Class actions

The Netherlands has permissive legislation where it comes to collective actions and class actions, making the Netherlands an increasingly popular forum for this type of claims. The number of collective actions is expected to increase even further after the Act on collective damages in class actions (WAMCA) that was adapted in March 2019 enters into force, which makes it possible to claim monetary damages as part of collective actions.

Collective actions are complex and tend to have a big impact on the parties involved. Our collective actions team understands this and has a wide range of experience in dealing with high stake cross border collective actions and other multi-party litigations (including follow-on litigations).

In our experience the best result in collective actions is achieved by creating a customized case team that consists not only of litigators with experience with collective actions, but also of specialists with a thorough understanding of the sector and the fields of law involved. What we offer is a team that combines the best of both worlds. We combine top-litigators with ample experience with collective actions and other complex cross border multi-party litigations with specialists on the substantive law matters involved (e.g. competition, data protection, consumer, financial and product liability law) that are considered the best in their field.

We combine this with a clear, transparent and practical approach to litigation. To that end, we use project management tools, an early risk assessment and a clear-cut planning of all relevant steps in advance to enable you to stay in control of the litigation process. We call this the KVdL Way of Litigating.

• Representing insurers in a billion euro investor class settlement following the Fortis bankruptcy.
• Acting as co-counsel in a high profile collective climate case against the Dutch state.
• Advising a multinational in a global serial damage case regarding defective building materials.
• Defending an industry platform against a collective advertising claim brought by an animal rights organization.
• Representing a claim foundation in a collective action brought against the EU for unjustly supporting dictatorial regimes.
• Acting as counsel for a claim foundation in a collective action brought against the Dutch state with respect to unjust speeding tickets.
• Representing trade organisations in collective claims brought against collective rights organisations following landmark decisions of the European Court of Justice.
• Representing one of the defendants in a follow-on class action regarding cartel damages.
• We have acted as counsel for a claim foundation with a claim regarding misleading financial information provided to investors against European listed company.