HiTech Group Australia Ltd v Riachi [2021] NSWSC 1212

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: HiTech Group Australia Ltd v Riachi [2021] NSWSC 1212 Hearing dates: 21 September 2021 Decision date: 24 September 2021 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Ward CJ in Eq Decision: 1. Note the undertaking given to the Court and to the plaintiff by the defendant, through his Counsel, in the following terms: (a) I will not prior to 13 August 2022, without the written consent of HiTech, in the course of any employment or business: (i) knowingly have contact with any clients of HiTech; (ii) draft or assist in the drafting of any tender documents that are intended to acquire new clients in respect of the provision of I.T or recruitment related services; and/or (iii) directly or indirectly contact, solicit, induce, canvas any people I know to be contractors of HiTech. (b) I will abide by my obligations in clauses 5.1(a), 5.1(c), 5.1(d), 5.1(e), 5.1(f), 5.1(g), 5.1(h) and 5.1(i) of the Contract of Employment with HiTech for the period referred to in clause 5.3. (c) I will abide by my confidentiality obligations to HiTech, including clause 6 of the Contract of Employment with HiTech. (d) I will not prior to 13 August 2022: (i) Contact any stakeholder or tender for any work from any HiTech client listed in Annexure A of the letter sent from David Shad to Ricky Raad on 3 September 2021; and/or (ii) Knowingly assist, solicit, induce, consult any other person directly or indirectly to recruit candidates or contractors currently placed at HiTech or to contact any stakeholder or tender for any work from any Hitech client listed in Annexure A of the letter sent from David Shad to Ricky Raad on 3 September 2021. 2. Dismiss the plaintiff's application for interlocutory relief. 3. Order that the costs of the plaintiff's application for interlocutory relief be costs in the cause. 4. Direct that the matter proceed by way of pleadings. 5. List the matter for directions before the Application List judge at 8.30am on Tuesday, 28 September 2021. Catchwords: COMMERCE — Restraint of trade — Enforcement and remedies — Injunction — Balance of convenience Legislation Cited: Public Governance Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cth) Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014 (Cth) Restraint of Trade Act 1976 (NSW), s 4 Cases Cited: ACP Magazines Pty Ltd v Southdown Publications Pty Ltd (2002) 56 IPR 503; [2002] NSWSC 715 AT Kearney Australia Pty Ltd v Crepaldi [2006] NSWSC 23 Attorney-General of Australia v Adelaide Steamship Co [1913] AC 781 Baltic Shipping Co v Dillon (1991) 22 NSWLR 1 Buckley v Tutty (1971) 125 CLR 353; [1971] HCA 71 Cactus Imaging Pty Ltd v Peters (2006) 71 NSWLR 9; [2006] NSWSC 717 Cerilian Pty Ltd t/as Raine & Horne Gosford v Graham Fraser [2008] NSWSC 1016 Curro v Beyond Productions Pty Ltd (1993) 30 NSWLR 337 Dawnay, Day & Co Ltd v d'Alphen [1998] ICR 1068 Dundoen Pty Ltd v Richard Wills (Real Estate) Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 15 Halliday & Nicholas Insurance Brokers Pty Limited v Corsiatto (2001) 11 ANZ Ins Cas 61-505; [2001] NSWCA 188 Hartleys Ltd v Martin [2002] VSC 301 Huhtamaki Australia Ltd v Botha [2004] NSWSC 386 ICT Pty Ltd v Sea Containers Ltd (1995) 39 NSWLR 640 IceTV v Ross [2007] NSWSC 635 Isaac v Dargan Financial Pty Ltd atf The Dargan Financial Discretionary Trust (2018) 98 NSWLR 343; [2018] NSWCA 163 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Birt [2006] NSWSC 995 Kolback Securities Ltd v Epoch Mining NL (1987) 8 NSWLR 533 Koops Martin Financial Services Pty Ltd v Reeves [2006] NSWSC 449 Lindner v Murdock's Garage (1950) 83 CLR 628; [1950] HCA 48 Mid-City Skin Cancer and Laser Centre Pty Ltd v Zahedi-Anarak (2006) 67 NSWLR 569; [2006] NSWSC 844 North Western Salt Co Ltd v Electrolytic Alkali Co Ltd [1914] AC 461 Nus International Pty Ltd v Edwards (1981) 1A IPR 599 Otis Elevator Company Pty Ltd v Nolan [2007] NSWSC 593 Reeves v Koops Martin Financial Services Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 221 Robb v Green [1895] 2 QB 1 Romeg Holdings Pty Ltd v Kelly [2010] WASC 404 SAI Global Property Division Pty Ltd (ACN 089 586572) v Jones [2018] NSWSC 438 Seven Network (Operations) Ltd v Warburton (No 2) (2011) 206 IR 450; [2011] NSWSC 386 Stacks/Taree Pty Ltd v Marshall (No 2) [2010] NSWSC 77 Tullett Prebon (Australia) Pty Ltd v Purcell (2008) 175 IR 414; [2008] NSWSC 852 Verint Systems (Australia ) Pty Ltd v Sutherland [2019] NSWSC 882 Woolworths Ltd v Banks [2007] NSWSC 45 Woolworths Ltd v Olson [2004] NSWCA 372 Category: Principal judgment Parties: HiTech Group Australia Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) Anthony Riachi (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr CD Wood SC (Plaintiff) Mr C O'Neill with Mr A Rizk (Defendant)