The Applicants have terminated their retainer with Bannister Law Class Actions and appointed Gilbert + Tobin to act directly for them in the Toyota class action.  This means:

• Bannister Law Class Actions has ceased to be the solicitors on the record for the Applicants in the Toyota class action and will no longer be involved in the conduct of the case.
• Gilbert + Tobin is now the solicitors on the record in the Toyota class action and is solely responsible for conducting the case on behalf of the Applicants and group members.

There has been no change in the funding of the class action, with Balance continuing to fund the case.

As Bannister Law Class Actions is no longer the solicitors on record in the Toyota class action, the retainer agreements signed by Represented Group Members with Bannister Law Class Actions will be terminated and cease to have effect.

Represented Group Members will receive a notice from Bannister Law Class Actions stating that their retainer agreement has been terminated (Termination Notice).  You do not need to do anything in response to the Termination Notice.

Termination of the Bannister Retainer does not impact a Represented Group Member’s status as a group member, their entitlement to compensation if money compensation is recovered from Toyota or the progress of the Toyota Class Action on their behalf.

No.

Represented Group Members who have signed a retainer agreement with Bannister Law Class Actions will receive a notification indicating that their retainer agreement has been terminated and no longer has effect.

Represented Group Members do not need to sign a retainer agreement with Gilbert + Tobin or a new funding agreement with Balance.

The funding agreement with Balance signed by Represented Group Members continues to operate unchanged.  Balance has amended some of the terms of the existing funding agreements to replace references to Bannister Law Class Actions with Gilbert + Tobin.  However, this will not impact the continued funding provided by Balance or prejudice the rights of group members who have signed funding agreements.