Techforce Personnel Pty Ltd v Jaffer [2023] FCA 1674

Federal Court of Australia

Techforce Personnel Pty Ltd v Jaffer [2023] FCA 1674 File number: WAD 322 of 2023

Judgment of: FEUTRILL J

Date of judgment: 21 December 2023

Date of publication of reasons: 16 January 2024

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – urgent application for an interlocutory injunction – contractual restraint of trade clauses – order sought to restrain former employee of applicant from soliciting or contacting clients of applicant – where contractual restraint period of several months – where strength of applicant's case and evidence as a whole demonstrates a serious question to be tried – whether restraint of disclosure or improper use of confidential information appropriate – whether balance of convenience favours grant of an injunction

Legislation: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 183(1) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 37AF(1)(b), 37AG(1)(a)

Cases cited: Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Lenah Game Meats Pty Ltd [2001] HCA 63; (2001) 208 CLR 199 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v O'Neill [2006] HCA 46; (2006) 227 CLR 57 Beecham Group Ltd v Bristol Laboratories Pty Ltd [1968] HCA 1; (1968) 118 CLR 618 Bullock v The Federated Furnishing Trades Society of Australasia [1985] FCA 48; (1985) 5 FCR 464 Corrs Pavey Whiting and Byrne v Collector of Customs (Vic) (1987) 14 FCR 434 Hellmann Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd v Peterson [2003] NSWSC 242 IceTV v Duncan Ross [2007] NSWSC 635 John Fairfax Publications Pty Limited v Birt [2006] NSWSC 995 Kolback Securities Limited v Epcoh Mining NL (1987) 8 NSWLR 533 Ord Minnett Holdings Pty Ltd v Longmuir [2023] FCA 1262 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd v Apple Inc [2011] FCAFC 156; (2011) 217 FCR 238