Broadridge recently published its seventh Global Class Action Annual Report. The paper finds that global securities class action litigation delivered more than US$4 billion in investor recoveries in 2025. Citing “volatile markets” and “increasingly complex cross-border frameworks”, the study describes settlement as “elevated”.
The underlying data was taken from the Broadridge Asset Recovery Advocate database. Researchers identified 130 global cases that involved securities and/or financial products with claim filing deadlines in 2025.
At US$4 billion, investor recoveries were lower in 2025 than 2024, which saw a value of US$5.2 billion. However, the study calls 2025 a turning point that signaled a “rapidly evolving recovery landscape”. AI-related litigation, opt-in and collective actions, as well as ESG focused claims all increased, while antitrust activity slowed down. The last saw only four settlements totalling US$179 million compared to 2024’s record high of nine cases.
The rise in AI litigation is pinned on disclosure pressure, with the report stating that it “underscores investor expectations for greater specificity and consistency”. The trend of increase in opt-in litigation extended to custodians seeking asset recovery support. Meanwhile, the growth in ESG related litigation reflects a corresponding growth in ESG investment, which is predicted to reach US$30 trillion by 2030.
Christi Cannon, vice president and general manager of Global Class Actions at Broadridge says, “Class action participation is no longer passive – it’s operational. Cases move faster, span more jurisdictions, and demand greater precision. Differences in legal systems, filing requirements, and settlement mechanics leave little room for error.”
