Agha v Devine Real Estate Concord Pty Ltd & Ors [2021] NSWCA 29

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Agha v Devine Real Estate Concord Pty Ltd & Ors [2021] NSWCA 29 Hearing dates: 23 July 2020 Decision date: 09 March 2021 Before: Payne JA at [1]; White JA at [2]; McCallum JA at [184] Decision: (1) The appeal of the first appellant be allowed in part. (2) The appeal of the second appellant be allowed. (3) Set aside orders 5, 6 and 9 made on 4 December 2019. (4) The appeal of the first appellant be otherwise dismissed. (5) The respondents pay the second appellant's costs of the appeal so far as those costs concern only the claims of the second appellant. (6) The first appellant pay the respondents' costs of the appeal, not including costs referable only to the claims of the second appellant. Catchwords: EQUITY — Breach of confidence — Concurrent confidentiality obligation in contract EQUITY — Breach of confidence — Necessary quality of confidence — Employment EQUITY — Breach of confidence — Necessary quality of confidence — Material in public domain COMMERCE — Restraint of trade — Particular cases — Protection of business connections COMMERCE — Restraint of trade — Particular cases — Protection of staff connections COMMERCE — Restraint of trade — Validity and reasonableness Legislation Cited: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), ss 45, 51 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 181, 182, 183 Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 253, 308D Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 140(2) Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Act 1987 (Cth) Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Act 1987 (NSW) Restraints of Trade Act 1976 (NSW), s 4 Cases Cited: Aussie Home Loans Ltd v X Inc Services Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 285 Cactus Imaging Pty Ltd v Peters (2006) 71 NSWLR 9; [2006] NSWSC 717 Devine Real Estate Concord Pty Ltd & Ors v Wajih Agha (aka Roger Agha) & Anor [2019] NSWSC 786 Devine Real Estate Concord Pty Ltd v Agha (No. 2) [2018] NSWSC 564 Devine Real Estate Concord Pty Ltd v Agha [2018] NSWSC 556 Harman v Secretary of State for the Home Department Harman v Secretary of State for the Home Department [1983] 1 AC 280 Hearne v Street (2008) 235 CLR 125; [2008] HCA 36 Herbert Morris Ltd v Saxelby [1916] 1 AC 688 Isaac v Dargan Financial Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 163 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Kasupene v Ajax Foundry Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 309 Kearney v Crepaldi [2006] NSWSC 23 Lindner v Murdock's Garage (1950) 83 CLR 628 Nordenfelt v Maxim Nordenfelt Guns & Ammunition [1894] AC 535 Orica Investments Pty Ltd & Ors v William McCartney & Ors [2007] NSWSC 645 Weldon & Co v Harbinson [2000] NSWSC 272 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Wajih Agha (aka Roger Agha) (First Applicant) Lewis Coombe (Second Applicant) Devine Real Estate Concord Pty Ltd (First Respondent) Devine Real Estate Drummoyne Pty Ltd (Second Respondent) Steven James Devine (Third Respondent) EMC Just Holdings Pty Ltd (Fourth Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P Doyle Gray with A Djurdjevic (Applicants) I Neil SC with M Seck (Respondents)