BGC Securities (Australia) Pty Limited v Shillington [2022] NSWSC 611

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: BGC Securities (Australia) Pty Limited v Shillington [2022] NSWSC 611 Hearing dates: 7 October 2021 Date of orders: 18 May 2022 Decision date: 18 May 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Henry J Decision: See [104] Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – Preliminary discovery – Where prospective defendant purported to terminate an employment contract upon company's alleged repudiation and commenced work at a competitor – Whether it appears that applicant may be entitled to make a claim for relief – Whether applicant has made reasonable enquiries – Whether applicant has sufficient information available to commence action in respect of some claims for relief – Where discovery sought relates to whether claim for relief exists, strength of defences to some claims, extent of breaches and loss and damage – Preliminary discovery available but more limited than sought Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Ainsworth & Anor v Stapleton Johnson & Partners [2020] NSWSC 252 Airways Corp of New Zealand v Present Partners of Price Waterhouse Coopers Legal [2002] NSWSC 521 Alphapharm Pty Ltd v Eli Lilly Australia Pty Ltd [1996] FCA 1500 Arnaout v Arnaout [2019] NSWSC 565 Blackmagic Design Pty Ltd v Overliese [2011] 191 FCR 1; [2011] FCAFC 24 Contour Building & Construction Pty Ltd v Kerr [2008] NSWSC 883 Hatfield v TCN Channel Nine Pty Limited [2010] NSWCA 69 Levi v Swaab [2020] NSWSC 1119 McCarthy v Dolpag Pty Ltd [2000] WASCA 106 Morton v Nylex Ltd [2007] NSWSC 562 O'Connor v O'Connor [2018] NSWCA 214 Optiver Australia Pty Ltd v Tibra Trading Pty Ltd (2008) 169 FCR 435; [2008] FCAFC 133 Pacific Equity Partners Pty Ltd v Kerwick [2017] NSWSC 1302 St George Bank Ltd v Rabo Australia Ltd [2004] FCA 1360 Wang v Cai [2021] NSWSC 1162 Category: Principal judgment Parties: BGC Securities (Australia) Pty Limited (Plaintiff) James Robert Shillington (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J Fernon with V Bosnjak (Plaintiff) Y Shariff with T Kane (Defendant)