Eight Australian families bereaved by the MH17 disaster are preparing to sue not just Malaysia Airlines but also Russia, Ukraine and Malaysia.

Alaska-based aviation lawyer Jerry Skinner will represent the families, whose loved ones were among the 38 Australian residents and citizens who perished in the July 17 disaster, News Corp reports.

A total of 298 passengers and crew were on board the Boeing 777 when it was shot down over eastern Ukraine by a missile launcher believed to have been supplied by the Russian military.

Mr Skinner said he is waiting for further information from the lead investigative agency into the disaster, the Dutch Safety Board, before lodging the lawsuit with the European Court of Human Rights.

"Everybody has a pretty good idea of why the plane crashed," he was quoted as saying.

"What we need is the political information obtained that identifies the actors who made the operational decisions."

A claim for compensation was likely to be included the lawsuit, which could be filed as early as April or May next year, Mr Skinner said.