Skip to main content

 

Mass claims and class actions

Clients facing the risks of mass claims and class actions are under enormous pressure. With our team of highly experienced lawyers, and our second-to-none expertise in handling complex mass claim and class action proceedings globally, we are uniquely positioned to defend interests and protect businesses against the continuing challenges inherent in these types of matters.

Freshfields offers highly experienced litigation lawyers, coordinated litigation and regulatory strategies, efficient project management, and powerful legal tech tools to defend mass claims and class action proceedings across the globe.

Our team have specific know-how to cover all areas in which mass claim risks can arise. This includes integrated, industry-specific knowledge of the automotive, consumer, healthcare/life sciences, financial services and TMT sectors – and our expertise includes hot areas of mass claim and class action litigation, including antitrust, data protection, product liability, shareholder litigation and ESG. Our team is experienced in dealing with increasing risks fueled by consumer-friendly legislative environments and expanded availability of claims funding, and we understand the implications of an active claimant bar and new procedural regimes around the globe.

Freshfields draws upon this nuanced understanding of the relevant legislative regimes in deploying resources, and negotiating with or litigating against mass claims counter-parties – as well as with governmental/public entities, regulatory bodies and other institutions as and where needed.

Freshfields also offers legal tech solutions, including case management platforms and easy-access reporting tools, which can be tailored to our client needs – and which bring efficiencies, such as document automation and automated claims intake, as well as better collaboration and communication with our clients.

Recent client successes

We are currently defending such claims in Germany, Austria, Italy and the UK. In Germany alone, this involves the defence of 20,000+ pre-action and 5,000+ issued claims, brought by numerous German claimant law firms and a legal tech venture. Overall, this is the biggest data privacy mass claims litigation in Europe to date.

The case is reportedly the largest damages claim ever brought in the UK and is continuing to shape the approach to all UK antitrust class actions. Read more about the litigation in our case study.

Filed by various municipalities of Puerto Rico, the lawsuit alleges that defendants’ production, promotion, refining, marketing and sale of fossil fuel-based consumer products worsened global warming, and contributed to the catastrophic hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico in 2017.

The action challenges disclosures regarding and accounting reserves for allegedly billions of US dollars in potential liability in pending mass tort and environmental litigation.

Awards & Recognitions

Band 1 Ranking for Dispute Resolution, Chambers Global 2023, Multi-Jurisdictional: Dispute Resolution  

Band 1 Ranking for Global Crisis Management, Chambers Crisis & Risk Management 2023  

Innovation Award for the Mass Claims Unit in Germany, Azur Awards, 2023 

Litigation of the Year – Cartel Defence, GCR Awards 2023, Global Competition Review

Law Firm of the Year for Dispute resolution (Cross-border), China Business Law Awards, 2023 

Commercial Litigation Award, Benchmark Litigation, 2022 

Law Firm of the Year for Dispute Resolution, JUVE Awards, 2021 

Commercial Litigation Team of the Year, Legal Business Awards, 2021 

Contacts

View our full team

 

Our latest blogs