Kallinicos & anor v Hunt & ors [2005] NSWSC 1181

Reported Decision : 64 NSWLR 561

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Kallinicos & anor v Hunt & ors [2005] NSWSC 1181

HEARING DATE(S) : 5 September 2005

JUDGMENT DATE : 22 November 2005

JUDGMENT OF : Brereton J

DECISION : Order that respondent solicitor cease to act for defendants.

CATCHWORDS : LEGAL PRACTITIONERS – Solicitors – former client seeking to restrain from acting – when solicitor can be restrained – whether breach of confidence sole basis for intervention – whether inherent supervisory jurisdiction available after Prince Jefri – held, it is still available – test for intervention – objective perception of want of independence and impartiality necessitating removal – discretionary considerations

LEGISLATION CITED : Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 236, 237

Abse v Smith [1986] QB 536 Afkos Industries Pty Ltd v Pullinger Stewart [2001] WASCA 372 Asia Pacific Telecommunications Limited v Optus Networks Pty Limited [2005] NSWSC 550 Barnes v Addy (1874) LR 9 Ch App 244; (1874) 43 LJ Ch 513; (1874) 30 LT 4; (1874) 22 WR 505 Beach Petroleum NL v Abbott Tout Russell Kennedy (1999) 48 NSWLR 1 Belan v Casey [2002] NSWSC 58 Black v Taylor [1993] 3 NZLR 403 Bowen v Stott [2004] WASC 94 Bricheno v Thorp (1821) Jac 300; 37 ER 864 British American Tobacco Australia Services Limited v Blanch [2004] NSWSC 70 Carindale Country Club Estate Pty Ltd v Astill (1993) 42 FCR 307 Clay v Karlson (1997) 17 WAR 493 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 236, 237 Davies v Clough (1837) 8 Sim 262; 59 ER 105 Earl Cholmondeley v Lord Clinton (1815) 19 Ves Jun 261; 34 ER 515 Everingham v Ontario (1992) 88 DLR (4th) 755 Fruehauf Finance Corp Pty Ltd v Feez Ruthning [1991] 1 QdR 558 Giannarelli v Wraith (1988) 165 CLR 543 Grimwade v Meagher [1995] 1 VR 446 Holborow v Rudder [2002] WASC 265 Holdsworth v M R Anderson and Associates Pty Ltd (VSC, J D Phillips J, 26 August 1994, unreported) Kooky Garments Limited v Charlton [1994] 1 NZLR 587 Law Society of New South Wales v Holt [2003] NSWSC 629 Macquarie Bank Ltd v Myer [1994] VR 350 CASES CITED : McVeigh v Linen House Pty Ltd [1993] 3 VR 394 Mills v Day Dawn Bloch Gold Mining Co Limited (1882) 1 QLJ 62 Mitchell v Pattern Holdings Pty Ltd [2000] NSWSC 1015 Murray v Macquarie Bank Ltd (1991) 33 FCR 46 National Mutual Holdings Pty Ltd v Sentry Corp (1989) 22 FCR 209 Newman v Phillips Fox [1999] WASC 171 Oceanic Life Limited v HIH Casualty and General Insurance Limited [1999] NSWSC 292 Photocure ASA v Queens University at Kingston (2002) 56 IPR 86 Prince Jefri Bolkiah v KPMG [1999] 2 AC 222 Rakusen v Ellis Munday and Clarke [1912] 1 Ch 831 Re A Firm of Solicitors [1997] Ch 1 Re A Solicitor (1987) 131 SJ 1063 Re J A Grieve [1861] 1 WWL 197 Re LPO Transact Pty Ltd (In Liq); Williamson v Nilant [2002] WASC 225 Revised Professional Conduct and Practice Rules 1995 Sent v John Fairfax Publications Pty Limited [2002] VSC 429 Spincode Pty Ltd v Look Software Pty Ltd (2001) 4 VR 501 State of Western Australia v Ward and ors (1997) 145 ALR 512 Tricontinental Corporation Limited v Holding Redlich (VSC, Mandie J, 22 December 1994) Wan v McDonald (1992) 33 FCR 491 Watson v Watson (SCNSW, Santow J, unreported, 25 May 1998) Williamson v Nilant [2002] WASC 225 Williamson v Metaxas & Vernon [2004] WASCA 248 Yunghanns v Elfic Ltd (formerly known as Elders Finance & Investment Co Ltd) (VSC, Gillard J, 3 July 1998, unreported, BC9803031)