Multi-Party Action Information Service
Multi-party actions
A multi-party action (MPA) is a claim started by a group of people making the same or similar claims against one defendant.
There are three categories of claims:
- personal injury or fatal accident claims, including damage to property, arising from sudden disasters
- rolling claims arising from a single cause, such as an allegedly defective drug or product
- consumer claims related to defective goods or services, personal injury, or financial loss such as mis-sold endowment policies
Group litigation orders
A group litigation order (GLO) is an order made under rule 19.11 of the Civil Procedure Rules to provide for the case management of claims that give rise to common or related issues of fact or law (the GLO issues).
Without a GLO, all the claims would have to be merged at a later date, causing more work and possible delays.
Claimants’ solicitors will usually form a solicitors’ group and appoint a lead firm to apply for the GLO.
Firms must comply with Practice Direction 19B, which requires that before applying for a group litigation order, the solicitor acting for the proposed applicant should:
- consult our Multi-Party Action Information Service (MPAIS) to get information about other cases giving rise to the proposed GLO issues, and
- send a copy of the GLO to the MPAIS once it has been made by email to practiceadvice@lawsociety.org.uk
Multi-Party Action Information Service
Our Practice Advice Service runs the MPAIS.
We maintain a central database of information about multi-party actions and GLOs that have been made or might be made in the future.
This information is shared with law firms and members of the public upon request.
Solicitors can:
- check whether a specific MPA has been registered
- check whether a specific GLO has been made
- register your firm's interest using the multi-party action registration form
Please note:
This is an information service only, and is dependent on information provided to us by third parties.
We do not make checks on the accuracy or completeness of the information we receive.
While we will make all reasonable efforts to provide information from our database in response to requests, we do not accept any responsibility for errors or omissions in the information provided.
Contact the MPAIS
Email: practiceadvice@lawsociety.org.uk
Call: 020 7320 5675
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Multi-Party Action Information Service
Practice Advice Service
The Law Society
113 Chancery Lane
London WC2A 1PL
DX 56 Chancery Lane