Técnicas Reunidas SA v Andrew [2018] NSWSC 645

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Técnicas Reunidas SA v Andrew [2018] NSWSC 645 Hearing dates: 23 and 24 April 2018 Decision date: 14 May 2018 Jurisdiction: Equity - Commercial Arbitration List Before: Ball J Decision: Proceedings dismissed with costs. Catchwords: EQUITY – Fiduciary duties – Fiduciary relationships – Solicitor and client – Duty of loyalty – Circumstances in which the duty continues following termination of a retainer EQUITY – Fiduciary duties – Fiduciary relationships – Solicitor and client – Duty to protect confidential information – Modification of the duty by contract – Whether there is a real risk of disclosure of confidential information – Quality of evidence necessary to make a finding EQUITY – Fiduciary duties – Jurisdiction of the Court – Whether a fair-minded, reasonably informed member of the public would conclude that a prohibitive injunction is required for the proper administration of justice Legislation Cited: Construction Contracts Act 2004 (WA) Cases Cited: Asia Pacific Telecommunications Ltd v Optus Networks Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 550 Asia Pacific Telecommunications Ltd v Optus Networks Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 350 Babcock & Brown DIF III Global v Babcock & Brown International Pty Ltd [2015] VSC 453 Break Fast Investments Pty Ltd v Rigby Cooke Lawyers [2015] VSC 305 Cleveland Investments Global Ltd v Evans [2010] NSWSC 567 Cooper v Winter [2013] NSWCA 261 Dealer Support Services Pty Ltd v Motor Trades Association of Australia Ltd (2014) 228 FCR 252; [2014] FCA 1065 Earl of Cholmondeley v Lord Clinton (1815) 19 Ves Jun 261; 34 ER 515 Kallinicos v Hunt (2005) 64 NSWLR 561; [2005] NSWSC 1181 Maxwell-Smith v S & E Hall Pty Ltd (2014) 86 NSWLR 481; [2014] NSWCA 146 Newman v Phillips Fox (1999) 21 WAR 309; [1999] WASC 171 Prince Jefri Bolkiah v KPMG [1999] 2 AC 222 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Técnicas Reunidas S.A. (ABN 50 159 554 686) (Plaintiff) Sadie Andrew (First Defendant) Anthony Arrow (Second Defendant) John Michael Battye (Third Defendant) Robert Charles Buchanan (Fourth Defendant) Gregory Campbell (Fifth Defendant) Bettina Margaret Cole (Sixth Defendant) Matthew Croagh (Seventh Defendant) Simela Karasavidis (Eighth Defendant) Christina Adrienne Parker (Ninth Defendant) Ian David Rennick (Tenth Defendant) Ewan Robertson (Eleventh Defendant) Leslie William Ryan (Twelfth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: R Dick SC with D Barnett (Plaintiff) IM Jackman SC with MR Tyson (Defendants)