The Collective Cast - Episode 22 - What does the Merricks settlement really mean for the future of UK collective proceedings?

In the wake of extensive commentary on the Merricks settlement judgment, this episode of Hausfeld’s #CollectiveCast offers listeners a rare opportunity to step back from the headlines and gain a balanced perspective on a landmark case that has puts its stamp on the UK’s collective action regime. 

Michael Zymler talks to Luke Streatfeild and Daniel Hunt - both closely involved in this field – to unpack not only the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s (CAT) judgment approving the settlement, but also the broader implications for future cases, funding dynamics and class member protections. With a thoughtful discussion on the Tribunal’s supervisory role, the nuances of settlement approval and practical lessons for practitioners, this episode aims to move beyond the noise and provide informed insight into what the Merricks decision really means for the future of collective proceedings. The episode covers the case’s procedural history in the lead-up to settlement, the CAT’s exercise of its supervisory role in the approval of opt-out collective settlements and its approach to the question of distribution of the settlement sum. The episode concludes by reflecting on the broader lessons from the judgment, highlighting its implications for class members as the primary beneficiaries of the collective regime, as well as for litigation funders and legal practitioners.