Irwin v Pamplin & Ors (No 4) [2024] NSWSC 73

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Irwin v Pamplin & Ors (No 4) [2024] NSWSC 73 Hearing dates: 30, 31 January, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 February, 15 March 2023 Date of orders: 9 February 2024 Decision date: 09 February 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Henry J Decision: See [451]-[459] Catchwords: EQUITY – trusts and trustees – where siblings transferred assets and businesses to parent and new companies established in parent's name – where new business structure intended for asset protection and "asset warehousing" by parent – whether agreement, assumption or common understanding that parent held legal ownership of assets and shares in name only – where siblings continue to operate businesses – whether parent holds interest on trust for siblings – express trust – common intention constructive trust – estoppel – finding of intention to create express trust – finding of common intention – whether binding contract EQUITY – statute of frauds – Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), ss 23C, 54A – part performance – whether part performance applies to oral declaration of trust EQUITY – trusts and trustees – express trust – discretionary trust – power of appointment – estoppel – whether trustees estopped from exercising power of appointment other than in accordance with representations to beneficiary – whether breach of non-fettering principle Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), ss 23C, 54A Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), ss 26, 27, 38, 47, 65 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth) Cases Cited: Ashton v Pratt (2015) 88 NSWLR 281; [2015] NSWCA 12 Bahr v Nicolay [No 2] (1988) 164 CLR 604; [1988] HCA 16 Bassett v Cameron [2021] NSWSC 207 Blatch v Archer (1774) 1 Cowp 63; 98 ER 969 Bryant v Bryant (2014) 17 BPR 33,511; [2014] NSWSC 374 Byrnes v Kendle (2011) 243 CLR 253; [2011] HCA 26 Catchpole v The Trustees of the Alitalia Airlines Pension Scheme [2010] EWHC 1809 (Ch) Chant v Curcuruto [2021] NSWSC 751 English & Ors v Keats & Ors [2018] EWHC 673 (Ch) Ermogenous v Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc (2002) 209 CLR 95; [2002] HCA 8 Estate of Pamplin; Irwin v Pamplin [2017] NSWSC 1477 Fielden v Christie-Miller & Ors [2015] EWHC 87 (Ch) Fitzwood Pty Ltd v Unique Goal Pty Ltd (in liq) [2001] FCA 1628; 188 ALR 566 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Galati v Deans [2023] NSWCA 13 Gill v Garrett [2020] NSWSC 795 Green v Green (1989) 17 NSWLR 343 Harpur v Levy (2007) 16 VR 587; [2007] VSCA 128 In Re Vestey's Settlement [1951] Ch 209 Irwin v Pamplin [2021] NSWSC 208 John Holland Pty Limited v Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 451 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 JW Broomhead (Vic) Pty Ltd (in liq) v JW Broomhead Pty Ltd [1985] VR 891 Kauter v Hilton (1953) 90 CLR 86; [1953] HCA 95 Khoury v Khouri (2006) 66 NSWLR 241; [2006] NSWCA 184 King v Adams [2016] NSWSC 1798 Koprivnjak v Koprivnjak [2023] NSWCA 2 Korda v Australian Executor Trustees (SA) Ltd (2015) 255 CLR 62; [2015] HCA 6 Makaritis v Makaritis (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 1690 Meshumar v Otmy (2018) 97 NSWLR 615; [2018] NSWSC 125 Muschinski v Dodds (1985) 160 CLR 583 Owies v JJE Nominees Pty Ltd (in its capacity atf Owies Family Trust) [2022] VSCA 142 Paul v Constance [1977] 1 WLR 527 Payne v Rowe (2012) 16 BPR 30,869; [2012] NSWSC 685 Plunkett v Bull (1915) 19 CLR 544; [1915] HCA 14 Public Trustee v Smith [2008] NSWSC 397; 1 ASTLR 488 Rambaldi v Mullins (No 2) [2016] FCA 977 Re Armstrong (dec'd) [1960] VR 202 Registrar, Accident Compensation Tribunal v Commissioner of Taxation (1993) 178 CLR 145; [1993] HCA 1 Scott (Trustee), in the matter of Stolyar (Bankrupt) v Stolyar [2022] FCA 691 Thacker v Key (1869) LR 8 Eq 408 Walker v Corboy (1990) 19 NSWLR 382 Warman International Ltd v Dwyer (1995) 182 CLR 544; [1995] HCA 18 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Texts Cited: L Tucker, N Le Poidevin and J Brightwell, Lewin on Trusts (20th ed, 2020, Sweet & Maxwell) JD Heydon, MJ Leeming and PG Turner, Meagher, Gummow & Lehane's Equity Doctrines & Remedies (5th ed, 2015, LexisNexis) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ann Irwin (Plaintiff) Marie Pamplin (First Defendant) Lionel Pamplin (Second Defendant) Mircon Pty Ltd (Third Defendant) Dennis G. Pamplin Pty Ltd (Fourth Defendant) Halcrows Investments Pty Ltd (Fifth Defendant) N.MOS Pty Ltd (Sixth Defendant) The Peak on Andrew Pty Ltd (Seventh Defendant) Mircorp International Pty Ltd (Eighth Defendant) OSCO (Australia) Pty Ltd (Ninth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Condon SC and M Stevens (Plaintiff) G George and J Adamopoulos (Defendants)