Houthoff Podcast

Although Portugal is a relatively small jurisdiction, it has become the European epicentre of class actions. Sofia Vaz Sampaio, head of the litigation and arbitration team at the top ranked Morais Leitão in Lisbon, is at the forefront of these developments. Has the number of cases peaked, or are there signs of stabilisation?

ABOUT CLASS ACTION IN ACTION PODCAST

The world of class actions is undergoing rapid transformation. Legislative frameworks are evolving and collective litigation is gaining traction, placing more organisations at the centre of complex mass claims.

In season two of the Houthoff podcast series Class Action in Action, defence lawyers from different jurisdictions once again share their insights and expectations for the near future. Together with Dave Cohen, they discuss emerging trends, their profession, and the landmark cases shaping the field.

ABOUT THE HOUTHOFF CLASS ACTION SURVEY

Houthoff has been tracking the evolution of class actions for several years through its Class Action Survey, a 360‑degree analysis of trends across multiple jurisdictions. Since the first edition seven years ago, developed with leading international law firms, the survey has been updated to reflect changes in the class action landscape. This year, we have expanded the survey further, introducing a concise executive version and extending its scope to 16 jurisdictions and law firms.

The world of class actions is undergoing rapid transformation. Legislative frameworks are evolving and collective litigation is gaining traction, placing more organisations at the centre of complex mass claims.

In season two of the Houthoff podcast series Class Action in Action, defence lawyers from different jurisdictions once again share their insights and expectations for the near future. Together with Dave Cohen, they discuss emerging trends, their profession, and the landmark cases shaping the field.

Roger Cooper is partner at the New York–based and esteemed law firm Cleary Gottlieb, where he leads the securities and M&A litigation practice. While class actions have a long-standing history in the United States, the field continues to evolve. The growing number of cases linked to developments in AI alone shows that this trend is only accelerating.

Deglobalisation has a very noticeable impact on M&A deals. The higher the world tension, the more checks governments carry out during the deal process. This dynamic can lead to extra complexity. Houthoff partner and M&A lawyer Philip van der Eijk knows very well how to handle it. He explains to Dave Cohen the current challenges in cross-border deals.

If the former General Counsel of Dutch semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia learned anything from being majorly hit by the impact of deglobalisation, it is: think like a Corporate Affairs Officer, invest in relationships before you need them, and implement scenario planning. Charles Smit, now Associate Partner at FGS Hague Corporate Affairs, shares his experiences with Dave Cohen and offers advice on how legal teams can adapt to the political climate.

Richard Willis is partner in the Litigation, Dispute Resolution and Investigations practice at Arthur Cox in Ireland. He discusses the emerging state of class actions in Ireland. Although third-party funding is still not permitted, there is a sense that this might change in the near future.

ABOUT CLASS ACTION IN ACTION PODCAST

In the ever-changing domain of class actions, two things are certain: legislation is rapidly evolving across Europe and beyond, and an increasing number of organisations are facing mass claims. In the Houthoff podcast series 'Class Action in Action', defence lawyers from various countries share their insights and expectations for the near future. From the US to Portugal, specialists agree that companies and governments must take action if they want to prepare for this type of lawsuit. But what can they anticipate?

In the six-part podcast series Class Action in Action, the experts from around the world discuss their thoughts with Dave Cohen.

For more information about the Houthoff Class Action Survey: www.houthoff.com/expertise/topics/class-actions

Henner Schlaefke is partner at the German firm Noerr, where he is a specialist in banking and capital markets law. He advocates for a new system for class actions in Germany, as the current system is far from ideal.

ABOUT CLASS ACTION IN ACTION PODCAST

In the ever-changing domain of class actions, two things are certain: legislation is rapidly evolving across Europe and beyond, and an increasing number of organisations are facing mass claims. In the Houthoff podcast series 'Class Action in Action', defence lawyers from various countries share their insights and expectations for the near future. From the US to Portugal, specialists agree that companies and governments must take action if they want to prepare for this type of lawsuit. But what can they anticipate?

In the six-part podcast series Class Action in Action, the experts from around the world discuss their thoughts with Dave Cohen.

For more information about the Houthoff Class Action Survey: www.houthoff.com/expertise/topics/class-actions

Simon Day, partner at Macfarlanes in London, specialises in competition litigation and collective actions. He notes that starting a class action in the UK is relatively straightforward, but warns that the risk of abuse is a concern for the future.

ABOUT CLASS ACTION IN ACTION PODCAST

In the ever-changing domain of class actions, two things are certain: legislation is rapidly evolving across Europe and beyond, and an increasing number of organisations are facing mass claims. In the Houthoff podcast series 'Class Action in Action', defence lawyers from various countries share their insights and expectations for the near future. From the US to Portugal, specialists agree that companies and governments must take action if they want to prepare for this type of lawsuit. But what can they anticipate?

In the six-part podcast series Class Action in Action, the experts from around the world discuss their thoughts with Dave Cohen.

For more information about the Houthoff Class Action Survey: www.houthoff.com/expertise/topics/class-actions

Mariana Soares David is partner at the Portuguese law firm Morais Leitão and is part of their litigation and arbitration team. In just a few years, the number of class action cases in Portugal has grown at an unparalleled rate compared to other jurisdictions. Although the country is still adapting to this surge, it has become a formidable force in class action litigation.

ABOUT CLASS ACTION IN ACTION PODCAST

In the ever-changing domain of class actions, two things are certain: legislation is rapidly evolving across Europe and beyond, and an increasing number of organisations are facing mass claims. In the Houthoff podcast series 'Class Action in Action', defence lawyers from various countries share their insights and expectations for the near future. From the US to Portugal, specialists agree that companies and governments must take action if they want to prepare for this type of lawsuit. But what can they anticipate?

In the six-part podcast series Class Action in Action, the experts from around the world discuss their thoughts with Dave Cohen.

For more information about the Houthoff Class Action Survey: www.houthoff.com/expertise/topics/class-actions

Roger Cooper is partner at the New York-based law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, where he leads the securities and M&A litigation practice. He is passionate about working on class action cases but believes that the financial incentives to initiate such lawsuits in the US are somewhat excessive.

ABOUT CLASS ACTION IN ACTION PODCAST

In the ever-changing domain of class actions, two things are certain: legislation is rapidly evolving across Europe and beyond, and an increasing number of organisations are facing mass claims. In the Houthoff podcast series 'Class Action in Action', defence lawyers from various countries share their insights and expectations for the near future. From the US to Portugal, specialists agree that companies and governments must take action if they want to prepare for this type of lawsuit. But what can they anticipate?

In the six-part podcast series Class Action in Action, the experts from around the world discuss their thoughts with Dave Cohen.

For more information about the Houthoff Class Action Survey: www.houthoff.com/expertise/topics/class-actions

Isabella Wijnberg is lawyer and mediator at the Dutch law firm Houthoff. She led the Houthoff Class Action Survey, a major study on class actions across 12 countries that she also conducted in 2019. She predicts that the Netherlands could become the epicentre of class actions in Europe in the coming years.

ABOUT CLASS ACTION IN ACTION PODCAST

In the ever-changing domain of class actions, two things are certain: legislation is rapidly evolving across Europe and beyond, and an increasing number of organisations are facing mass claims. In the Houthoff podcast series 'Class Action in Action', defence lawyers from various countries share their insights and expectations for the near future. From the US to Portugal, specialists agree that companies and governments must take action if they want to prepare for this type of lawsuit. But what can they anticipate?

In the six-part podcast series Class Action in Action, the experts from around the world discuss their thoughts with Dave Cohen.

For more information about the Houthoff Class Action Survey: www.houthoff.com/expertise/topics/class-actions