Competition class actions are a particularly prolific area for Humphries Kerstetter LLP. The team is active in the ongoing interchange fees litigation against MasterCard and Visa, as well as the anti-competitive ad tech practices claim against Google. Practice head Toby Starr ‘stands out’ for his expertise in financial mis-selling and minibond fraud claims, alongside James Russell, who also boasts a strong background in financial disputes. Mark Humphries plays an active role as consultant, particularly in the representation of the victims of alleged cartels and abuses of dominance in class action claims. Robert Javin-Fisher is another name to note.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Highly expert boutique team with great experience of group litigation. They know the field intimately and are fully on top of developments as they occur. In this fast-changing environment that is the key to success.’
‘Toby Starr lives up to his name. He is fantastically knowledgeable about group litigation, funding and all aspects of these claims. He is also a complete pleasure to work with, charm personified. I could not rate him more highly. Harriet Bush is knowledgeable and helpful. She is rapidly developing into a class act.’
‘A small but growing specialist competition law firm with real expertise in the burgeoning group claim market.’
‘Robin Javin-Fisher leads a dedicated team of associates. He has excellent judgment and great strategic nous.’
‘Sophisticated, commercially aware, very responsive, creative and tactically astute.’
‘We have worked with partner Toby Starr and Harriet Bush, who are both responsive and very capable. Toby is sensible and highly experienced. Toby is very commercial, and responsive as well as being highly technically capable. Harriet is outstanding.’
‘This firm is a pioneer in large scale competition group litigation. It has a very hands-on group of capable partners and is runs cases very efficiently. The quality of its written work is excellent.’
‘Toby Starr stands out for the commerciality of his approach and for getting deals done.’
Key clients
- Group interchange claim with circa 700 claimants, including Co-operative Group Limited, JD Wetherspoons, Coral Racing Limited, Harvey Nichols Group Limited, Associated Independent Stores Limited and 96 local government authorities
- Ad tech Collective Action LLP, proposed class representative for 130,000 UK publishers of websites and mobile apps against Google
- Series 1 bondholders who had invested in Blackmore Bond
Work highlights
- Acted for around 700 claimants in claims against MasterCard and Visa arising out of the interchange fees that the merchants incur when a MasterCard or Visa branded card is used to purchase goods or services from them.
- Acting for the proposed class representative for 130,000 UK publishers of websites and mobile apps against Google in Ad Tech Collective Action LLP.
- Acting for a group of bondholders to investigate and pursue claims on their behalf arising out of the collapse of Blackmore Bond Plc.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Toby Starr