CAT Collective Proceedings - Summer 2026 Update

Since our last update in the Winter of 2025/6, there have been a significant number of important developments in the UK’s competition collective proceedings regime before the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT). A number of key trends and themes run through this update.

First, following a dip in newly announced and issued claims in 2025, a fresh wave of prospective claims continues to be announced across a broad range of sectors including road fuel, housebuilding, trucks and a number of claims against technology companies.

Second, the CAT is taking a more robust approach to certification, scrutinising the adequacy of proposed class representatives’ funding arrangements, placing a greater emphasis on distribution plans and focusing on the cost-benefit analysis of the proceedings, demonstrating a willingness to scrutinise proposed claims at the certification stage rather than deferring difficult issues to trial.

Third, government appetite to shape the regime’s future direction is becoming clearer. The Department for Business and Trade has published its long-awaited response to its call for evidence on reform of the opt-out regime, setting out a wide-ranging set of proposals touching on certification, funding, settlement and CAT resourcing, and signalling a more interventionist approach than the regime has seen to date.

In this update, we comment on these trends, identify other recent key developments, and highlight some events to look out for in the coming months.