Non-Judicial Means of Collective Redress in Europe (Chapter)

Collective Redress in Europe (Oxford University Press, anticipated 2015)

University of Missouri School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2014-29

Posted: 10 Dec 2014

See all articles by S.I. Strong

S.I. Strong

Emory University School of Law

Date Written: December 10, 2014

Abstract

For decades, European nations resisted the notion of collective redress due to widespread hostility to U.S.-style class actions. However, many European jurisdictions have come to the conclusion that large-scale legal relief is now permissible, so long as the procedure does not resemble U.S. class actions. As a result, collective redress mechanisms have proliferated in both number and diversity throughout the region.

A similar situation may be developing in the area of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Initially, European parties and policymakers resisted the development of large-scale arbitration based on similarities between the best-known form of group arbitration, U.S.-style class arbitration, and U.S.-style class actions. However, recent years have seen a great deal of European innovation concerning large-scale dispute resolution.

This chapter discusses the present and the future of non-judicial means of collective redress in Europe, considering both consensual means of large-scale dispute resolution as well as adjudicative measures. Thus, the analysis covers collective settlement procedures in The Netherlands, collective consumer arbitration in Spain, group arbitration of corporate disputes in Germany, and investment arbitration procedures involving large numbers of Italian bondholders. The analysis also discusses the extent to which procedures promulgated by various European arbitral institutions specializing in international commercial arbitration can be used in collective disputes.

Keywords: collective redress, class actions, ADR, alternative dispute resolution, arbitration, mediation, conciliation, class arbitration, investment arbitration, Europe, European Union, European law, comparative law, international law, civil procedure, international commercial arbitration, international comm

Suggested Citation

Strong, S.I., Non-Judicial Means of Collective Redress in Europe (Chapter) (December 10, 2014). Collective Redress in Europe (Oxford University Press, anticipated 2015) , University of Missouri School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2014-29, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2536574

S.I. Strong (Contact Author)

Emory University School of Law ( email )

1301 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30322
United States

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