In the matter of Douglas Webber Events Pty Ltd (ACN 160 966 914) [2014] NSWSC 1544

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: In the matter of Douglas Webber Events Pty Ltd (ACN 160 966 914) [2014] NSWSC 1544 Hearing dates: 21 October 2014 Decision date: 06 November 2014 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Corporations List Before: Brereton J Decision: Application for stay of proceedings under Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act dismissed with costs. Catchwords: PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW - stay of proceedings - generally - forum non conveniens - application under (CTH) Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act 2010 - proceedings for leave to bring derivative action alleging breach of directors duties, and oppression, in respect of Australian company the shareholders in which are New Zealanders - whether High Court of New Zealand is the more appropriate court to determine the matters in issue - whether exclusive choice of court agreement - whether High Court of New Zealand has jurisdiction to grant relief under (CTH) Corporations Act Legislation Cited: (CTH) Corporations Act 2001, s 58AA, s 58FF, s 181, s 182, s 183, s 232, s 236, s 237, s 1317H (CTH) Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act 2010, s 9, s 10, s 17, s 19, s 20 (NZ) Companies Act 1993, s 165 (NZ) Limited Partnerships Act 2008, s 9(3) Cases Cited: Asciano v ARTC Ltd [2008] NSWSC 652 Australian Commercial Research & Development Ltd v ANZ McCaughan Merchant Bank Ltd [1989] 3 All ER 65 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Edensor Nominees Pty Limited [2001] HCA 1; (2001) 204 CLR 559; (2001) 37 ACSR 1 Base Metal Trading Ltd v Shamurin [2004] EWCA Civ 1316; [2005] 1 WLR 1157 Commonwealth Bank of Australia v White [1999] 2 VR 681 Donohue v Armco Inc [2001] UKHL 64; [2002] 1 All ER 749 In the matter of Featherston Resources Limited [2014] NSWSC 1139 Konamaneni v Rolls Royce Industrial Power (India) Ltd [2002] 1 All ER 979; [2002] 1 WLR 1269 Oates v Consolidated Capital Services Ltd (2008) 66 ACSR 277 Pergamon Press Ltd v Maxwell [1970] 2 All ER 809; [1970] 1 WLR 1167 In the Marriage of J G and R J Smith [1986] HCA 36; (1986) 161 CLR 217; (1986) 10 Fam LR 769 Taurus v Aurox [2010] NSWSC 1223 Titchfield Management Ltd v Vaccinoma Inc (2008) 68 ACSR 448 Williams v The Society of Lloyds [1994] 1 VR 274 Texts Cited: Bell, Forum Shopping and Venue in Transnational Litigation, Oxford 2003 Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: Gareth John Webber (plaintiff) Craig Douglas (first defendant) Grant Norman Poole (second defendant) Representation: Counsel: E Finnane (plaintiff/respondent) Q Rares (first defendant/applicant) Solicitors: Streeterlaw (plaintiff/respondent) Clyde & Co Australia (first defendant/applicant) File Number(s): 2014/230987