Australia: Class Actions

PFAS contamination litigation is evolving through distinct waves, from environmental property damage claims to consumer-manufacturer disputes and emerging personal injury actions. As scientific evidence mounts and regulatory scrutiny intensifies, Australian courts face a potential flood of claims mirroring the billions in settlements already paid in the United States, with manufacturers, governments, and corporations throughout the supply chain confronting unprecedented legal exposure.

The Full Federal Court's decision in Crowley v Worley Limited marks a pivotal shift in Australian securities class action law by endorsing market-based causation and lowering evidentiary thresholds for proving shareholder loss. This landmark ruling, combined with the earlier Brambles decision, fundamentally alters the risk landscape for ASX-listed companies and their insurers.

On 14 May 2026, the Federal Court of Australia (the Court), in a prosecution commenced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), found that Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd (Coles)...

King & Wood Mallesons' annual report, The Review: Class Actions in Australia 2024/2025, charts a record-breaking year for class actions - from unprecedented settlements to landmark High Court rulings.

Corporate risk in Australia is increasingly defined by the aligned issues of regulatory compliance and the threat of class action litigation.

Class actions are an established form of litigation that have grown significantly in Australia over the two decades and have become the fastest growing species of litigation in Australia.

Here's a closer look at some of the most significant cases that left their mark.

Lawyers must be aware of the different ways in which expert evidence is dealt with in each jurisdiction.

Three major observable trends likely to be present in the coming years relating to funded class actions.