Data Disputes: How UK Class Action Landscape Is Shaping Up

Introduction

The number of class actions brought in the UK is likely to grow considerably in the coming years. In particular, we expect claimant firms to continue making claims for misuse use of data where an issue affects a large number of individuals. This post:

• Introduces group and representative actions in the English legal system, which typically are referred to as 'class actions', albeit with significant differences compared to US proceedings of the same name.
• Outlines the relevant legislative frameworks under which privacy class action claims are brought.
• Explains the expectations of the English courts in relation to the exchange of information and documents before proceedings commence, which can be onerous.