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ARTICLE · 25 SEPTEMBER 2025

Class Actions Radar: France

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
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Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

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Initially dedicated to consumer disputes, they later extended to health, environment, personal data protection, workplace discrimination and rental property matters.

FranceLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Martin Le Touzé
Martin Le Touzé
Apolline Archambault
Apolline Archambault
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The landscape

Class actions ("actions de groupe") were introduced in France in 2014 by the Consumer Act 2014-344.

Initially dedicated to consumer disputes, they later extended to health, environment, personal data protection, workplace discrimination and rental property matters. However, by 2023, only 35 class actions had been brought due to the procedure's length, complexity and cost. No company has yet been found liable in France as a result of a class action.

Difficulties in bringing class actions in France include strict requirements that an association of plaintiffs be accredited and sometimes established for a certain period. Furthermore, French law favours the opt-in system, which means that victims must expressly manifest their intention to join the class action. French law does not recognise punitive damages and allows only for compensatory damages that strictly cover the harm suffered by the victim. Finally, there is no discovery procedure in France,

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