Class action alliance between US and UK claimant firms

United Kingdom

News that a UK practice has signed a formal referral agreement with a US law firm, and is in discussions with others, points to a growing trend of claimant firms in the US and UK agreeing more formalised links. Whilst links across the Atlantic are nothing new, they have previously focused on uniting firms on defendant and general commercial work. Sheffield based Irwin Mitchell have agreed an arrangement with Eimer Stahl Klevorn & Solberg (a Chicago based litigation boutique formed by partners from Sidley Austin Brown & Wood) and is reported to be negotiating with Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss (a corporate litigation firm in Detroit) and a further unnamed class action specialist with offices in Washington DC and New York. The journal "Legal Week" comments that there will be growing expectations that the aggressive tactics of US securities and product liability litigation will be imported into Europe. The CMS European network will continue to monitor similar moves both is the US and Europe and keep you informed of further developments.

For further information please contact Christopher Hodges on +44 (0)20 7367 2738 or at [email protected]