Video
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Lawyers answer commonly asked questions on class actions
Class Actions
Legal Director
Jamie Dunne
Jamie is an experienced competition, procurement and subsidy control lawyer, and also advises a range of public, private and third sector clients on public law and regulatory matters including statutory interpretation, vires issues and information law. He joined Brodies from a leading international law firm and has also spent time on secondment to the public sector. His focus is on advising on technically complex matters in a clear, understandable and useful way.
Jamie regularly advises on contentious and non-contentious public procurement matters, subsidy control and State aid, merger control issues (including CMA and European Commission clearance processes), competition damages actions and competition compliance. He has a particular interest in sectors subject to economic regulation, including energy, water, telecoms, rail, ports and airports, financial services, housing and health services, and further and higher education.
Living Brodies' values
Jamie is a passionate advocate for diversity, equal access and inclusion both in the legal profession and beyond.
Key highlights
- Convener of the Law Society's Competition Law committee and Scottish Competition Forum steering group member.
- Tutor in public law at Edinburgh University since 2010 and in EU law since 2013.
- Substantial secondment experience at a major economic and competition regulator, including drafting subordinate legislation and guidance.
Rankings
- Jamie is a Law Society of Scotland accredited specialist in public procurement law.
- Jamie is listed as an Associate to Watch in competition law in Chambers UK 2026.
- Ranked as Star Associate in Local Government by Chambers UK 2026
- Legal 500 2026 ranks Jamie as a Leading Associate in EU & competition law and local government law.
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What are collective proceedings?
Collective proceedings are a type of class action that are brought in the Competition Appeal Tribunal in relation to breaches of competition law, where multiple cases raise the same, similar or related issues of fact or law.
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Are collective proceedings opt in or opt out?
Initially, collective proceedings could only be brought on an opt-in basis, but the Consumer Rights Act 2015 made it possible to bring them on an opt-out basis as well.
For opt-out claims, any UK-domiciled person who is part of the class of business or consumer affected by the breach of competition law is automatically included in the claim unless they've specifically opted out.
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How do collective proceedings in the Competition Appeal Tribunal work?
Collective proceedings are brought by a person who proposes to be a class representative for claims brought by all members of the class affected by the breach of competition law.
The representative asks the tribunal to make a collective proceedings order, which authorises them to be the class representative, defines the class that they are authorised to represent, and says whether that's on an opt-in or an opt-out basis.
Class Action FAQs
The standout would be Jamie Dunne. His ability to get to the nub of the issue quickly and provide pragmatic legal advice is second to none.
Legal 500 UK 2026
His knowledge and commercial awareness are excellent and the delivery of support is provided in a practical, pragmatic and positive manner.
Chambers UK 2026
Jamie Dunne is a senior associate in the local government team at Brodies. He specialises in advising third parties in dealings with local authorities, public procurement law and compulsory purchase, among other areas.
Chambers UK 2026
Jamie is exceptionally helpful and is commercially astute.
Chambers UK 2026
