Senior Costs Lawyer, Alistair Merchant assisted Professor Andreas Stephan in his collective proceedings against Amazon Inc
The Kain Knight team, led by Costs Lawyer, Alistair Merchant was pleased to assist Professor Andreas Stephan in his collective proceedings against Amazon Inc. & Others in the Competition Appeal Tribunal, working alongside Geradin Partners.
Following this decision Senior Costs Lawyer, Chris Butler has also been assisting a number of firms who act in this specialised area of the law.
The case is notable for its strong judicial endorsement of the critical role that costs specialists have in collective actions. In its judgement, the Tribunal confirmed that it should become “the standard approach in collective proceedings” for proposed class representatives to engage costs experts to assist with approving costs arrangements, reviewing legal bills and monitoring costs throughout the life of the litigation.
This follows similar observations made by the Tribunal earlier this year in Bulk Mail Claim Ltd v International Distribution Services PLC ([2025] CAT 19).
The Tribunal recognised the importance of costs oversight not only in protecting claimants and funders, but also in safeguarding solicitors and counsel from incurring irrecoverable fees and potential solicitor-client disputes.
Kain Knight continues to advise across a wide range of group actions and collective proceedings, in both the CAT and other jurisdictions, ensuring clarity, efficiency and compliance on all matters of costs.
To read the judgment in full, click here: https://www.catribunal.org.uk/sites/cat/files/2025-07/Hammond%20%26%20Stephan%20%281595%20%26%201644%29%20-%20Judgment%20%28Joint%20CPO%29%20%2024%20Jul%202025_0.pdf
