Competition
Christine Riefa Class Representative Ltd v Apple Inc and others [2025] CAT 34
The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) ruled on costs following its earlier decision to refuse an application by Christine Riefa Class Representative Ltd (the PCR) for a collective proceedings order in a case involving multiple proposed defendants from the Apple and Amazon groups. The CAT determined that Apple and Amazon, being successful in their defence, are entitled to recover reasonable costs linked to the unsuccessful certification application by the PCR. The CAT also held that Amazon was required to remit reasonable costs incurred by the PCR in responding to Amazon’s unsuccessful disclosure application. The CAT ruled that costs incurred in preparing substantive defences, utilised for the certification application, should be recoverable and not reserved for potential future proceedings. The CAT adjusted solicitor and expert fees to align them with proportionality and guideline hourly rates, awarding interim payments on account of costs at 65% of the revised total costs claimed by the respective parties.
Conflict of laws
Al
