Siemens WLL v BIC Contracting LLC (garnishee order) [2023] FCA 1664

Federal Court of Australia

Siemens WLL v BIC Contracting LLC (garnishee order) [2023] FCA 1664 File number: NSD 1152 of 2021

Judgment of: STEWART J

Date of judgment: 22 December 2023

Catchwords: PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW – location of a chose in action – whether general principle that a debt is located where it is recoverable is displaced by special agreement of the parties or an exclusive right of suit rendering a location other than the debtor's domicile the proper place of enforcement – where debt is owed by an Australian corporation arising under a contract subject to London arbitration and English law – whether debt situated in England – whether garnishing the debt is beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the Court or the reach of the statutory provision PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – garnishee orders – whether "inappropriate" – whether there exists a real or substantial risk of commercial harm to garnishee or other third parties EVIDENCE – whether application to set aside a garnishee order is an "interlocutory proceeding" for the purposes of s 75 of the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth)

Legislation: Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 59, 75, 135 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 23, 24(1A), 53 International Arbitration Act 1974 (Cth) s 8(3) Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) rr 39.05(a), 39.05(c), 41.10 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) ss 117(1), 123(4) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) s 12(1)(b) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 39.38(1) Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards 330 UNTS 3 Davies M, Bell AS, Brereton PLG and Douglas M, Nygh's Conflict of Laws in Australia (10th ed, LexisNexis Butterworths, 2019) Lord Collins of Mapesbury and Harris J (general eds), Dicey, Morris & Collins: The Conflict of Laws (16th ed, Sweet & Maxwell, 2022) Mortensen R, Garnett R and Keyes M, Private International Law in Australia (5th ed, LexisNexis, 2023)