Overview
(December 12, 2023, London) – Acting on behalf of our client Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYKK), members of Steptoe’s Litigation team obtained a UK Court of Appeal judgment, which benefits all Defendants in UK collective (class action) proceedings. The class action, filed in the Competition Appeal Tribunal, is seeking damages on behalf of purchasers of 18 million new vehicles sold between 2006 and 2015. The Defendants, including our client, are companies which transported vehicles from the country of manufacture into the EU by roll-on/roll-off vessels. The claim alleges that the Defendants were members of a cartel (the "ro-ro cartel") which overcharged vehicle manufacturers for transporting their products, and that all such overcharges were ultimately passed on to end-purchasers.
Last week’s judgment rules that there is no general prohibition on Defendants communicating with class members, which is helpful clarification for parties in any future collective proceedings. Partner Angus Rodger, who represents NYKK in the proceedings, said "This is a victory for common sense."
The Steptoe team is led by partner Angus Rodger; and includes partner Charles Whiddington and associate Yumiko Takahashi.
The decision is available at the British and Irish Legal Information Institute.
About Steptoe
In more than 110 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
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