Competition Appeal Tribunal Grants £3.78m to The Access to Justice Foundation
- The payment to charity was agreed by all key parties in the Boundary Fare class action (Gutmann v SSWT), including the funders and legal representatives.
- The Competition Appeal Tribunal today approved the agreed plan, ruling that a significant portion of the unclaimed damages (£3.78 million) will be given to the Access to Justice Foundation.
- The unclaimed damages will be redistribute through a series of grants to free legal advice charities.
The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has approved a landmark payment to charity in the first Boundary Fares class action (Gutmann v SSWT).
The payment was negotiated and agreed to by all the key parties involved in the case, including the funder Woodsford and Class Representative Justin Gutmann, before being approved by the Tribunal. Hodge Malek KC, Chair of the CAT, commended the parties for jointly agreeing the payment.
The CAT approved that a significant portion of the unclaimed damages (£3.78 million) should go to The Access to Justice Foundation to be redistributed via their grants to support members of the public. The Foundation has already consulted key partners on the allocation of the money and will publish a funding strategy in the next month with an open funding round to follow in early 2026.
CEO of the Access to Justice Foundation, Clare Carter, commented:
"The Tribunal has recognised our unique position and expertise in making impactful use of unclaimed damages. It’s crucial that collective actions deliver real benefits to the public and we're able to work collaboratively to make sure these funds reach the people who need them most."
The agreement follows the Tribunal’s ruling on 7 August 2025 which stated that it considered there should be a “substantial payment to charity alongside any claims and representations by stakeholders, to be paid out of any costs, fees and disbursements”.
The Access to Justice Foundation is the only funder dedicated to increasing free legal support, advice and representation across the UK. We were represented by European law firm Fieldfisher in these proceedings before the CAT.
Richard Pike, lead partner on this from Fieldfisher, added:
"This is a significant moment for collective actions in the UK. The Tribunal’s approval of the payment to the ATJF demonstrates how such proceedings can deliver tangible public benefit. We’re proud to have supported the Foundation in securing this outcome, which ensures that unclaimed damages will be used to improve access to justice for communities across the country. This kind of pro bono work is closely aligned with Fieldfisher’s values, using our legal expertise to drive positive social impact and support those who might otherwise struggle to access legal support.”