Research has confirmed securities class action leader Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach’s dominance of the US plaintiff market – just as the firm finalises its long-awaited split.

The firm, which is breaking up into East Coast and West Coast arms, was involved in 66% of 2003′s class action settlements, accounting for total awards of $2.11bn (£1.17bn) from 65 actions, according to securities litigation monitoring company Securities Class Action Services (SCAS).