Group Costs Orders in Australia

This article forms part of our litigation funding series and looks at the first application in the Victorian Supreme Court (VSC) awarding a group cost order (GCO). We also consider the potential benefits of GCOs having regard to the increasing need to book build and develop a commercially viable class in litigation funding in order to attract and maintain interest and support from litigation funders for representative actions. Absent a significant award or settlement, litigation funders’ return on investments may be limited, thereby impacting their levels of commitment.