The Nuance Group (Australia) Pty Ltd v Shape Australia Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 1498

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The Nuance Group (Australia) Pty Ltd v Shape Australia Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 1498 Hearing dates: 17 June 2021 Date of orders: 22 November 2021 Decision date: 22 November 2021 Jurisdiction: Equity - Commercial List Before: Rees J Decision: Dismiss challenges to arbitral award. Catchwords: ARBITRATION – seek to set aside award – building dispute – whether agreement to appeal on questions of law – s34A(1), Commercial Arbitration Act 2010 (NSW) – principles at [31]-[32] – no agreement – whether estopped from denying agreement – no estoppel. JURISDICTION of arbitrator – principles at [126] –declaratory relief – prevalence and utility of declaratory relief in contractual matters at [130]-[131] – challenge to claim as time barred does not deprive arbitrator of jurisdiction at [132]. PUBLIC POLICY – principles at [137]-[140] ADEQUACY OF REASONS – principles at [142]-[148] Legislation Cited: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic) Commercial Arbitration Act 2010 (NSW), ss 1, 31, 34, 34A, 36 Commercial Arbitration Act 2011 (Vic), s 34A Cases Cited: Accurate Financial Consultants Pty Ltd v Koko Black Pty Ltd [2008] VSCA 86; (2008) 66 ACSR 325 Aircraft Support Industries Pty Ltd v William Hare UAE LLC [2015] NSWCA 229, (2015) 298 FLR 183 AKN v ALC [2015] SGCA 63 ASC AWD Shipbuilder Pty Ltd v Ottoway Engineering Pty Ltd (2017) 129 SASR 122; [2017] SASCFC 150 Ashjal Pty Ltd v Alfred Toepfer International (Australia) Pty Ltd (2012) 82 NSWLR 93; [2012] NSWSC 1306 Ashjal Pty Ltd v Elders Toepfer Grain Pty Ltd [2012] NSWSC 545 Australian Financial Services and Leasing Pty Ltd v Hills Industries Ltd (2014) 253 CLR 560; [2014] HCA 14 BBA v Baz [2020] SGCA 53 BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v Hastings Shire Council (1977) 180 CLR 266 Bremer Handelsgesellschaft mbH v Westzucker GmbH (No 2) [1981] 2 Lloyd's Rep 130 Chief Commissioner of State Revenue v Boss Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd (2018) 98 NSWLR 473; [2018] NSWCA 270 Colin Joss & Co Pty Ltd v Cube Furniture Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 735 Commonwealth v Sterling Nicholas Duty Free Pty Ltd (1972) 126 CLR 297; [1972] HCA 19 Hammond v JP Morgan Trust Australia Ltd [2012] NSWCA 295; (2012) 16 BPR 30,901 Hui v Esposito Holdings Pty Ltd [2017] FCA 648; (2017) 345 ALR 287 Ivankovic v West Australian Planning Commission [2020] WASC 401 Jacobs Group (Australia) Pty Ltd v Commonwealth [2020] VSC 127 Joseph v Parnell Corporate Services Pty Ltd [2021] FCAFC 67 MacMahon Construction Pty Ltd v Crestwood Estates [1971] WAR 162 Mango Boulevard Pty Ltd v Mio Art Pty Ltd [2018] 1 Qd R 245; [2017] QSC 87 Mango Boulevard Pty Ltd v Mio Art Pty Ltd [2018] QCA 39 Miller Heiman Pty Ltd v Sales Principles Pty Ltd (2017) 94 NSWLR 500; [2017] NSWCA 106 Oldfield Knott Architects Pty Ltd v Ortiz Investments Pty Ltd [2000] WASCA 255 Queensland Independent Wholesalers Ltd v Coutts Townsville Pty Ltd [1989] 2 Qd R 40 Quintano v B W Rose Pty Ltd [2008] NSWSC 793 R v F [2012] HKCFI 1451 Shape Australia Pty Ltd v The Nuance Group (Australia) Pty Ltd [2018] VSC 808 Sidhu v Van Dyke (2014) 251 CLR 505; [2014] HCA 19 Spaseski v Mladenovski [2019] WASC 65 Tayar v Feldman [2020] VSC 66 TCL Air Conditioner (Zhongshan) Co Ltd v Castel Electronics Pty Ltd (2014) 232 FCR 361; [2014] FCAFC 83 The Nuance Group (Australia) Pty Ltd v Shape Australia Pty Ltd [2018] VSC 362 Trustees of Rotoaira Forest Trust v Attorney-General [1999] 2 NZLR 452 Tudor Developments Pty Ltd v Makeig (2008) 72 NSWLR 624; [2008] NSWCA 263 Venetian Nominees Pty Ltd v Weatherford Australia Pty Ltd [2021] WASC 137 Westport Insurance Corporation v Gordian Runoff Ltd (2011) 244 CLR 239; [2011] HCA 37 Winslow Constructors Pty Ltd v Head, Transport for Victoria [2020] VSC 790 Texts Cited: PW Young QC, Declaratory Orders (2nd edition, 1984, Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: The Nuance Group (Australia) Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) Shape Australia Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Dr Richard Manly QC (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr MG Roberts QC (Plaintiff) Mr Elliott SC / Mr D Hand (First Defendant) Solicitors: Piper Alderman (Plaintiff) Turtons Lawyers (First Defendant) File Number(s): 2021/48575