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Class Actions Worldview Part IVChina Japan Belgium The Netherlands and England and Wales

Class Actions Worldview: Part IV—China, Japan, Belgium, The Netherlands, and England and Wales

Although class actions have been common in the United States for decades, they have not been as widely used in the rest of the world. The situation and risks remain in flux, however, as more countries have renewed momentum to enact class actions or class action-like procedures. Those procedures vary greatly among jurisdictions. Differences include how developed the procedures are; the types of claims parties can bring; the parties that can represent classes; whether classes are structured as opt-in or opt-out; and the rules governing settlement, remedies, and financing. Many countries have enacted more restrictive class procedures than the United States. There are notable exceptions, however, that present risks to defendants sued abroad.

In Part IV, we examine class actions activities in China, Japan, Belgium, The Netherlands, and England and Wales.

Previously in series: Part I: The United States and the European UnionPart II: Italy and SpainPart III: Australia, Germany, and France

Read the Guide here.

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