Bakewell v Anchorage Capital Master Offshore Ltd [2019] NSWCA 199

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Bakewell v Anchorage Capital Master Offshore Ltd [2019] NSWCA 199 Hearing dates: 8 August 2019 Date of orders: 14 August 2019 Decision date: 14 August 2019 Before: Bell P at [1]; Macfarlan JA at [78]; White JA at [79] Decision: Refusal of leave to appeal with costs Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – amendment and joinder application – said to be unarguable because certain claims assigned and said to be invalid – where not all claims by all plaintiffs were assigned claims – where proceedings against defendant would continue in any event – importance of principle in Wickstead v Browne – where area of law and public policy underpinnings of principle sought to be invoked fluid – not appropriate to be determined on a summary basis

PERSONAL PROPERTY – assignment of choses in action – prohibition on assignment of bare chose in action – nature of principle stated in Trendtex Trading Corporation v Credit Suisse [1982] AC 679 and adopted in Equuscorp Pty Ltd v Haxton (2012) 246 CLR 498; [2012] HCA 7 – whether test of what rights are to be regarded as incidental to property rights has been modified

PERSONAL PROPERTY – public policy against assignment of bare chose in action – underlying basis of public policy – maintenance and champerty – whether public policy fluid – where underlying public policy justification for principle capable of being challenged – inappropriate to be dealt with on a summary basis Legislation Cited: Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Sch 2 – Australian Consumer Law Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 63 Cases Cited: Agar v Hyde (2000) 201 CLR 552; [2000] HCA 41 Australian Health & Nutrition Association Ltd v Hive Marketing Group Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 61; 367 ALR 146 Batistatos v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales (2006) 226 CLR 256; [2006] HCA 27 Campbells Cash & Carry Pty Ltd v Fostif Pty Limited (2006) 229 CLR 386; [2006] HCA 41 Dover v Lewkovitz [2013] NSWCA 452 Ellis v Torrington [1920] 1 KB 399 Equuscorp Pty Ltd v Haxton (2012) 246 CLR 498; [2012] HCA 7 Esanda Finance Corporation Ltd v Peat Marwick Hungerfords (1997) 188 CLR 241; [1997] HCA 8 First City Corporation v Downsview Nominees Ltd [1989] 3 NZLR 710 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (1964) 112 CLR 125; [1964] HCA 69 Glegg v Bromley [1912] 3 KB 474 Incitec Ltd v Alkimos Shipping Corp (2004) 138 FCR 496; [2004] FCA 698 Poulton v The Commonwealth (1953) 89 CLR 540; [1953] HCA 101 PPK Willoughby v Baird [2019] NSWCA 48 Regina (Factortame Ltd and others) v Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (No 8) [2003] QB 381 Spencer v The Commonwealth (2010) 241 CLR 118; [2010] HCA 28 Trendtex Trading Corporation v Credit Suisse [1982] AC 679 Whyked Pty Limited trading as Ezysend v Yahoo Australia and New Zealand Pty Limited [2006] NSWSC 650 Wickstead v Browne (1992) 30 NSWLR 1; [1992] NSWCA 272 Wickstead v Browne (High Court, 30 April 1993, unrep) Workcover Queensland v Amaca Pty Ltd [2012] 2 Qd R 276; [2012] QCA 240 Texts Cited: G Tolhurst, The Assignment of Contractual Rights (2nd ed, 2018, Hart) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Robert Bakewell (Applicant) Anchorage Capital Master Offshore Ltd (First Respondent) ACMO Finance (Ireland) Designated Activity Co (Second Respondent) Midtown Acquisitions LP (Third Respondent) Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (Fourth Respondent) Representation: Counsel: M R Pesman SC, A E Munro (Applicant) A J Bannon SC, C Colquhoun, E Bathurst (Respondents)