In addition to our wide-ranging experience in all types of large-scale commercial disputes, Herbert Smith has acted in many of the major group litigation disputes in the UK over recent years including the Scania group action, the deep vein thrombosis litigation against airlines and the MMR group action.
This is a rapidly developing area and it is widely anticipated that the number of class actions brought in this jurisdiction will grow, including in areas such as:
Herbert Smith advises clients threatened with such actions or likely to be affected by an increase in them. We are closely following developments and have set up a cross-practice group to monitor and advise on matters affecting our clients in this area.
Our Alliance partners, Gleiss Lutz and Stibbe, also have significant experience in the defence of group litigation. For example, Gleiss has acted for clients from various industries in mass litigation brought by investors. Stibbe has acted for an Anglo-Dutch multinational in the settlement of a mass damage securities claim and for a German multinational in relation to a mass claim brought by employees of one of its main sub-contractors.