UK Competition Appeal Tribunal Sets Trial Date of Amazon Buy Box Cases for 2028

An eight-week trial for two UK class actions seeking up to £3.5 billion against Amazon’s Buy Box program has been scheduled to start in April 2028.

In an oral ruling on June 2, 2026, Sir Peter Roth, chair of the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), dismissed the claimants’ objections to a split trial, and scheduled the first consolidated trial for April 25, 2028. The initial trial will include arguments on market definition and dominance but will not cover damages or pass-on. In addition, Roth agreed with claimants that it is necessary to schedule the second trial before the first trial commences.

In mid-2023, consumer advocate Robert Hammond filed a £1 billion consumer class action alleging that Amazon engaged in unlawful self-preferencing through its Buy Box feature. The following year, Professor Andreas Stephan filed a £2.5 billion abuse of dominance claim against Amazon on behalf of UK-based sellers on Amazon’s Marketplace platform. Professor Andreas Stephan’s lawsuit is being led by Geradin Partners, a law firm founded by Damien Geradin who also serves as ROCC’s Director of EU Policy.

In July of 2025, the CAT certified both collective actions, which will proceed together due to overlaps in the alleged conduct.