Katch backs £250 million group action by London Black Cab drivers against Uber

Litigation funder Katch Investment Group is backing a £250 million group action filed by more than 13,000 London Black Cab drivers against Uber, alleging that the ride-hailing company’s early operations in the UK capital violated local transport laws and unfairly disrupted the traditional taxi market. The claim, filed in the High Court of Justice and led by Mishcon de Reya, accuses Uber of unlawful business practices between 2012 and 2018 that resulted in substantial economic harm to licensed cab drivers.

At the heart of the lawsuit is the allegation that Uber drivers were allowed to accept bookings directly through the app—a practice that claimants argue breached Transport for London (TfL) licensing rules requiring pre-booked journeys to be processed through an authorized operator. The claimants further assert that Uber misled TfL about how its booking system functioned, enabling thousands of unlicensed drivers to operate unlawfully and undercut licensed Black Cab drivers on price and availability.

The case forms part of a growing wave of collective proceedings against global tech platforms, testing the boundaries of UK competition and consumer law. Uber has previously faced multiple regulatory challenges and private actions in the UK, including claims over driver employment status and fare transparency.