SAI Global Property Division Pty Ltd (ACN 089 586 872) v Jones & Ors [2018] NSWSC 438

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SAI Global Property Division Pty Ltd (ACN 089 586 872) v Jones & Ors [2018] NSWSC 438 Hearing dates: 9 & 12 March 2018 Date of orders: 11 April 2018 Decision date: 13 April 2018 Jurisdiction: Equity - Duty List Before: Slattery J Decision: See paragraph 157; application dismissed. Catchwords: EMPLOYMENT – Interlocutory injunction – the first defendant/employee leaves his employment with the plaintiff – the plaintiff and the second and third defendants are companies all operating in the IT industry – the first defendant initially proposes to work for the second defendant, a direct competitor of the plaintiff – the first defendant then changes course and signs an employment agreement with third defendant – the employment agreement between the plaintiff and the first defendant contains a restraint on a former employee working for "a competitor" for up to 12 months after the termination of his employment – an issue for final hearing is whether the first defendant's proposed employment with the third defendant is employment with a "competitor" of the plaintiff within the meaning of the employment contract – whether there is a serious question to be tried – what is the balance of convenience in the circumstances. Legislation Cited: Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 66(4) Restraints of Trade Act 1976 (NSW), s 4 Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Corporation v O'Neill (2006) 227 CLR 57; [2006] HCA 46 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Lenah Game Meats Pty Ltd (2001) 208 CLR 199; [2001] HCA 63 Beecham Group Ltd v Bristol Laboratories Pty Ltd (1968) 118 CLR 618 Beese v Woodhouse [1970] 1 All ER 769; [1970] 1 WLR 586 Buckley v Tutty (1971) 125 CLR 353; [1971] HCA 71 DP World Sydney Limited v Guy [2016] NSWSC 1072 Francome v Mirror Group Newspapers Ltd [1984] 2 All ER 408; [1984] 1 WLR 892 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Birt [2006] NSWSC 995 Kearney v Crepaldi & Ors [2006] NSWSC 23 Kolback Securities Ltd v Epoch Mining NL (1987) 8 NSWLR 533 McCarty v Council of the Municipality of North Sydney (1918) 18 SR (NSW) 210 Metcash Ltd v Joao Lewis Jardin [No 3] 2010 NSWSC 1096 Stacks/Taree Pty Ltd v Marshall (No 2) [2010] NSWSC 77 Veda Advantage (Australia) Pty Ltd v de Beer [2016] NSWSC 37 Woolworths Limited v Mark Konrad Olson (2004) NSWCA 372 Texts Cited: JD Heydon, MJ Leeming and PG Turner, Meagher, Gummow & Lehane's Equity: Doctrines & Remedies (5th ed 2014, LexisNexis Butterworths) at [21–350] Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Plaintiff: SAI Global Property Division Pty Ltd (ACN 089 586 872) First Defendant: Richard Jones Second Defendant: InfoTrack Pty Ltd (ACN 092 724 251) Third Defendant: Perfect Portal (Australia) Pty Ltd (ACN 105 662 557) Representation: Counsel: