The accusations faced by Google allege the tech giant is abusing its position in the digital advertising market. The two lawsuits are being filed in UK and Netherlands courts in the next few weeks by Belgian law firm Geradin Partners.

The lawsuits are on behalf of publishers who have suffered harm from Google’s anti-competitive conduct in relation to ad tech. Funding for both actions has been secured from litigation funder Harbour.

Commenting on the need for the legal action, Damien Geradin, founding partner of Geradin Partners, said: “Publishers, including local and national news media who play a vital role in our society, have long been harmed by Google’s anticompetitive conduct.

“It is time that Google owns up to its responsibilities and pays back the damages it has caused to this important industry. That is why today we are announcing these actions across two jurisdictions to obtain compensation for EU and UK publishers.”

In the UK Geradin Partners has teamed up with litigation law firm Humphries Kerstetter to bring an opt-out collective damages claim in the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal. The UK claim will focus on recovering compensation for lost revenue from the sale of advertising space on the websites of all class members.

Counsel for the case will be Ronit Kreisberger KC and Julian Gregory from Monckton Chambers and David Wingfield and Niamh Cleary from Fountain Court Chambers. The legal analysis is supported by independent economics consultancy Charles River Associates.

Geradin Partners’ team will consist of Damien Geradin and Stijn Huijts (partners), David Gallagher (counsel) and Dimitrios Katsifis (senior associate).