Cushman & Wakefield Agency (NSW) Pty Ltd v Hudson (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 884

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Cushman & Wakefield Agency (NSW) Pty Ltd v Hudson (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 884 Hearing dates: 17, 18,19, 21 April 2023; supplementary written submissions ending 24 April 2023 Date of orders: 28 April 2023 Decision date: 28 July 2023 Jurisdiction: Equity - Expedition List Before: Parker J Decision: See [317]-[318] Catchwords: COMMERCE – Restraint of trade – validity and reasonableness – length and scope of restraint – where garden leave and post-employment restraints protecting customer connection – where employee in Sydney CBD market for office leasing – scope and duration of restraints limited – whether discretionary grounds made out CONTRACTS – formation – intention to create legal relations – whether signature evidence of assent to entire document or qualified – where contract sent as one PDF attachment – where employee signed one space asking for signature – objective intention to be bound by entire contract EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL LAW – contract – terms – whether restraint and notice provisions vitiated by misleading and deceptive conduct – prior conversations relied on as representations – whether representations proven – representations not proven – whether restraint and notice provisions should be rectified for common mistake – common intention not established – whether walk out constituted acceptance of repudiation – walk out not clear and unequivocal acceptance Legislation Cited: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), sch 2 (Australian Consumer Law), ss 18, 31, 237, 243 Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) Cases Cited: Amoco Australia Pty Ltd v Rocca Bros Motor Engineering Co Pty Ltd (1973) 133 CLR 288 Application of Walker Corporation Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 160 Charltons CJC Pty Ltd v Fitzgerald [2013] NSWSC 350 Concrete Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd v Nelson (1990) 169 CLR 594 Cushman & Wakefield Agency (NSW) Pty Ltd v Hudson [2023] NSWSC 218 Downe v Sydney West Area Health Service (No 2) (2008) 71 NSWLR 633 Dundoen Pty Ltd v Richard Wills (Real Estate) Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1534 Extraman (NT) Pty Ltd v Blenkinship (2008) 23 NTLR 77 Hanna v OAMPS Insurance Brokers Ltd (2010) 202 IR 420 Idameneo (No 123) Pty Ltd v Angel-Honnibal [2002] NSWSC 1214 Immer (No 145) Pty Ltd v Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) (1993) 182 CLR 26 In the matter of the George Hardi Family Trust [2021] NSWSC 1584 Isaac v Dargan Financial Pty Ltd (2018) 98 NSWLR 343 Jardin v Metcash Ltd [2011] NSWCA 409 Koops Martin Financial Services Pty Limited v Reeves [2006] NSWSC 449 Lane v Arrowcrest Group Ltd (1990) 27 FCR 427 McMurchy v Employsure Pty Ltd [2022] NSWCA 201 OAMPS Insurance Brokers v Hanna [2010] NSWSC 781 Otis Elevator Company Pty Ltd v Nolan [2007] NSWSC 593 Self Care IP Holdings Pty Ltd v Allergan Australia Pty Ltd (2023) 97 ALJR 388 Simic v New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation (2016) 260 CLR 85 Stellar Vision Operations Pty Ltd v Hills Health Solutions Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 102 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2004) 219 CLR 165 TP ICAP Management Services (Australia) Pty Ltd v Howell [2021] NSWSC 656 Tullett Prebon (Australia) Pty Ltd v Purcell (2008) 175 IR 414 Walker v Salomon Smith Barney Securities Pty Ltd (2003) 140 IR 433 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315