Shaping Model Rules for Collective Redress

This article examines the development of the Model Rules of Civil Procedure Law within the ELI/UNIDROIT project and explains its international significance. The Model Rules were adopted in 2020 and include specific proposals for collective redress instruments. The article outlines the organisation of the project, the methodology of the working groups, the comparative law background in general, and discusses key provisions of the proposal regarding collective redress such as legal standing, opt-in v. opt-out mechanisms and third-party funding of collective actions. The article also explores the objectives and the political background of the whole project and of collective redress in particular. It also attempts to answer the question of whether the Model Rules can be considered a successful instrument today.