Group Litigation | UK Bar

Brick Court Chambers is a leading set in competition law and demonstrates particular strength in the emergent class action regime in that field. Members have distinguished themselves by appearing in a number of seminal cases, including Lloyd v Google and Merricks v Mastercard. They have also acted in Northern Rock Mortgage Prisoners, a group action by thousands of mortgage holders who allege they have been treated unfairly by their lenders. Their strength, one source reports, is in their "unparalleled competition law expertise."

Paul Dennison and Tony Burgess are joint senior clerks.

Henderson Chambers is a noted leader in the field of group litigation. Its noted depth, breadth and longevity in this field grounds its celebrated reputation for "excellence at all levels" and its "unparalleled bench in group litigation," according to sources. The set's barristers routinely appear in the highest-profile and most complex group litigation. Recent examples include members appearing on both sides of the Dieselgate emissions litigation, members' involvement in the claims against AstraZeneca relating the COVID-19 vaccine, and in the claims arising from the Grenfell Tower Fire.

Jason Housden is chambers director.

Monckton Chambers has built upon its revered competition law practice as a foundation for a significant offering in group litigation, and more particularly representative actions. This year, members of the set appeared in Le Patourel v BT, a collective action concerning abuse of dominance in the landline market, as well as Kent v Apple and Coll v Google, high-profile collective proceedings against big tech. Such instructions cement the set's reputation garnered from its involvement in leading cases such as Merricks v Mastercard. Sources report that the set has "the best competition barristers" who are "unsurpassed" in Competition Appeal Tribunal litigation.

Chris O'Brien is senior practice manager.

2 Temple Gardens has an excellent track record of acting in some of the most significant group litigation in recent years. The set leverages expertise in product liability, personal injury and healthcare law to operate in a variety of group claims which span across practice areas and jurisdictions. One source highlights their "market-leading experience in group litigation and product liability litigation." A recent work highlight is Limbu and others v Dyson Technology Limited and others, a large group action brought by migrant workers employed in factory facilities in Malaysia which manufactured Dyson-branded products.

Lee Tyler is the senior clerk.

3 Verulam Buildings is a leading set for commercial disputes. It has leveraged its impressive expertise to develop a significant presence in group litigation and enjoys a strong reputation for securing commercial outcomes - as one source put it, "they always deliver". In recent years, barristers from the set have been instructed in major Section 90A FSMA claims including Glencore, Serco and Clydesdale Bank. Tenants of 3VB also acted in Various Claimants v Santander PLC, a group action by 40,000 claimants who were allegedly mis-sold PPI.

Kathryn Paterson is the chambers director.

Blackstone Chambers has developed a strong reputation in group litigation, and recent years have seen members acting in some of the most significant cases in the field. The set stands out for its broad practice and versatile barristers who, as one source notes, are "completely unfazed by matters that throw up hugely complex challenges at every turn". Examples of cases its barristers have worked on recently include Upham v HSBC, also known as the 'Eclipse' litigation, AdTech Collective Action v Google, and the Dieselgate emissions litigation.

Mat Swallow is chambers director.

Matrix Chambers has a strong group litigation practice, particularly in cases pertaining to media, communications and data protection. Members of chambers are regularly instructed in major cases in the group litigation space and the set is noted for "leading expertise" in data breach related group actions in particular. Recent examples of the work carried out by members of the set include the Dieselgate emissions litigation, Various Claimants v British American Tobacco & Imperial Tobacco, a group claim bought by Malawian tobacco farmers against two tobacco companies concerning alleged abuse in their supply chains, and Prismall v Google UK and DeepMind, concerning the alleged misuse of private information.

Alison Scanes is the senior practice manager.

One Essex Court has a strong practice in group litigation and is instructed to handle both the defendant and claimant sides of some of the biggest cases taking place. Members of the set have experience in traditional groups, collective actions and multiparty litigation arising in a wide range of areas including data protection, environment, competition and financial services. This year, members of the set have appeared in such high-profile actions as the Fundão Dam litigation, the securities litigation case against Glencore and the Dieselgate emissions litigation. As one source describes them, they are a set of "specialised barristers with supreme expertise".

Darren Burrows is the senior clerk.

11KBW is a market-leading set for matters pertaining to data protection, privacy, employment and public law, and has brought that expertise into its group litigation practice. 11KBW's barristers are regularly instructed on behalf of claimants and defendants in significant group claims. One source comments: "The number of recognised expert counsel in data breach work speaks for itself". They have acted in hugely influential cases in the field such as Lloyd v Google. Other recent work highlights include Beck & Others v Police Federation of England & Wales, a class action in connection with a data breach.

Mark Dann is the senior clerk.

4 New Square Chambers' members are well versed in group litigation across a variety of contexts including fraud, product liability, professional negligence and banking and finance, among others. The set boasts, in the words of one source, "talented barristers at every level of call." This year, members have appeared both claimant and defendant side in a number of high-profile matters including collective proceedings against Mastercard and Visa, a major group action against Serco concerning securities, and the Dieselgate emissions litigation.

Lizzy Stewart is the CEO and senior clerk.

Fountain Court Chambers is a pre-eminent commercial and chancery set, whose members' expertise in handling complex and high-profile disputes with cross-border aspects makes the set a natural fit for group actions. As chambers' profile in group litigation has developed, members have acted for both claimant groups and defendants in a number of large-scale banking disputes. Known for its "talented commercial practitioners", it is also a "very versatile set" whose members have turned their hand to consumer and product liability group claims. Examples of recent work that members have been instructed on this area include the Dieselgate emissions litigation, defending UK banks against mortgage prisoner and mortgage mis-selling claims, the civil claims arising from the Grenfell Tower Fire.

Alex Taylor is senior clerk.

Outer Temple Chambers has a broad bench of very experienced practitioners who are engaged to handle group litigation matters. The set has numerous areas of expertise including personal injury, clinical negligence, pensions and travel. It has a particularly in-depth knowledge of matters related to equality and discrimination. This year members of the set have appeared in a range of noted cases including the Military Noise Induced Hearing Loss litigation. One source highlights them as their "go-to for complex matters".

Matt Sale, Nicholas Levet and Lexie Johnson are the practice directors.