Paper: Class actions in Australia
Updated February 2017
In brief: Class actions are an established and important part of the Australian legal landscape. In recent years, Australia has become the most likely jurisdiction outside of the United States in which a corporation will face significant class action litigation.
Recent developments in the Australian legal landscape – including increasingly plaintiff-friendly class action laws, the acceptance of litigation funding and a growing number of plaintiff class action legal practices – have facilitated that evolution. At least in part, these developments are the direct result of Federal Government support for class actions (and third party funding of class actions) as important means of facilitating access to the civil justice system. The checks and balances in the Australian system have, however, helped to prevent what was predicted in the mid-2000s to be an ‘explosion’ of class action activity.
This paper outlines some of the key issues and trends in Australian class actions.
For further information, please contact:
- Ross DrinnanPartner, Practice Leader, Disputes & Investigations,
Sydney
Ph: +61 2 9230 4931
Ross.Drinnan@allens.com.au - Jenny CampbellPartner,
Sydney
Ph: +61 2 9230 4868
Jenny.Campbell@allens.com.au - Peter O'DonahooPartner,
Melbourne
Ph: +61 3 9613 8742
Peter.O'Donahoo@allens.com.au - Duncan TravisPartner,
Melbourne
Ph: +61 3 9613 8175
Duncan.Travis@allens.com.au - Belinda ThompsonPartner,
Melbourne
Ph: +61 3 9613 8667
Belinda.Thompson@allens.com.au - Philip BlaxillPartner,
Perth
Ph: +61 8 9488 3739
Philip.Blaxill@allens.com.au - Michael IlottPartner,
Brisbane
Ph: +61 7 3334 3234
Michael.Ilott@allens.com.au