Hammond v Quayeyeware Pty Ltd [2021] FCA 293

Federal Court of Australia

Hammond v Quayeyeware Pty Ltd [2021] FCA 293 File number: NSD 598 of 2020

Judgment of: BANKS-SMITH J

Date of judgment: 30 March 2021

Catchwords: CORPORATIONS - directors - statutory right of access to company's financial records - general law right of access to company's books and records - where director seeks relief by way of declaration or order allowing access to all such documents - whether appropriate to order declaratory or other relief CORPORATIONS - legal professional privilege - where director and company in adversarial relationship - where prior proceedings between the parties - where director seeks access to company's invoices and retainer agreements relating to legal representation in the prior proceedings - where director seeks access to company's privileged advice relating to the prior proceedings - whether statutory and general law rights of access abrogate company's claim to maintain privilege against director

Legislation: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 9, 198F, 247A, 286, 290, 1303

Cases cited: Agricultural Land Management Ltd v Jackson [No 2] [2014] WASC 102 (S) Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 Areva NC (Australia) Pty Ltd v Summit Resources (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2008] WASC 10 Attorney-General (NT) v Maurice (1986) 161 CLR 475 Australian Metropolitan Life Assurance Co Ltd v Ure (1923) 33 CLR 199 Bennetts v Board of Fire Commissioners of New South Wales (1967) 87 WN 307 Berlei Hestia (NZ) Ltd v Fernyhough [1980] 2 NZLR 150 Burn v London & South Wales Coal Co (1890) 7 TLR 118 Carey v Korda [2012] WASCA 228; (2012) 45 WAR 181 Carter v The Managing Partner, Northmore Hale Davy & Leake (1995) 183 CLR 121 Clarence City Council v Commonwealth of Australia [2020] FCAFC 134 Commissioner of Australian Federal Police v Propend Finance Pty Ltd (1997) 188 CLR 501 Conway v Petronius Clothing Co Ltd [1978] 1 WLR 72; [1978] 1 All ER 185 Cook v Leonard [1954] VLR 591 Cook v Pasminco Ltd (No 2) [2000] FCA 1819; (2000) 107 FCR 44 Cruse v Multiplex Limited [2008] FCAFC 179; (2008) 172 FCR 279 Dura (Australia) Constructions Pty Ltd v Hue Boutique Living Pty Ltd [2011] VSC 477 Edman v Ross (1922) 22 SR (NSW) 351 Elevate Brandpartners Ltd v Hammond [2019] FCA 1103 Elevate Brandpartners Ltd v Hammond (No 2) [2019] FCA 1598 Elevate Brandpartners Ltd v Hammond (No 3) [2019] FCA 1788 Elevate Brandpartners Ltd v Hammond (No 4) [2020] FCA 421 Engel v National Biodiesel Limited [2015] FCA 1114; (2015) 245 FCR 436 Farrow Mortgage Services Pty Ltd (In liq) v Webb (1995) 39 NSWLR 601 Fox v Gadsden Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 748 Glencore International AG v Commissioner of Taxation [2019] HCA 26; (2019) 265 CLR 646 Global Funds Management (NSW) Ltd v Rooney (1994) 36 NSWLR 122 Grant v Downs (1976) 135 CLR 674 Gray v BNY Trust Company of Australia Ltd (formerly Guardian Trust Australia Ltd) [2009] NSWSC 789; (2009) 76 NSWLR 586 Gray v Sirtex Medical Ltd formerly known as Paragon Medical Ltd [2009] WASC 126 Hammond v Quayeyeware Pty Ltd, in the matter of Quayeyeware Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 2207 Hanks v Admiralty Resources NL (No 2) [2011] FCA 1464 Hawksford v Hawksford [2005] NSWSC 1316 Interchase Corporation Limited (in liq) v Grosvenor Hill Queensland Pty Ltd (No 1) [1999] 1 Qd R 141 Johnco Nominees Pty Ltd v Albury-Wodonga (NSW) Corporation [1977] 1 NSWLR 43 Kang v Kang [2013] EWHC 2828 (Ch) Lei, in the matter of Tai-Ao Aluminium (Australia) Pty Ltd v Cordukes [2004] FCA 1488 Lifeplan Australia Friendly Society Ltd v Ancient Order of Foresters in Victoria Friendly Society Ltd (No 2) [2017] FCAFC 99 Macks v Viscariello [2017] SASCFC 172; (2017) 130 SASR 1 Marshin Holdings Pty Ltd v Attorney General of New South Wales [2013] NSWSC 326 Maryland Casualty Co v Pacific Coal & Oil Co (1941) 312 US 270 Mills v Mills (1938) 60 CLR 150 Molomby v Whitehead & Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1985) 7 FCR 541 On Q Group Ltd v McDougall [2007] VSC 184 Oswal v Burrup Fertilisers Pty Ltd (Receivers and Managers Appointed) [2013] FCAFC 9 Oswal v Burrup Holdings Limited [2011] FCA 609 Parker, In the matter of Purcom No 34 Pty Ltd (in liq) (No 2) [2010] FCA 624 Pioneer Concrete (NSW) Pty Ltd v Webb (1995) 18 ACSR 418 Re Geneva Finance Ltd; Quigley v Cook (1992) 7 WAR 496 Re Trade Practices Act 1974 (1978) 19 ALR 191 Satz v ACN 069 808 957 [2009] NSWSC 1459 Satz v ACN 069 808 957 [2010] NSWSC 365 Sharpe v Grobbel [2017] NSWSC 1065 State of South Australia v Barrett (1995) 64 SASR 73 The Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2002] HCA 49; (2002) 213 CLR 543 University of New South Wales v Moorhouse (1975) 133 CLR 1 Warramunda Village Inc v Pryde [2001] FCA 61; (2001) 105 FCR 437