The ruling by the Full Federal Court that funded class actions are not managed investment schemes marks the end of an ill-considered regime enacted by the Morrison government to rein in class actions, but the debate over regulation of litigation funders is not over yet.
A judge has allowed two law firms to jointly run a consolidated shareholder class action against dairy company a2 Milk, saying the arrangement was in the interests of group members and was “not novel”.
A victor remains to be crowned following a heated beauty parade between competing class actions against tech company Nuix, with two law firms facing criticism for their “cumbrous” consolidation proposal and a third firm copping flak for its “opaque” financials.
The ACCC has raised concerns that Canada-based Dye & Durham’s proposed $2.9 billion acquisition of technology services provider Link could harm competition in the market for digital conveyancing services.
In a significant victory for litigation funders, the Full Federal Court has found that funded class actions are not managed investment schemes subject to regulatory oversight, gutting the legal basis for reforms enacted by the Morrison government in 2020.
A litigation funder for two franchisee class actions against 7-Eleven has asked a court for a $16.6 million payout to cover its costs before a judge rules on how much it can pocket from a $98 million settlement.
A law firm is seeking a funding equalisation order to have all group members contribute to the $630,000 legal bill it racked up in running an underpayments class action on behalf of Drakes store managers that has settled for $2 million.
A judge has questioned whether class actions are the best way to resolve underpayment disputes during a hearing on a settlement in two class actions against supermarket chain Romeo’s, which one group member called “criminally unfair.”
Two years after an insurance dispute scuttled a proposed settlement, group members in two class actions against sandalwood producer Quintis are set to receive $4.7 million in a settlement with the defunct company.
The law firm that’s running a shareholder class action against payment processing company EML will seek a group costs order for a 30 per cent cut of the suit’s proceeds.