Why come to us

For a quarter of a century, we have acted for defendants in the most high profile group actions to come before the UK courts. While group action litigation has largely developed through key pharmaceutical and medical claims that have been brought, we also have advised many other industry sectors, including mining and manufacturing industries, the food and drink sector, financial services clients and leading technology companies.

How we can help

We have advised clients from as soon as group action litigation has been threatened, helping them to develop a strategy for the successful management and defence of such claims.  Not only are our group action lawyers experienced in the vital tactical considerations that group action litigation requires but they are also able to put together a team of independent experts who can assist throughout the case. Our experience of coordinating claims while also investigating the substantive issues and advising on press relations, enables companies and their insurers to meet the serious challenges posed by group action litigation.

What we've done

We have been involved in the UK's most high profile group actions including the Pertussis Whooping Cough Vaccine litigation, Opren, Benzodiazepine Tranquiliser litigation, the Organophosphate litigation, and the HIV Haemophilia litigation. We are currently instructed in respect of the Hepatitis C contaminated blood litigation on behalf of the National Blood Authority and by GlaxoSmithKline in respect of the MMR Vaccine litigation. We have also acted for Cape plc in their defence of claims brought by 7,500 South African miners seeking damages for personal injuries arising from exposure to asbestos.

Simon Pearl was a member of the Law Society working group on multi-party actions which produced the report Group Actions Made Easier, a major influence on Lord Woolf's recommendations on group litigation.

Who to contact:

Simon Pearl
020 7293 4041
spearl@dac.co.uk

Key people in:

Group actions

Also read:

Insurance                                                                                                     Personal injury claimant
Personal injury defendant
Product liability
Product safety
Professional liability
Transnational litigation