Group Action Abuse Claims

Q: Will my information remain confidential?

We understand the sensitive nature of all the group abuse claims we handle and have been trusted by people all across the UK to handle their claims. Our team will make sure the information you share with us is confidential. We have private meeting rooms in our offices to ensure privacy is at the forefront of what we do.

Q: Can I claim for abuse that happened years ago?

Yes, you can claim for historical abuse claims. The Courts understand people might be hesitant to come forward at first and will often waive any time limits to making a claim. We can support you with this and have a track record of successfully helping people claim for abuse that happened years or decades ago.

Our solicitors have decades of experience leading group claims for survivors against their abusers or an organisation.

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What is a group claim?

A group claim, also known as a group action, is a legal claim where multiple people are involved in making an abuse claim against an individual or organisation.

Each person will have experienced similar abuse, therefore making each claim suitable for a group action.

Group abuse claims are powerful and show the impact of the abuse on the survivors.

How will it benefit for me to join a group claim?

Being part of a group abuse claim has several benefits, including:

Reduced risk and shared legal costs - less financial risk as legal fees are shared between the group.
Access to expert representation - group action claims are handled by specialist abuse solicitors, something individual claimants might not be able to access.
Increased power - there is a larger influence over legal proceedings and the settlement negotiations.
Strength of evidence - with multiple incidents of abuse being reported, solicitors can strengthen the group claim.
Efficiency - group claims are often quicker to settle compared to several individual claims.
Emotional support - Being part of an abuse claim can often provide reassurance and solidarity with your fellow survivors, reminding you that you aren't going through it alone.

Group action abuse claims we're involved in

Daniel Clarke Teaching Assistant Abuse
Daniel Clarke was a teaching assistant at a school in Solihull and worked as a personal assistant to several children. He is believed to have abused over 81 children with special educational needs and disabilities.
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Nathaniel Spencer Abuse Claims
Nathaniel Spencer was a doctor at Royal Stoke University Hospital and Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, between 2017 and 2021. He is accused of sexually assaulting over 40 patients, including children.
Read more
Mohamed Al Fayed and Harrods Abuse Claims
We can put things right if you were abused by Mohamed Al Fayed or you know someone who was—our expert solicitors are already in the process of helping other abuse survivors, including former Harrods employees.
Read more
Operation Pianora: Military Sexual Abuse Claims
Operation Pianora is an investigation by Wiltshire Police into sexual abuse experienced by members of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force during medical examinations.
Read more
Dr Stan Negligence & Abuse Compensation Claims
Dr Stan practised at the Royal Cornwall Hospital (also known as Treliske), and the Trust has accepted that his actions were sexually motivated.
Read more

How can Irwin Mitchell's solicitors help with Group abuse claims?

Our abuse claims are led by leading abuse solicitor, Tom Fletcher. Tom was named a Next Generation Partner in 2025 by the independent legal guide, Legal 500. Of our abuse, Legal 500 says:

"The abuse team at Irwin Mitchell has great depth and experience. They are well resourced and have national reach. Tom Fletcher is excellent. He has a thorough understanding of the law in this area."

Our team have decades of experience handling the most serious abuse claims. We have worked with survivors of abuse from Mohamed Al Fayed and supported military abuse claims, such as Operation Pianora, which was a large-scale police operation.

Alongside our expert legal team, you will have access to our in-house Support and Rehabilitation Coordinators. The team will help you find the right support, whether that's physical, emotional, or financial, and it will always be local to you.

What is the difference between a groups claim and a class action lawsuit?

A group claim is commonly used in the UK, and people impacted must "opt-in" to bring a claim as part of the group action.

A class action is commonly only used in the USA. All of those impacted will be included automatically and must "opt-out."

Meet a specialist from our team

Our market leading team will help you understand your rights, secure the compensation you’re owed, and access vital support – from rehabilitation to long-term care.

Tom Fletcher

Partner - Head of Abuse

Find out more

Tom Fletcher

Partner - Head of Abuse

Find out more

How does the abuse group claim process work?

There are several steps to the process of making an abuse group claim. They are:

Identifying a claim - multiple people raise similar abuse complaints.
Joining the group claim - you join the group action and will be asked to provide information confidentially.
Formalising the group - the Court will issue a Group Litigation Order (GLO) and appoint a specialist legal team.
Investigation and evidence - your solicitors will investigate the abuse, collect evidence, and look at each case individually to show how much each person was impacted.
Test cases - sometimes a few cases from within the group will be used as "test cases". These will be heard in court first to help decide what the common issue is.
Negotiation & settlement - your legal team will negotiate with the abuser or organisation. Depending on the complexity of the claim, it can take anywhere from 12 to 18 months. We will be with you every step of the way.
Compensation - when a settlement is reached, your compensation will be awarded. The compensation won't be split equally; the compensation you receive will be calculated based on the impact on you, meaning each person's payout will be different.

Speak to a specialist

We are here to help you understand your rights and the support you need. Complete our enquiry form and one of our experts will contact you by the next working day.

Alternatively, you can call us now

Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm (Excluding Public Holidays).

Call us free on 0370 1500 100

Frequently asked questions about group abuse claims

Will my information remain confidential?

Can I claim for abuse that happened years ago?

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