on ELSA's website.

Between the lines: - The agenda shows the industry is balancing growth ambitions with tighter scrutiny on law, regulation and technology. - The AI panel signals that life settlement firms are moving from experimentation to governance questions around how far and how fast to adopt new tools. - The focus on investor sentiment suggests the sector is still working to align market expectations with available capital.

What's next: - ELSA will continue using member meetings and symposiums to exchange views on market standards and sector development. - Legal, regulatory and AI issues are likely to remain central as the life settlement market evolves in Europe and beyond. - The association’s future direction will be shaped further by member input and Executive Committee updates coming out of the AGM.

The bottom line: - Dublin showed a life settlement industry that is focused less on expansion rhetoric and more on the rules, risks and technology shaping its next phase.