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Queensland introduces Class Action legislation

Earlier this month, the Queensland Parliament enacted legislation to allow class actions to be commenced in the Supreme Court of Queensland. The new regime largely adopts class action procedures already in place in other jurisdictions. IMF Associate Investment Manager, Alexandra McVay, details more about the new regime.

Federal Court Makes First Common Fund Order

On 26 October 2016 the Full Federal Court made its first potential "common fund order" in the class action Money Max Pty Ltd (Trustee) v QBE Insurance Group Limited. Provided the funder, applicant and solicitors for the applicant undertake to comply with the court sanctioned funding terms, the Court will make orders, including that the applicant and all group members pay the funder a Court approved funding fee from any recoveries.

Momentum in the Arbitration World: Recent Global Developments Regarding Litigation Funding

Earlier this month, Hong Kong’s Law Reform Commission recommended that the common law principles of maintenance and champerty, which have held force in Hong Kong far longer than other jurisdictions, should no longer apply to arbitration and associated proceedings. This development comes hot on the heels of the promulgation of Singapore’s Civil Law (Amendment) Bill, anticipated to become law by the end of the year, abolishing maintenance and champerty in arbitration and certain other proceedings.

Third Party Litigation Funding: Saskatchewan Makes Six

Following the recent decision of the Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan in Schneider v Royal Crown Gold Reserve Inc, six provinces have now set out the guiding principles for approving third-party litigation funding agreements. Although most decisions are in the class action context, they are instructive for general commercial litigation, the core of Bentham IMF’s business in Canada.