United Kingdom: Class Actions

The Court of Appeal has upheld a High Court decision allowing approximately 5,000 motor finance claims to proceed via multi-party 'omnibus' claim forms, challenging the lenders' attempts to disaggregate the cases. The ruling addresses whether claims alleging unfair relationships under the Consumer Credit Act 1974—based on undisclosed dealer commissions—can be efficiently managed collectively despite their fact-specific nature. This case management decision provides important guidance on the cour

The UK Government has launched a comprehensive consultation on reforming competition law enforcement, collective actions, and regulatory appeals. The proposals include stricter certification tests for opt-out claims, immunity from private litigation for cartel whistleblowers, and the transfer of regulatory appeals to the Competition Appeal Tribunal. These changes could fundamentally reshape how businesses defend against competition claims and engage with sector regulators.

This review examines five recent court decisions addressing critical procedural and liability issues in civil litigation. From pre-action costs disputes and small claims track protections to privilege hunting abuses and the evolving landscape of omnibus claim forms, these cases provide essential guidance on contemporary litigation challenges and judicial approaches to procedural fairness.

In a securities class actions brought against Entain Plc under ss. 90 and 90A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA), the High Court has held that issues of reliance and causation...

The Competition Appeal Tribunal has refused Apple's application to decertify a pending opt-out class action brought by app developers, marking the first time the Tribunal considered revoking a collective proceedings order. Following the Supreme Court's landmark ruling in Evans v Barclays Bank, the Tribunal examined whether certification criteria still applied and provided crucial guidance on the factors governing such applications, including the strength of claims and the practicability of opt-in versus opt

The Court of Appeal has upheld a High Court decision allowing over 5,000 motor finance claims to proceed together using omnibus claim forms, despite the fact-specific nature of unfair relationship claims under the Consumer Credit Act. While emphasizing this was a decision on its own facts, the court's analysis of convenience factors and case management approaches offers important guidance for multi-party litigation.

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...