German Law Firm Forges Path to Private Cartel Damages

By Eleanor Tyler, Bloomberg Law

An international law firm’s novel end run around Germany’s limits on class action lawsuits could have major implications for small businesses and consumers throughout Europe seeking to recover losses from illegal cartels.

Recent changes to German competition law strengthened claimants’ rights in private cartel actions. But Germany, like many other European countries, doesn’t provide for a right of collective action, meaning the cost of bringing a suit frequently isn’t worth it for small plaintiffs.

Hausfeld LLP may have hit upon a way to make such suits worthwhile by banding together small claims. Hausfeld intends to ...