United Kingdom: Class Actions

The UK Supreme Court's decision in Evans v Barclays Bank clarifies critical distinctions between opt-in and opt-out collective proceedings, establishing that claim strength is a relevant factor in certification decisions and that opt-in should be the starting point. The judgment addresses the weight to be given to regulatory decisions, the balance between access to justice and defendants' rights, and the practical considerations that should guide the Competition Appeal Tribunal's certification process.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is central to resolving FIFA disputes, providing a specialist, confidential and internationally enforceable forum under FIFA regulations.

The High Court has rejected a judicial review challenge by litigation funder Innsworth Capital against the Competition Appeal Tribunal's distribution of settlement proceeds in the landmark Merricks v Mastercard collective proceedings. The case raises fundamental questions about how settlement funds should be allocated between class members and litigation funders, and the extent to which the Tribunal can override contractual funding arrangements to protect class interests.

The judgment gives guidance on how the court will approach questions of non-sterling currency fluctuations, both when determining quantum and when assessing costs recoverability...

The decision potentially broadens the scope of legal advice privilege beyond the approach previously seen as orthodox...

On 20 April 2026, the Law Commission, an independent organisation established to keep the law of England and Wales under review and recommend reform, announced a new project to consider the potential introduction...

Class action litigation has become increasingly prominent in the English courts in the past decade, with claims increasing in size and value.

The UK Government recently announced its intention to review the UK's antitrust class action system, including launching a consultation on the future of the regime.

The three conjoined appeals considered the sale of motor finance to financially unsophisticated consumers each of which had bought a second-hand car from dealerships which also brokered their financing