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High Court clarifies scope of duties owed by directors to shareholders
The High Court has struck out a number of claims brought by shareholders in what was, in 2008, Lloyds TSB against its directors (Sharp & others v Blank & others).
Read moreSupreme Court broadens scope of freezing order wording
A recent decision[1] of the Supreme Court has clarified the scope of the standard form Commercial Court freezing order, holding that the right to draw down monies under a loan agreement can be an "asset" where the extended form freezing order is granted.
Read moreCourt of Appeal upholds estoppel by convention for forgetfulness
In Dixon and another v Blindley Health Investments Ltd[1] the Court of Appeal held that a shareholder was estopped by convention from relying on a pre-emption agreement for the sale of shares which had been agreed by members informally through correspondence some 8 years previously and had since allegedly been forgotten.
Read moreWhen can a company assert legal advice privilege against its shareholders?
A High Court judge recently confirmed the general principle that a company cannot assert legal advice privilege against its shareholders, subject to one exception:
Read moreCourt refuses stay in favour of Italian proceedings under 2001 Brussels Regulation
The Commercial Court has declined to stay an English action[1] in favour of prior proceedings in Italy, notwithstanding the fact that the dispute pre-dated the application of the Recast Regulation.
Read moreExclusive (jurisdiction), read all about it!
In Global Maritime Investments Cyprus Limited v OW Supply & Trading A/S (under konkurs),[1] a jurisdiction clause prevented the defendant from pursuing issues in the Danish courts, even though jurisdiction was not stated to be "exclusive".
Read moreBreach of SFO disclosure requirements and damages that can follow
In July 2015 the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) commenced its first set of proceedings in the Market Misconduct Tribunal against a listed company for allegedly failing to disclose price-sensitive inside information to the public as soon as reasonably practicable, contrary to Section 307B(1) of the Securities and Futures Ordinance.
Read moreThe effectiveness of a US exclusive jurisdiction clause in light of the (Recast) Brussels Regulation
The Court of Appeal ruled that a company which provides benefits to employees of associated group companies may be regarded as an employer if it provides those benefits to reward and encourage the employees for the benefit of their employer and the group as a whole.
Read moreHigh Court guidance on the admissibility of expert evidence
British Airways has succeeded in partly overturning the decision of a Deputy Master who refused BA permission to adduce expert evidence in litigation against the trustees of one of its defined benefit pension schemes.
Read moreRepudiatory breach implicitly excluded in multi-party LLP agreements
In the recent decision of Flanagan v Liontrust Investment Partners LLP and others[1] the High Court held that the doctrine of repudiatory breach is excluded in multi-party limited liability partnership agreements ...
Read moreTracing Mr Maluf's millions
The recent Privy Council decision in Federal Republic of Brazil and another v Durant International Corporation and another upholding a Jersey Court of Appeal judgment provides guidance on the approach the English Courts may now take to backwards tracing.
Read moreCommercial disputes and regulatory – Hong Kong
Faceless fraud – scams in an online world
Read moreFinal appeal serves up sushi
In the past decade or so sushi has become increasingly popular – both in Hong Kong and globally.
Read moreOtkritie and the "Aldi requirement"
The judgment in Otkritie –v- Threadneedle examined the interplay between the "Aldi requirement" ...
Read moreCourt of Appeal rules on limitation and concealment in competition damages claim
In the recent decision of Arcadia Group Brands Ltd & Ors v Visa Inc & Ors[1] ...
Read moreCourt confirms its wide discretionary power to extend time in consent orders
In Safin (Fursecroft) Limited v The Estate of Dr Said Ahmed Said Badrig (Deceased)[1], the Court of Appeal considered the principles that apply to an application for extension of time for compliance with obligations set out in a consent order.
Read moreThe risk of a pyrrhic victory for claimants relying on damages clauses for the calculation of compensation in the absence of actual loss
The Supreme Court has handed down a unanimous decision which confirms that clauses which provide a contractual mechanism for the calculation of damages remain subject to standard rules of construction.
Read moreThe better part of discretion is – an implied term?
In Portsmouth City Council v Ensign Highways Ltd [2015] EWHC 1969 (TCC), the High Court implied a term imposing limits on a party's contractual discretion, ...
Read moreHong Kong: legal advice privilege – important development for corporates
In an important judgment, the Hong Kong Court of Appeal has recently decided that legal advice privilege (often referred to as “solicitor-client” or “attorney-client” privilege) can extend to confidential internal communications ...
Read moreHong Kong: legal advice privilege – important development for corporates
In an important judgment, the Hong Kong Court of Appeal has recently decided that legal advice privilege (often referred to as “solicitor-client” or “attorney-client” privilege) can extend to confidential internal communications between employees of a client organisation, provided those communications were created for the sole or dominant purpose of obtaining legal advice.
Read moreLimiting liability in standard terms: cause for concern?
Practitioners may wish to reconsider their approach to drafting standard terms after the High Court found that various limitation of liability clauses in standard term business-to-business contracts were unreasonable under the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (UCTA)[1].
Read moreNo way out: a recent Supreme Court decision re-states the principles of contractual interpretation and provides a salutary reminder that the English Courts are wary of re-writing "bad bargains"
The Supreme Court's decision in Arnold v Britton provides a salutary reminder of the reluctance of the English Courts to re-write "bad bargains" even if they have catastrophic unforeseen commercial outcomes for one of the contracting parties.
Read moreCourt of Appeal rules on liability of partner unaware of fiduciary breach of another partner
Court of Appeal reverses decision of lower Court to find that a partner who had been unaware of the wrongful conduct of the second partner in a business was nonetheless jointly and severally liable for the defaulting partner's liability to a third party for breach of fiduciary duty.
Read moreNew financial super court to further enhance London's profile as a financial dispute hub
After a period of consultation, the Lord Chief Justice announced at his Mansion House speech on 8 July 2015 that a new specialist list dealing with high-value, ...
Read moreThe regulatory regime continues to inform the advisory duty in mis-selling claims
The recent case of David Anderson v Openwork Limited[1] provides an opportunity to reflect on the current approach of the courts ...
Read moreElectronic disclosure – the perils of ignoring disclosure requirements
In Smailes and another v McNally and another[i] the High Court refused the claimant's application for relief from sanctions, finding the claimant's failure in respect of its disclosure obligations under the relevant provisions of the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR 31) amounted to a significant and serious breach of an "unless order".
Read moreHigh Court finds "without prejudice" communications with a regulator can be withheld in civil proceedings, but decides bank had lost right to do so
In the latest instalment of the LIBOR swaps proceedings in Property Alliance Group Ltd v The Royal Bank of Scotland plc[1], the court has held for the first time that 'without prejudice' communications with a regulator can be withheld in civil proceedings.
Read moreNowhere to hide: Supreme Court considers illegality defence and global application of Insolvency Act 1986 in VAT fraud case
On 22 April 2015 the Supreme Court handed down its judgment in the case of Jetivia SA and another v Bilta (UK) Ltd (in liquidation) and others [2015] UKSC 23, which was heard in October last year.
Read moreHigh Court refuses to grant anti-suit injunction restraining insolvency proceedings in Denmark
In SwissMarine Corporation Ltd v OW Supply & Trading[1], the High Court refused to grant an anti-suit injunction restraining Danish insolvency proceedings.
Read moreSanctioned offers and old-style Calderbank offers
Following the introduction of formal sanctioned payments and sanctioned offers pursuant to the civil justice reforms adopted in April 2009, it has not been entirely clear to what extent pre-trial Calderbank offers (without prejudice save as to costs) still provide costs protection for an offeror.
Read moreHong Kong courts clarify personal data concerns in civil litigation
In a series of cases in Hong Kong in the last year or so, the courts have brought some welcome clarification to the vexed issue of the interaction between disclosure of relevant documents in civil disputes and balancing competing confidentiality and personal data concerns arising out of the contents of such documents.
Read moreInvalidity of buyer's notice sinks warranty claim
In Ipsos SA v Dentos Aegis Network Limited, the Defendants obtained judgment in the High Court against the Claimants in respect of their claim for breach of warranty for failure to comply with contractual notification requirements set out in a share purchase agreement.
Read moreOne-stop adjudication – the rational approach to dispute resolution
The Commercial Court has found[1] that an arbitration clause in a consultancy services agreement was superseded by a dispute resolution clause in a later settlement agreement;...
Read moreTwo jurisdictions for the price of one? The English Court of Appeal provides guidance on conflicting jurisdiction clauses in related contracts
In Trust Risk Group SpA v AmTrust Europe Limited[1] the Court of Appeal has rowed back from the presumption that parties who have agreed differing jurisdiction arrangements for their disputes intended their disputes to be governed by one regime.
Read moreMeaning of information of a precise nature in market abuse clarified by ECJ
Following a recent ECJ decision, the definition of 'inside information' for the purposes of the EU's market abuse regime has been widened.
Read moreFinancial Litigation roundup - Spring 2015
Welcome to the latest edition of our Financial Litigation roundup.
Read moreAppeal court considers constructive knowledge in limitation period extension claim
The Court of Appeal* has recently held that an individual investor was too late to bring a claim in negligence and could not take advantage of the provisions of section 14A Limitation Act 1980 as she had constructive knowledge of relevant facts ascertainable during the primary limitation period.
Read moreStill no joy for investors' mis-selling claims
In the latest alleged mis-selling case in Hong Kong, the Court of First Instance maintained a consistent approach with other recent cases, rejecting an investor's claim based on misrepresentation and suggesting that the principle of contractual estoppel is alive and well.(1)
Read moreMarketing to professional investors – the Court of Final Appeal's verdict
In Securities and Futures Commission v Pacific Sun Advisors Ltd, the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal recently ruled that the advertisement of a collective investment scheme intended to be disposed of only to professional investors ...
Read moreGood Russian Service
Following the decision in Sloutsker v Romanova[1], it should now be more difficult for parties to evade the effective service of English court documents in Russia.
Read moreContractual notice of warranty claim
In The Hut Group Limited v Nobagar-Cookson[2], the High Court considered what was required to comply with a provision in a share purchase agreement requiring notice to be given of a breach of warranty claim.
Read moreHigh Court considers iniquity exception for disclosure of privileged documents
In the case of London Borough of Brent v Kane, the court considered an application for the disclosure of legal advice that was alleged to have been given for an iniquitous purpose such that the benefit of any privilege that might otherwise have attached to the document was lost.
Read moreFriends without benefits – what happens when investments go wrong?
Investors have had something of a hard time suing financial institutions or financial advisers in Hong Kong for alleged claims sounding in breach of contract or negligence.
Read moreLitigation meets regulation
In an ever more regulated world, commercial litigators need to be aware of both the risks and opportunities regulation may bring.
Read moreNon-exclusive jurisdiction clauses in cross-border agreements
Hong Kong courts adopt robust approach to uphold parties' contractual bargain as to their choice of forum
Read moreImportant judgment on liquidators' ability to obtain documents
In an important judgment handed down recently by the Court of First Instance in Hong Kong, ...
Read moreScheming for foreign companies
In the recent case of Re LDK Solar Co Ltd,(1) Justice Lam considered the approach that the court should take in deciding whether to invoke its jurisdiction to approve an arrangement or compromise between a foreign company and its creditors or members.
Read moreCivil Appeals - one shot as of right only
The right of appeal to the Court of Final Appeal (CFA) with respect to final judgments of the Court of Appeal amounting to HK$1 million or more has been repealed as of 24 December 2014.
Read moreHigh Court considers jurisdiction over non-EU defendant in proceedings also including domestic defendants
The decision in Jong v HSBC Private Bank (Monaco) SA and others[i]serves as a useful reminder that the Court will be guided by the substance, and not the form, of proceedings when considering questions of jurisdiction.
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