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High Court appeal seeks total knockout of common fund orders
The High Court has been asked to overturn a Full Court decision finding lawyers can take a cut from a class action settlement under a solicitors’ common fund order and to finally settle the question of whether the court has the power to issue common fund orders at all.
Firm accused of copying rivals’ class action pleadings loses IC Markets beauty parade
Two judges have declined to award carriage of a class action against International Capital Markets over risky derivative products to a firm accused of plagiarising its rivals' pleading.
Class action attacks ‘false’ logic of AG’s claim GCO a neutral factor in KPMG transfer bid
In submissions to the High Court, the applicant in a class action brought on behalf of Arrium shareholders against KMPG has attacked the Attorney-General’s argument that a contingency fee order is a neutral factor in assessing the accounting firm’s bid to move the case from Victoria. 
Judge rejects law firm’s updated bid in Hyundai, Kia class actions
A judge has rejected a law firm's attempt to update its bid to run class actions against Hyundai and Kia, saying the changes were intended to net the firm a competitive advantage in an upcoming fight for carriage of the class actions and different in substance from its previous position.
Class action lawyer who has secured $230M from ratings agencies goes after Fitch again
A class action has been filed against Fitch Ratings on behalf of investors represented by a lawyer who has taken on credit ratings agencies over risky financial products for over a decade.
Contingency fees for class action lawyers are allowed, says Full Court
Lawyers are allowed to take a cut from a class action settlement or judgment under a so-called solicitors’ common fund order, the Full Federal Court has ruled, saying they are a permissive use of the court’s power.
Solicitors’ CFO ruling to bring more class actions to Federal Court, firms say
The Federal Court is set to become a more attractive forum for class actions now that the Full Court has confirmed it has power to make orders granting solicitors a contingency fee from any settlement or judgment in a group proceeding.
Law firms take aim at rival’s ‘copied’ pleadings in battle to run IC Markets class action
In a contest to run a class action against International Capital Markets over risky derivative products, a proposed consolidated proceeding has taken aim at third-to-file Banton Group for allegedly copying its case. 
Judge slashes plaintiffs’ costs in Sydney light rail class action
A judge has ordered Transport for NSW to only pay 65 per cent of the costs of a class action over Sydney’s $3 billion light rail construction, finding it was not inappropriate to apportion costs even though the plaintiffs were largely successful.
Contingency fee order in Arrium class action would remain in force in NSW, AG tells High Court
The NSW Supreme Court would have the power to deal with a contingency fee order made in a class action against KPMG if the accounting firm won its application to move the case from Victoria, making the existence of the order a neutral factor in the transfer bid, the federal Attorney-General has told the High Court.