A UK class action against Google

If you sell space for adverts on a website or mobile app or publish online content on a website or mobile app containing ad units, it’s possible you have suffered financial loss because of Google’s conduct.

Register to follow Ad Tech Collective Action LLP v Google – the claim for compensation.

Notice of a collective proceedings order and latest news

The Competition Appeal Tribunal has now certified Ad Tech Collective Action LLP’s application to bring collective claims against Google.

The deadline to opt into (in the case of Publisher Partners) or opt out of (in the case of Publishers) the action ended at 4pm on 28 May 2025, save for certain class members for whom the deadline has been extended by order of the Tribunal.

On 15 August 2025, the Tribunal made an order directing that trial will be listed for the first available date on or after 25 September 2028, with a time estimate of 12 weeks. Between now and then, Google must provide the Class Representative with its documents (known as disclosure) and the parties will exchange evidence. The next Case Management Conference in the claim has been listed for 18 December 2025 for 1 day, with 1 day in reserve. At this hearing, issues in respect of disclosure and the timetable to trial will likely be considered.

Opting in or out after the deadline

If a Publisher class member did not opt out by 4pm on 28 May 2025 and wishes to now do so, that class member should write directly to the Tribunal to seek permission to opt out of the action. Under the Tribunal’s rules, any request to opt out received after the deadline will have to be considered by the Tribunal, which will decide whether or not to grant permission for the class member to opt out of the action.

A Publisher Partner class member that did not opt into the Class by 4pm on 28 May 2025 should similarly write to the Tribunal.

For further details regarding the process by which Publishers can opt out of and Publisher Partners can opt into the action following expiry of the deadline, please see the ‘Class Membership’ section of the FAQs page.

In 2021, Google was fined by the French Competition Authority for abusing its dominant position in relation to ad tech services. It’s possible that all UK-based publishers that received revenue from the sale of online display ads have suffered financial loss by Google too.

The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal has certified Ad Tech Collective Action LLP’s application to bring collective claims against Google, seeking to obtain damages for affected Publishers and Publisher Partners. That could include you. For further details regarding the composition and definition of Publishers and Publisher Partners, please see the ‘Class Membership’ section of the FAQs page.

The team

Humphries Kerstetter LLP is a modern City law firm, specialising in the resolution of complex commercial disputes by litigation and arbitration. Serving both corporate and individual clients based in the UK and overseas, the firm operates out of the heart of Legal London, close to the Commercial Court and the international dispute resolution and arbitration centres. Humphries Kerstetter is perfectly placed for this case, with a prestigious reputation in the field of class actions and collective redress. The firm is particularly well-known in the competition law field, acting for very large groups including the interchange fees litigation against MasterCard and Visa.

Hausfeld & Co. LLP is a leading disputes-only law firm specialising in competition law, with significant expertise in all aspects of collective redress and group claims. In particular, Hausfeld & Co. LLP has extensive experience in managing litigation against global “Big Tech” companies, including opt-out collective claims such as these.

Geradin Partners has unrivalled expertise on ad tech. Geradin Partners acted for News Corp as the lead complainant in the French Competition Authority investigation that led to the adoption of the French Competition Authority decision. Geradin Partners also represented the European Publishers Council in the CMA’s investigation into Google’s Privacy Sandbox browser changes, and in filing a formal complaint with the European Commission on Google’s ad tech practices in February 2022. Geradin Partners have authored extensively on ad tech and their papers have been cited by the CMA and the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission.

Charles River Associates (or CRA) is a leading provider of antitrust economics advice across the globe. CRA is recognised for rigorous economic and empirical analyses accessible to specialists and non-specialists, before agencies and courts. This firm has extensive experience in developing antitrust theories of harm and estimating damages in the technology sector, and has advised both complainants and agencies in multiple matters involving Google.

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