United Kingdom
The most developed opt-out class regime in Europe, and a representative action procedure that predates all of it.
England and Wales offer three distinct routes to collective relief, and the choice between them is usually the most consequential decision in the case. Competition claims proceed in the Competition Appeal Tribunal, which can certify an opt-out class covering everybody affected whether or not they come forward. Everything else proceeds by Group Litigation Order or by representative action under CPR 19.8.
The firm's London office runs claims in all three, and appears in the Tribunal itself rather than instructing out the certification work.
- Forum
- Competition Appeal Tribunal · High Court
- Class mechanism
- Opt-out (CAT) · Opt-in (GLO)
- Funding
- Third-party funding permitted, disclosed
- Costs
- Loser pays; ATE insurance standard
- Limitation
- Six years, subject to suspension
Routes to collective relief in the United Kingdom
Each has its own standing test, class mechanism and cost consequences. We advise on the choice before a claim is issued anywhere.
Representative actions
CPR 19.8One claimant sues on behalf of a class with the same interest. No certification hearing, but the class must share a genuinely common interest and remedy — the constraint the Supreme Court confirmed in Lloyd v Google.
- No opt-in required
- Binding on the represented class
- Damages must be common, not individually assessed
Competition Appeal Tribunal
s.47BThe specialist tribunal for competition damages, and the only English forum with a true opt-out class action. A Collective Proceedings Order (CPO) certifies the class and appoints the class representative.
- Opt-out for UK-domiciled class members
- Aggregate damages available
- Funding and ATE scrutinised at certification
Group Litigation Orders
CPR 19.21Case management for claims giving rise to common or related issues of fact or law. Claimants opt in and are entered on a group register; lead claims are tried first.
- Opt-in group register
- Lead and test claims
- Costs shared across the group
Opt-in and opt-out
StrategyOpt-out maximises the class and the recovery but concentrates risk on certification. Opt-in produces a smaller, evidenced book and a cleaner distribution. We model both before choosing.
- Class size against evidential quality
- Distribution and residual funds
- Adverse costs exposure
How an action proceeds
Representative timetable from a live matter in this jurisdiction. Every registered claimant sees the same stages, dated, in their portal.
- Claim form filed12 Feb 2026
- CPO hearing09 Jun 2026
- CertifiedAwaiting judgment
- Trial
- Distribution
London
- Address
- 4 Cursitor Street, London EC4A 1LT, United Kingdom
- Telephone
- +44 20 7946 0412
- Forum
- Competition Appeal Tribunal · High Court
- Regime
- Opt-out class actions
Affected by conduct in this jurisdiction?
Tell us what happened. We will tell you which regime it belongs under, whether the loss is common enough to be brought collectively, and whether it is a claim we can take.