Businesses wary of American-style class actions

Yaroslav Kulik, Head of Competition at ART DE LEX, has taken part in the discussions on the draft law on class actions against monopolists as part of the sub-group of the interdepartmental working group on overseeing actually fulfilling the action plan (road map) “Developing Competition and Improving Competition Policy” under the Governmental Commission for Competition Matters and Developing Small- and Mid-sized Business. Mr. Kulik, head of the interdepartmental sub-group, developed the draft law.

If the opt-in (suit filed by those joining the process) system is introduced, then consumers’ associations will say that the system does not work, given that consumers lack initiative, says Mr. Kulik. The FAS has rendered numerous decisions on competition violations; however, there have not been any class actions from consumers, he notes.