DXC Eclipse Pty Ltd v Wildsmith (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 1330

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: DXC Eclipse Pty Ltd v Wildsmith (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 1330 Hearing dates: 1, 2, 3, 4, 16 August 2022; further written submissions ending 30 August 2022 Date of orders: 30 September 2022 Decision date: 30 September 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity - Expedition List Before: Parker J Decision: See [190]-[192] Catchwords: RESTRAINT OF TRADE – vendor of shares in company carrying on software reselling business – competition restraint – supplier solicitation restraint – employee solicitation restraint – whether vendor's new software reselling business competitive with former business – admissibility of opinion from consultant economist – reasonableness of restraints CONTRACT – construction – defined term – "means and includes" – Fitzgerald v Masters – parol evidence rule – exceptions – exchanges of drafts Legislation Cited: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Evidence Act 1995, s 80 Restraints of Trade Act 1976, s 4 Cases Cited: Amoco Australia Pty Ltd v Rocca Bros Motor Engineering Co Pty Ltd (1973) 133 CLR 288 BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd v National Competition Council (2008) 236 CLR 145 Codelfa Constructions Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (1982) 149 CLR 337 Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) v Murry (1998) 193 CLR 605 DXC Eclipse Pty Ltd v Wildsmith [2022] NSWSC 512 Employsure Ltd v McMurchy [2021] NSWSC 1179 Fitzgerald v Masters (1956) 95 CLR 420 John Fairfax Publications Pty Limited v Birt [2006] NSWSC 995 Pearson v HRX Holdings Pty Ltd (2012) 205 FCR 187 Sidameneo (No 456) v Alexander [2011] NSWCA 418 Stacks Taree Pty Ltd v Marshall (No 2) [2010] NSWSC 77 Stenhouse Australia Ltd v Phillips [1974] AC 391 Veda Advantage (Australia) Pty Ltd v de Beer [2016] NSWSC 37 Walker Group Constructions Pty Ltd v Tzaneros Investments Pty Ltd (2017) 94 NSWLR 108 Category: Principal judgment Parties: DXC Eclipse Pty Limited (Plaintiff) Martin Wildsmith (First Defendant) On-Key Consulting Pty Limited (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: I Neil SC/ A Spies (Plaintiff) D Mahendra (Defendants)