Al Maha Pty Ltd v Liu [2020] NSWCA 108

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Al Maha Pty Ltd v Liu [2020] NSWCA 108 Hearing dates: 21 May 2020 Decision date: 11 June 2020 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Macfarlan JA at [6]; Leeming JA at [7]. Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: CONTRACT – agency agreement – entitlement to commission – agency agreement drafted by client – client an experienced property developer – agreement did not comply with Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2002 (NSW), s 55 – agent sued to recover unpaid commission – whether discretion under s 55A available and should be exercised Legislation Cited: Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2002 (NSW), ss 55, 55A Property, Stock and Business Agents Regulation 2003 (NSW), Sch 7, cll 4-6, 9 and Sch 8, cll 1-7 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 588FM Cases Cited: Banque Commerciale SA (en liqn) v Akhil Holdings Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 279; [1990] HCA 11 Cherry v Steele-Park (2017) 96 NSWLR 548; [2017] NSWCA 295 Dumoine Holdings Pty Ltd v United & Commercial Holdings Ltd (1985) 13 ACLR 448 Re Appleyard Capital Pty Ltd; 123 Sweden AB v Appleyard Capital Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 782; (2014) 101 ACSR 629 Re Dudley Engineering Pty Ltd and Companies Act [1968] 1 NSWR 483 Re Freightlines Northern Territory Pty Ltd (In Liq) [2000] 2 Qd R 384; [1999] QSC 209 Ryde Developments Pty Ltd v The Property Investors Alliance Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 339 Wei Liu v Al Maha Pty Ltd [2019] NSWDC 106 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Al Maha Pty Ltd (Appellant) Wei Liu (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: D Talintyre, M Cobb-Clark (Appellant) R Wilson SC, A Norrie (Respondent)