GR Capital Group Pty Ltd v Xinfeng Australia International Investment Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 266

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: GR Capital Group Pty Ltd v Xinfeng Australia International Investment Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 266 Hearing dates: 27 August 2020 Date of orders: 23 October 2020 Decision date: 23 October 2020 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1]; McCallum JA at [67]; Simpson AJA at [68] Decision: (1) Leave to appeal granted. (2) Order for production made at first instance on 22 May 2020 set aside. (3) In lieu of that order for production, make the following order: Direct that the proper officer of Colin Biggers & Paisley produce to the Court within 28 days all documents falling with the terms of the Xinfeng Subpoena in which there is communicated or recorded legal advice as to the legality or illegality of the underlying transaction or agreement to compromise the proceedings; and otherwise direct that the proper officer not be required to comply with the subpoena issued to Colin Biggers & Paisley on 10 March 2020. (4) Order the respondent to pay the applicants' costs of the appeal proceedings. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – subpoenas – application to set aside – documents to be produced claimed to be the subject of legal professional privilege – whether privilege waived by conduct CIVIL PROCEDURE – variations to interlocutory orders – often preferable to approach first instance judge again rather than seek leave to appeal EVIDENCE – legal professional privilege – waiver by conduct – test of inconsistency between conduct and maintenance of privilege Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Cases Cited: Ampolex Ltd v Perpetual Trustee Co (Canberra) Ltd (1995) 37 NSWLR 405 Archer Capital 4A Pty Ltd v Sage Group plc (No 3) [2013] FCA 1160; (2013) 306 ALR 414 Attorney-General (NT) v Maurice (1986) 161 CLR 475; [1986] HCA 80 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (No 2) [2020] FCA 1013 Bailey v Department of Land and Water Conservation (2009) 74 NSWLR 333; [2009] NSWCA 100 Benecke v National Australia Bank (1993) 35 NSWLR 110 Chen v City Convenience Leasing Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 297 Commissioner of Taxation v Rio Tinto Ltd (2006) 151 FCR 341; [2006] FCAFC 86 Consolidated Lawyers Ltd v Abu-Mahmoud [2016] NSWCA 4 Council of Bar Association (NSW) v Archer (2008) 72 NSWLR 236; [2008] NSWCA 164 DSE (Holdings) Pty Ltd v Intertan Inc (2003) 127 FCR 499; [2003] FCA 384 Garratts Ltd v Thanga Thangathurai [2002] NSWSC 39 Goldberg v Ng (1996) 185 CLR 83; [1995] HCA 39 Liquorland (Australia) Pty Ltd v Anghie (2003) 7 VR 27; [2003] VSC 73 Macquarie Bank Ltd v Arup Pty Ltd [2016] FCAFC 117 Mann v Carnell (1999) 201 CLR 1; [1999] HCA 66 Miller Heiman Pty Ltd v Sales Principles Pty Ltd (2017) 94 NSWLR 500; [2017] NSWCA 106 Osland v Secretary, Department of Justice (2008) 234 CLR 275; [2008] HCA 37 Perpetual Trustees (WA) Ltd v Equuscorp Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 925 R v Seller (2015) 89 NSWLR 155; [2015] NSWCCA 76 Re Jimmy's Recipe Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 516 Seven Network Ltd v News Ltd (No 7) [2005] FCA 1092 Standard Chartered Bank v Antico (1995) 36 NSWLR 87 Taylor v Johnson (1983) 151 CLR 422; [1983] HCA 5 Telstra Corporation Ltd v BT Australasia Pty Ltd (1998) 85 FCR 152 Thomason v The Council of the Municipality of Campbelltown (1939) 39 SR (NSW) 347 Viterra Malt Pty Ltd v Cargill Australia Ltd (2018) 58 VR 333; [2018] VSCA 118 Wayne Lawrence Pty Ltd v Hunt [1999] NSWSC 1044 Category: Principal judgment Parties: GR Capital Group Pty Ltd (First Applicant) The One Capital Group Pty Ltd (Second Applicant) Wensheng Liu (Third Applicant) Xinfeng Australia International Investment Pty Ltd (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: D R Pritchard SC / A J Macauley (Applicants) W G Muddle SC / P W McDonald (Respondent)