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03 December 2025
Issue: 8142 / Categories: Legal News , Class actions , Collective action , Litigation funding
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Class actions increasingly appealing to public

Public willingness to take part in class actions is rising, according to annual research by communications consultancy Portland

Its report, ‘Reputation and accountability’, published this week, found a strong appetite for action against misconduct among respondents, who see litigation as a driver for better corporate behaviour. However, they want greater transparency of litigation funding arrangements.

Among 2,000 people polled, 65% would be willing to join a class action, a percentage which has increased steadily in the past three years. Only 27% would be motivated by financial incentives.

However, 68% believe class actions mainly make money for lawyers and funders, and 65% would want to know who was funding their claim.

Simon Pugh, partner at Portland, said the findings showed ‘clear public demand for transparency and accountability in both litigation funding and corporate behaviour’.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Partner joins commercial property team in Taunton office

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
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A legal challenge to police disclosure rules has failed, reinforcing a push for transparency in policing. In NLJ this week, Neil Parpworth examines a case where the Metropolitan Police required officers to declare membership of groups like the Freemasons
Bereavement leave is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. Writing in NLJ this week, Robert Hargreaves of York St John University explains how the Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a day-one right to leave for a wider range of losses, alongside new provisions for pregnancy loss and bereaved partners
Courts are beginning to grapple with whether AI-generated material is legally privileged—and the answers are mixed. In this week's issue of NLJ, Stacie Bourton, Tom Whittaker & Beata Kolodziej of Burges Salmon examine US rulings showing how easily privilege can be lost
New guidance seeks to bring order to the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Minesh Tanna and David Bridge of Simmons & Simmons set out a framework stressing ‘transparency’, ‘explainability’ and ‘reliability’
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