The Top 50 Plaintiff Law Firms of 2020
A comprehensive listing of the top 50 plaintiff law firms ranked by the total
cash amount of final North American securities class action settlements
occurring in 2020.
The Beneficial Owner
Well versed in claims filing for over fifteen years, ISS Securities Class Action Services (ISS SCAS), along with other third-party filers, has experienced new challenges due to a seemingly new requirement on
the part of law firms and claim administrators for precise beneficial owner information. Previously, claim administrators accepted the account name and account number to begin processing claims without requiring the beneficial owner information specifically.
Top 50 Plaintiff Law Firms 2019
For calendar year 2019, ISS Securities Class Action Services LLC (ISS SCAS) recorded 116 approved securities class action settlements within North America. Collectively, 2019 yielded $3.21 billion in settlement funds for distribution, a marked decrease from the $6.1 billion recovered in 2018. However, the number of newly-filed cases in 2019 rose dramatically
The Top 100 Settlements 2018
For calendar 2018, ISS Securities Class Action Services LLC (“SCAS”) recorded 126 approved securities class action settlements, four (4) of which are included in SCAS’ Top 100, which charts the largest U.S. class action settlements since passage of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The four new entrants into the Top 100 are:
The Uncertain Role of IPO’s in Class Actions
Though IPO-related class actions accounted for just four percent of all securities class actions over the
past decade, according to ISS Securities Class Action Services (SCAS) data, much ink has been spilled in recent months over whether the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) might bar IPO-related
lawsuits in lieu of arbitration. Supporters of arbitration argue that it would eliminate frivolous shareholder litigation and provide a more efficient way for investors to seek redress.
Top 25 Canadian Settlements 2018
Securities class action lawsuits were first permitted in Canada in 1978 when the province of Quebec ushered in new legislation that eased the ability to file. Since then, the country’s other provinces and territories with financial centers followed suit.
Top 50 Plaintiff Law Firms 2018
For calendar year 2018, ISS Securities Class Action Services LLC (ISS SCAS) recorded 136 approved securities class action settlements within North America. Collectively, 2018 delivered $6.1 billion in
settlement funds for distribution, a significant 190 per cent increase from the $2.1 billion recovered in 2017 (this annual total was the lowest yearly amount since the early 2000’s).
Top 100 Settlements 2017
For calendar 2017, Securities Class Action Services LLC (“SCAS”) recorded 162 approved securities class action settlements, two of which are included in SCAS’ Top 100, which charts the largest U.S. class action settlements since passage of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Collectively, 2017
delivered $2.2 billion in settlement funds for distribution. While the volume of settlements greater than $100 million was low, new cases filed in 2017 were significantly higher than the previous year.
Top 50 Plaintiff Law Firms 2017
For calendar 2017, ISS Securities Class Action Services LLC (“SCAS”) recorded 162 approved securities class action settlements within North America. Collectively, 2017 delivered $2.1 billion in settlement funds for distribution, a marked decrease from the $7 billion recovered in 2016 and the lowest yearly total since the early 2000’s
Top 100 Settlements 2016
ecurities class action settlements in the United States (U.S.) for calendar 2016 totalled 137 approved
settlements, remaining steady since the prior year. Of the 137 settlements, Securities Class Action
Services LLC (“SCAS”) recorded 64 in the second half of the year compared with 73 in the first half. Of
the 64 settlements during the last half of 2016, six were large enough to be included in SCAS’ Top 100*
list of settlements with a total approved disbursement of USD $2.9 billion.