Imam-Sadeque v Bluebay Asset Management (Services) Ltd: QBD 10 Dec 2012

Popplewell J said: ‘In general terms, it can be said that the duty of fidelity requires an employee not to engage in competitive activity. Nevertheless, it is legitimate for him to undertake competitive activity as soon as he ceases the employment (in the absence of effective post-termination covenants), and not all preparation for such future competitive activity will be a breach of his duty of loyalty. Where the boundary is to be drawn, in any particular case, between legitimate preparatory activity and illegitimate competitive activity, is often a difficult question.’

Judges:

Popplewell J

Citations:

[2012] EWHC 3511 (QB), [2013] IRLR 344

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

CitedHelmet Integrated Systems Ltd v Tunnard and others CA 15-Dec-2006
Whilst employed by the claimants as a salesman, the defendant came to want to develop his idea for a modular helmet suitable for fire-fighters and others. He took certain steps including showing the proposal confidentially to a competitor, and then . .

Cited by:

CitedWhitmar Publications Ltd v Gamage and Others ChD 4-Jul-2013
Whitmar claimed damages for breach of contract; an account of profits; damages for breach of fiduciary duty and/or for infringement of its Database Rights under the Copyright and Rights in Database Regulations 1997; and for a permanent injunction . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Employment

Updated: 10 November 2022; Ref: scu.466945