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Michael Wilson & Partners Ltd as the assignee of Robert Colin Nicholls & Temujin International Limited (as trustee of Temujin International (trading) Trust & Temujin Services Limited v Emmott - [2024] NSWSC 163 - NSWSC 2024 case summary — Zoe
Michael Wilson & Partners Ltd as the assignee of Robert Colin Nicholls & Temujin International Limited (as trustee of Temujin International (trading) Trust & Temujin Services Limited v Emmott
By a notice of motion dated 2 February 2024, the plaintiff, Michael Wilson & Partners Ltd (MWP), seeks discovery of the categories of documents set out in Annexure A to this judgment.
[2]
Background
Before addressing the categories directly, it is necessary to say something about the proceedings and the circumstances in which the current application is made.
The proceedings are part of a long running dispute between MWP and relevantly the defendant, Mr John Emmott, arising from an agreement entered into in December 2001 between MWP and Mr Emmott by which Mr Emmott was to become a director of MWP and to obtain a 33 percent shareholding in it. MWP is controlled by Mr Michael Wilson. It carries on a law and consulting practice in Kazakhstan and the surrounding region.
In June 2006, Mr Emmott, together with two other employees of MWP, Mr Nicholls and Mr Slater, left MWP and established a number of entities, including Temujin International Limited (TIL) and Temujin Services Limited (TSL) (together, the Temujin Entities) through which they carried on a business in competition with MWP.
In accordance with the agreement between MWP and Mr Emmott, MWP commenced an arbitration against Mr Emmott in London. It also sued Mr Nicholls, Mr Slater and several Temujin Entities in New South Wales (NSW1) alleging, among other things, that they had breached contractual and fiduciary duties they owed MWP. Ultimately, MWP obtained judgment against Mr Nicholls, Mr Slater, TIL and TSL. It was successful in bankrupting Mr Nicholls and Mr Slater and winding up TIL and TSL. Mr Nicholls has since died. Before his death, MWP obtained an assignment of any rights Mr Nicholls, Mr Slater, TIL and TSL had against Mr Emmott. Relying on those assignments, MWP commenced these proceedings.
The list statement is complicated and convoluted. Originally, MWP sought to advance a number of claims against Mr Emmott. However, as a result of a decision of the Court of Appeal in Michael Wilson & Partners Ltd v Emmott [2021] NSWCA 315, MWP is only entitled to advance in New South Wales the claims for relief set out in paras 3 to 10 of the Further Amended Summons filed on 3 October 2018. Those paragraphs seek the following relief:
(3) A declaration that the defendant and each of Nicholls and Slater entered into a partnership of the kind referred to in paragraphs 7, 31 and 32 of the plaintiff's Amended Commercial List Statement herein, as and from early September 2005.
(4) A declaration that the said partnership was dissolved by no later than 16 February and/or 22 December 2015, and that thereafter there continued an arrangement, agreement, and understanding between them, and their designates and nominees, which continues to date.
(5) A declaration that each partner is entitled to an equal share of the partnership, arrangement, and understanding, or such share as this Honourable Court shall determine.
(6) An order that the defendant is liable to disclose and bring to the account of the plaintiff as the assignee of the rights of Slater, Nicholls and the Temujin Entities all of the revenues and assets of the partnership, arrangement, agreement, and understanding (as referred to in paragraph 32 of the Amended Commercial List Statement), in respect of all monies, Shares and Other Benefits (as defined in paragraph 31(e)(iii) of the Amended Commercial List Statement) sought and received, whether directly or indirectly, whether through the partnership, arrangement, agreement, and understanding or otherwise, and whether through agents, designates and nominees, by:
(a) Emmott, personally;
(b) the Temujin Entities;
(c) PJT International Pty Ltd (acting both in its own right and as the Trustee of the PJT Trust);
(d) PJT Corporate Services Pty Ltd;
(e) FOF International Pty Ltd (acting both in its own right and as the Trustee of the FOF Trust);
(f) FOF Consulting Services Pty Ltd;
(g) The Fencourt Foundation;
(h) Lynus Development Co Pty Ltd;
(i) CA Consult;
(j) SXS Holdings;
(k) Sandwood Pty., Limited;
(l) Scythian Mining Limited; Scythian Resources LLP and/or Scythian Resources B.V.; and
(m) including, without limitation, any and all of their agents, designates and nominees, whether disclosed or undisclosed, and whether acting directly or indirectly.
(7) An enquiry be held as to:
(a) All of the dealings and transactions of the partnership, and each of the partners as and from early September 2005, and of the on-going arrangement, agreement, and understanding;
(b) The assets and liabilities of the partnership at the date the Partnership came to an end, the existence of the Shares and Other Benefits referred to in Order 2, and of the ongoing arrangement, agreement and understanding.
(8) An order that the defendant pay to the plaintiff such amount as it is certified, on the taking of an account as being due by him, and his agents, designates and nominees, after all just allowances are made.
(9) A declaration that the defendant, and his agents, designates and nominees holds all and any Shares and/or Other Benefits, as may be so determined following said enquiry, on a resulting trust or constructive trust for MWP, as the assignee of Nicholls, Slater and the Temujin Entities.
(9A) An order that the defendant disclose and account to the plaintiff, as the assignee of the Temujin Entities for any and all surplus revenues and assets of and which belong to, or should have properly belonged to the Temujin Entities, and their agents, designates and nominees.
(9B) An order that the plaintiff as the assignee of Nicholls, Slater and the Temujin Entities, be entitled to trace into and follow on a proprietary basis whatever became of all of the assets and revenues of the partnership, arrangement, agreement and understanding.
(10) Costs.
By an amended notice of motion filed on 2 October 2023, MWP sought discovery of a broad range of documents said to be relevant to the claim that Messrs Emmott, Nicholls and Slater were in partnership. That motion came before the Court on 16 November 2023. Following argument and discussion between the parties' counsel, the Court made the following orders:
By 15 December 2023, the defendant give discovery of documents in the categories of documents set out in paragraphs 1.21, 1.22 and 1.24 of the plaintiff's Amended Notice of Motion filed 2 October 2023, but limited in each case to those documents concerning the formation, operation and dissolution of the "Temujin partnership" referred to in paragraph 3 of the Further Amended Summons dated 3 October 2018.
Paragraphs 1.21, 1.22 and 1.24 of the plaintiff's Amended Notice of Motion filed 2 October 2023 were in the following terms:
1.21. all documents and correspondence passing between the Defendant and all and any others as to the formation, termination and/or dissolution of the Temujin Partnership, as well as the subsequent agreement, arrangement and understanding, as set out and detailed in MWP's RFAS and FASCLS, from early 09.05 to date;
1.22. all accounts, financial statements, budgets, financial projections, tax returns and filings, howsoever relating to the Temujin Partnership Entities, as referred to above and as defined in the FRAS and FACLS, from early 09.05 to date;
…
1.24 all bank statements, debit and credit advices, signatory and authorisation KYC, AML and UBO documents and data, howsoever relating to the bank accounts of the Temujin Partnership and the various Temujin Partners and Temujin Partnership Entities with all of the WestPac [sic] Banking Corporation, St George Bank Limited, Credit Suisse, Julius Baer, Standard Chartered Bank, Hellenic Banking Corporation, Barclays Bank Plc, National Westminster Bank Plc (formerly known as RBS), JSC Halyk Bank, JSC Kazkommertsbank and the like as to all such banks, banking and financial documentation and transactions
At that time, Mr Neggo, who appeared for MWP, submitted that MWP may want additional discovery before serving its evidence, but he acknowledged that in that event it would be necessary to reformulate the categories for discovery. The effect of the orders made on 16 November 2023 was that if MWP sought additional discovery it would need to file a further notice of motion, which is what it has done.
Mr Emmott has produced 47 documents in accordance with the orders made on 16 November 2023.
[3]
Some additional matters
In considering the current application, four other points should be mentioned.
First, since the Court of Appeal's decision, MWP has filed what is described as a "Restated and Further Amended Summons" (RFAS) and a Further Amended Commercial List Statement (FACLS). There is a question whether those documents advance a case that goes beyond the leave given by the Court of Appeal, particularly insofar as they seek to advance a case that following dissolution of the partnership "there continued an arrangement, agreement and understanding between [Mr Emmott, Mr Nicholls and Mr Slater], and their delegates and nominees, whether acting directly or indirectly and which continues to date" (to quote from para 4 of the RFAS). However, for present purposes it is not necessary to consider that issue further. MWP does not seek to justify this application other than by reference to the allegation that Mr Emmott carried on business in partnership with Mr Nicholls and Mr Slater.
Second, neither the RFAS nor the FACLS identifies any facts or matters by reason of which a partnership is said to exist. The summons before the Court of Appeal did refer to paras 7, 31 and 32 of an Amended Commercial List Statement, which are now paras 7, 28 and 29 of the FACLS. They (including amendments but ignoring markups) are in the following terms:
7. Further, the plaintiff makes claims arising out of the partnership between Emmott, Nicholls and Slater and seeks orders that Emmott, whether acting directly or indirectly, through the Temujin Entities and their agents, designates and nominees, allow inspection of all originals, disclose and bring to the account of the assignors, Nicholls, Slater, the Temujin Entities (and, thus, also MWP, as their assignee), and the Estates of Mr Nicholls, Slater, as his partners, all benefits obtained by them, whether acting directly or indirectly, through the Temujin Entities and their agents, designates and nominees, attributable to the partnership, as well as all and any other partnership revenues and assets.
…
28. From early September 2005 Slater, Nicholls and Emmott formed a partnership, contract, arrangement, understanding or enterprise, entirely from within MWP and at its cost, dishonestly, unlawfully, through deceit, fraud, fraudulent conspiracy to injure, tortious interference, infringement of copyright, theft, and in gross, serious and dishonest breach of fiduciary duty and contract, over a sustained period of time (the "Temujin Partnership") that involved:
a) creating a legal practice, and a business of arrangers, advisors and agents;
b) diverting legal consultancy work, developments, projects and opportunities from MWP to the legal practice, and the business of arrangers, advisors and agents;
c) injuring the interests of, and causing costs, loss and damage to MWP;
d) diverting business opportunities, developments and projects that MWP was involved in, that MWP was working on, that MWP had sourced, located, initiated, invested in and financed, and that had arisen, or would have arisen, but for the diversion of the legal consultancy work, and the role of arrangers, advisors and agents from MWP; and
e) concealing (and continuing to conceal):
i. the activities in each of the preceding sub-paragraphs above;
ii. the income, success fees, bonuses, profits, proceeds, Shares and Other Benefits of each of those activities from MWP; and
iii. the shares, options, warrants, commissions, reimbursement of costs and other benefits (where the items referred to in sub-paragraphs (ii) and this sub-paragraph (iii) are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Shares and Other Benefits") arising from these, and in relation to various other projects, developments, businesses and opportunities including, without limitation:
A. the Chilisai Phosphor Project,
B. the Urals Gold/Maminskoye Project,
C. the Benkala Copper Project (including phases 1, 2 and 3),
D. Project Khan;
E. Project Hawker;
F. Project Ablai,
G. the Pinegrove Equities/Roxi Petroleum Projects; and
H. the Uzbek phosphor, potash and chemicals projects which followers on from Chilisai (including, without limitation through the entities Eurasian Chemical Group Ltd., Eurasian Fertilizer Group Plc, CA Consult Limited and SXS Holdings Limited), as summarised below;
I. various gold-mining and exploration projects through Scythian, as referred to above and summarised below,
(collectively the "Temujin Projects").
29. The said partnership continued throughout the period September 2005 until the bankruptcy of Nicholls on 16 February 2015, and the bankruptcy of Slater on 22 December 2015, although the fact remained that the arrangement, agreement, understanding and/or enterprise between them as to the opposition and defence to MWP's claims, and in trying to stop, delay and increase the costs of MWP enforcing its rights and achieving justice continued and continues, and where it was agreed that all rights and benefits of Emmott under or in relation to the ad hoc arbitration between him and MWP, and all related and ancillary proceedings, in the UK and elsewhere in the world would be, and are held on trust by him as bare nominee of and for the Temujin Partnership, and all of which belong to and are owned by the Temujin Partnership. [footnotes omitted]
As is apparent, those paragraphs do not plead any material facts that are said to give rise to a partnership.
The FACLS does refer to the decision of Einstein J in NSW1 (see Michael Wilson & Partners Limited v Robert Colin Nicholls & Ors [2009] NSWSC 1033) and the appeals from that decision. It pleads that Mr Emmott is bound by the findings of fact in that case (notwithstanding that he was not a party) and, in particular, what is said to be a finding that Messrs Emmott, Nicholls and Slater were in partnership. WMP points to a number of passages in which that finding is said to have been made. Perhaps the clearest example is para [132] of the judgment of Einstein J in Michael Wilson & Partners Limited v Robert Colin Nicholls and Ors [2009] NSWSC 1033, where his Honour says:
The finding is that the Cooperation Agreement had been deliberately drafted in a way to suggest that Messrs Nicholls and Emmott were not bound to join the new business. On the Court's findings the Cooperation Agreement was an attempt by the parties to it to disguise what really was an immediate partnership involving each of Messrs Nicholls, Slater and Emmott from the time of entry into the Agreement: see Lindley & Banks on Partnership, 17th ed., page 15 [2-13]. The terms of the agreement required each party to be immediately bound to fund the new venture.
The findings are said to be binding on Mr Emmott because he participated in those proceedings by, for example, giving evidence. It is MWP's primary case that it can prove the existence of a partnership simply by tendering the judgments in that case. It is against the possibility that that argument will fail that MWP seeks discovery. However, because MWP has not pleaded any facts by reason of which it has said that a partnership existed, it is not possible to know whether MWP simply relies on the facts that caused Einstein J to conclude that there was a partnership or whether it relies on other facts and, if so, what they are.
Third, as pleaded in the FACLS, the thrust of MWP's case is that Mr Emmott either directly or indirectly received benefits from projects or work that were taken from MWP for which he has not accounted to the partnership. Particulars of the various projects and work are given in the FACLS. However, no particulars are given of the benefits received by Mr Emmott or entities on his behalf for which he has not accounted to Mr Nicholls and Mr Slater.
Fourth, there can no longer be any doubt that Messrs Emmott, Nicholls and Slater left MWP, established one or more businesses together and took business opportunities belonging to MWP in establishing that business or those businesses. The question in this case is whether they did so as equal partners in a partnership and, if so, whether Mr Emmott received income or other benefits as a partner for which he has not accounted to the partnership. That is very much a live question in circumstances where it is common ground that the three of them established a number of corporate entities and apparently carried on business through those.
[4]
The categories
Against that background, it is possible to turn to the categories for discovery set out in Annexure A. In an affidavit sworn on 2 February 2024, Mr Wilson says that the categories for discovery are relevant to one of three issues. The first is whether Mr Emmott was in partnership with Mr Nicholls and Mr Slater. The second is the extent to which Mr Emmott was involved in NSW1, which is said to be relevant to the question whether findings in that case are binding on Mr Emmott. The third is when the partnership came to an end. In the FACLS, MWP pleads that the partnership came to an end in 2015 on the bankruptcy of Mr Nicholls and Mr Slater. In his list response, Mr Emmott says that if there was any such partnership, it came to an end in mid‑2008. Paragraph 20A of the list response gives the following particulars of that allegation:
(i) The entity through which the alleged Temujin partnership, which is denied, was carried on was TIL;
(ii) In about mid-2008 Nicholls and Slater parted ways and Nicholls left TIL in acrimonious circumstances;
(iii) Nicholls departed Kazakhstan shortly thereafter and did not return;
(iv) The defendant ceased providing consultancy services to TIL in about mid-2009;
(v) TIL operated its business through its branch office in Almaty, Kazakhstan from 28 March 2006 until about May 2010, when it ceased carrying on business and physically closed that office;
(vi) Slater departed Kazakhstan shortly after May 2010 and did not return.
This issue is important because, if there was a partnership and it did come to an end in 2008, Mr Emmott says that any claim arising out of it is now statute barred.
I am prepared to assume for present purposes that there are "exceptional circumstances necessitating disclosure" before the service of evidence within the meaning of para 4 of Practice Note SC Eq 11 Disclosure in the Equity Division". Those exceptional circumstances arise from the fact that MWP brings the partnership claim based on the assignment of rights from others and therefore has no direct knowledge of the facts said to give rise to the partnership. I am also prepared to accept that MWP is entitled to make an application for further discovery consistently with what happened when the matter was before the Court on the last occasion. However, I do not accept that it is entitled to discovery of any of the categories that it now seeks.
One difficulty with many of the categories now sought (and indeed the categories ordered to be discovered by the Court on 16 November 2023) is that they assume the existence of the Temujin Partnership when that is one of the principal issues in the case. That problem is not overcome by the defining the Temujin Partnership as "any relation between John Forster Emmott, and either or both Robert Colin Nicholls and David Ross Slater, carrying on business in common with a view of profit". The categories assume that there was such a relationship.
Category 1 might be read as requiring disclosure of all documents evidencing a relationship between Messrs Emmott and either or both of Mr Nicholls and Mr Slater which involved them carrying on business in common with a view to profit. But if that is how the category is to be read, it is much too wide. It does not specify a date range. More significantly, it is for MWP to identify the facts and matters it relies on for the assertion that Mr Emmott was in partnership with either or both of Mr Nicholls and Mr Slater. Having identified those facts and matters, MWP may be entitled to discovery in relation to those facts and matters. So, for example, if it is alleged that Messrs Emmott, Nicholls and Slater reached an agreement in 2006 to form a partnership, MWP may be entitled to documents evidencing or recording that agreement. It appears that that is how Mr Emmott has interpreted the order for discovery made by the Court on 16 November 2023. If it is said that a partnership is to be inferred from certain facts, MWP may be entitled to documents that are relevant to the existence of those facts. However, MWP is not entitled to plead a conclusory allegation that there was a partnership and then seek discovery of all documents that might establish that there was.
The fact that Mr Emmott has not requested particulars of the allegation that there was a partnership does not alter the position. The onus is on MWP to particularise its case properly. It cannot use its failure to do so as a reason to obtain discovery which is overly broad.
Similar comments apply to categories 2, 3, 4 and 5. Each of those categories assumes the existence of a Temujin Partnership and then seeks documents relevant to it. Unless the existence of the partnership is assumed, it is not clear what documents are being sought. For example, what does it mean to ask for documents concerning the operation of the Temujin Partnership if the partnership is denied? It is undoubtedly true that Messrs Emmott, Nicholls and Slater established various entities and they together with those entities engaged in various activities, but that does not necessarily establish that there was a partnership, let alone its scope. Moreover, assuming that there was a partnership, a category that seeks all documents concerning the operation of the partnership appears to be a category that requires production of all business records of the partnership. Such a category is far too broad. No reason has been advanced for why MWP needs documents falling within such a broad category. The same comments apply to categories 3 and 5.1.
Category 4 appears to be addressed to the issue when the Temujin Partnership was dissolved. Again, it is for MWP to identify the facts and matters it relies on for the assertion that Messrs Emmott, Nicholls and Slater continued to carry on business with a view to profit up until the time that Mr Nicholls and Mr Slater were made bankrupt. The mere allegation that they continued in partnership up until that time is not sufficient to justify requiring Mr Emmott to give discovery of all documents that might indicate that that is the position.
The real issue between the parties is whether there was a partnership and, if so, whether it came to an end in 2008 for the reasons particularised in the list response. MWP does not need extensive discovery in relation to that issue.
The relevance of categories 5.2 and 6 is not apparent on the face of the categories or from the evidence given in Mr Wilson's affidavit sworn on 2 February 2024. In connection with the previous application for discovery, Mr Wilson gave extensive, often argumentative, affidavit evidence concerning at least some of the entities listed in Appendix A and the properties listed in Appendix C (that form part of Annexure A). One thing that does emerge from that evidence is that Mr Wilson already has detailed information about many of the entities and properties.
It appears that categories 5.2 and 6 are said to be relevant to the claim that MWP may be entitled to trace and follow partnership property to property held by those entities or the property identified in Appendix C. Some of the documents may also be relevant to an account if the Court is persuaded that an account should be ordered. However, insofar as some of the documents may be relevant to an account, production of them now is premature. MWP must first persuade the Court to order an account. What documents need to be produced to enable the account to be taken is an issue to be addressed at the time the Court gives directions in relation to the account if one is ever ordered.
As to the issue of tracing (and following), before MWP is entitled to discovery in relation to that issue, it would need to satisfy the Court that Mr Emmott had received what was arguably partnership property and had converted it into other property or transferred it to another entity which, because of the circumstances in which the property transferred, arguably itself became liable to account for the property. MWP has made no attempt to do that. Instead, what it appears to have done is to identify every entity that has any connection with Mr Emmott and any property that apparently has any connection with him and to assert without any foundation that the entities are partnership entities, or the property is partnership property. It then seeks the broadest possible discovery in relation to the properties and the assets and liabilities of the identified entities.
To take one example, Mr Wilson, in one of two affidavits he swore on 30 June 2023, gives the following evidence in relation to the first property referred to in Appendix C:
181 Holm Farm is at 160 Euro Bodalla [sic] Road, Bodalla, Dampier, NSW 2545, Australia, which has a value of circa A$1m … and was previously registered in the name of Mr Emmott's now deceased parents, and which whether direly [sic] or indirectly he owns together with his two sisters … both of whom live in the ACT.
182 Approximately, A$140,000 was advance in relation to such property, and Mr Emmott is a co-beneficial owner of the same in his capacity as a Temujin Partner, and also as a result of the death of his parents, and by virtue of the agreements with his two sisters.
Plainly, the unsubstantiated allegations in these paragraphs provide no basis for concluding that assets of the partnership could conceivably be traced into the Holm Farm property.
It is not necessary to address each of the other properties included in Appendix C. Two other examples suffice.
In relation to the property at Baringa Road, Northbridge, Mr Wilson gives this evidence in his affidavit sworn on 30 June 2023:
186 This is a property … registered in the name of Mr Sinclair's mother, Ms F. Curtis … but was purchased, financed and maintained using monies properly belonging to MWP and the Temujin Partnership.
Mr Sinclair was a director of one or more clients of MWP who followed Messrs Emmott, Nicholls and Slater and who apparently at some stage lent money to Mr Emmott. Mr Sinclair has been bankrupted and MWP has taken an assignment from his trustee in bankruptcy of his rights relevantly against Mr Emmott. But how any of that establishes that the property "was purchased, financed and maintained using monies properly belonging to MWP and the Temujin Partnership" is unclear. Similarly, it is unclear what the relevance of the assertion that the monies belonged to MWP is, or how they could properly belong both to MWP and the Temujin Partnership, or why Mr Emmott could be expected to have documents relating to a property belonging to Ms Curtis, or what relief could be given in respect of the property given that Ms Curtis is not a party to the proceedings.
In relation to the property at Bella Vista, Mr Wilson gives this evidence in one of two affidavits he swore on 30 June 2023:
191 This is a property … registered in the name of Ms Lighezollo [sic] … one of the designates and nominees for and on behalf of the Temujin Partnership, and which was purchased, financed and maintained using monies properly belonging to MWP and the Temujin Partnership.
…
196 Ms Lighezollo [sic] has been found by this Court to be a mere bare nominee of and for the Temujin Partnership, and remains so.
Mr Wilson does not state where such a finding was made. The Court of Appeal, summarising the findings of Einstein J in relation to one of the projects that Messrs Emmott, Nicholls and Slater took from MWP said in Nicholls & Ors v Michael Wilson & Partners Ltd [2012] NSWCA 383 at [106-7]:
Roxi was involved in another transaction involving a reverse take-over of Eragon Petroleum plc, followed by a suspension of Eragon from the AIM and its readmission to trading. The contemplated transaction included the acquisition, apparently by Roxi, of an option to acquire a 50 per cent interest in the ADA Group for an aggregate consideration of USD 425 million (at [475], [476]). An Australian company called PJT Corporate Services Pty Ltd ("PJT "), in which Mr Slater and an associate (Ms Lighezzolo) had an interest, acted as an intermediary between Roxi and TIL (at [477]).
On 22 August 2007, TIL entered into an engagement contract with Ms Lighezzolo that confirmed the terms on which legal advisory services would be provided by TIL to PJT (at [479]), [480]). By another agreement executed on the same date Roxi requested PJT to manage all aspects of Roxi's readmission to the AIM (at [481]).
Again, it is difficult to see why Mr Emmott would have any documents relevant to the property owned by Ms Lighezzolo. In any event, before discovery would be ordered, MWP would need to establish at least an arguable connection between money or other benefits received by Mr Emmott as a partner for which he has not accounted to Messrs Nicholls and Slater and the money used to acquire the property owned by Ms Lighezzolo. It has made no attempt to do that. At most, the findings of the Court of Appeal might suggest that PJT, in which Mr Slater and Ms Lighezzolo had an interest, received money belonging to the partnership.
Similar observations can be made about the assets and liabilities of the various entities listed in Appendix A. It is unclear why Mr Emmott could be expected to have documents relating to the assets or liabilities of those entities or why historical and current assets and liabilities of those entities are relevant to the issues to be determined in this case.
Category 7 is said to be relevant to the question whether Mr Emmott is bound by the findings of fact in NSW1 (and presumably the proceedings referred to as the "ACT Proceedings"). Two points may be made about this category. First, it is unclear why all documents concerning Mr Emmott's involvement in those proceedings are necessary to determine whether Mr Emmott is bound by the findings in those cases. Many of the documents sought are likely to be privileged. Again, the category is far too broad. Second, MWP was a party to the relevant proceedings. Consequently, it does have direct knowledge of Mr Emmott's involvement. There is, therefore, no reason to grant discovery in advance of evidence in relation to this category.
[5]
Conclusion and orders
The onus is on MWP to convince the Court that the discovery is "necessary for the resolution of the real issues in dispute in the proceedings" as required by para 5 of the Practice Note and to do so in a way that complies with its obligations under ss 56-60 of the Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW). Although the new categories for discovery are shorter than the earlier ones, they are no less broad. In order to discharge the onus it bears, MWP must explain in a clear and concise manner precisely what documents it requires and why those documents are necessary for the resolution of the real issues in the case. The affidavit sworn by Mr Wilson in support of the current application makes no attempt to do that. In support of the previous application, Mr Wilson swore several affidavits and exhibited a large volume of material which together took up most of a four-volume court book that was more than 3000 pages long. Those affidavits contained many irrelevant and often unsupported allegations. Again, they do not provide a proper foundation for an application for disclosure in advance of evidence.
It follows that the notice of motion dated 2 February 2024 must be dismissed with costs.
The matter is stood over for directions on 1 March 2024.
[6]
Annexure A
Documents concerning the formation of the Temujin Partnership.
Documents concerning the operation of the Temujin Partnership.
Documents concerning the related operation of the persons and entities listed in Appendix A.
Documents concerning the dissolution or winding-up of the Temujin Partnership.
Documents concerning the current and historical assets and liabilities of:
5.1 the Temujin Partnership; and
5.2 the persons and entities listed in Appendix A, insofar as the assets were received, or liabilities incurred, in the related operation of those persons or entities;
such documents to include (without limitation):
5.2.1 certificates and other indicia of title or ownership, financial statements and accounts, bank records, tax returns and filings, budgets and financial projections; and
5.2.2 documents concerning any assets of the types listed in Appendix B.
Documents concerning the real property listed in Appendix C.
Documents concerning the defendant's involvement in the NSW-1 Proceedings, including all documents passing between the defendant and any legal practitioner retained for any defendant or effected party in the NSW-1 Proceedings, or the ACT Proceedings.
In the foregoing:
8.1 "Temujin Partnership" means:
8.1.1 any relation between John Forster Emmott, and either or both of Robert Colin Nicholls and David Ross Slater, carrying on business in common with a view of profit; and
8.1.2 the "Consultancy" referred to in the Cooperation Agreement (being document no. 9, discovered by the defendant on 15 December 2023).
8.2 The reference to the "operation" of the Temujin Partnership is a reference to anything occurring:
8.2.1 in the course of business of the Temujin Partnership; and/or
8.2.2 in any transaction in which the Temujin Partnership has been involved.
8.3 The reference to the "related operation" of the persons and entities listed in Annexure A is a reference to their involvement or concern in anything occurring:
(a) in the course of the business of the Temujin Partnership; and/or
(b) in any transaction in which the Temujin Partnership has been involved, including (without limitation) where those persons and entities have:
8.3.1 provided any service; and/or
8.3.2 received (in any capacity, whether to hold beneficially, or as trustee or nominee, or otherwise) any payment, loan, tangible or intangible property, asset, shares, options, warrants, or other things; and/or
8.3.3 transferred that thing to or held such to the order of, and on behalf of any other party.
8.4 "NSW-1 Proceedings" means proceedings in this Court no. 50151/06, and any appeal proceedings relating to those proceedings.
8.5 "ACT Proceedings" means the proceedings in the ACT SC Nos SC 82 of 2015, 366 of 2015 and 402 of 2017, and also in the ACTCA Nos. 36 of 2021 and 9 of 2023.
Appendix A
a) Robert Colin Nicholls.
b) David Ross Slater.
c) Temujin International Limited (and the Temujin International Trust).
d) The Temujin International Limited Branch in Kazakhstan.
e) The Temujin Services Limited Representative Office in Kazakhstan.
f) Temujin Services Limited.
g) Temujin Holdings Limited.
h) Temujin International FZE.
i) Thomas Ian Sinclair.
j) Sokol Holdings Inc.
k) Arman Shaikenov.
l) Mr G. Kachshapov.
m) Ms D.M. Lighezzolo
n) PJT International Pty Ltd (ACN: 126584405).
o) PJT Corporate Services Pty Ltd (ACN:126584754).
p) The PJT Trust.
q) The Fencourt Foundation of Panama.
r) Lynus Develop Co. Limited of the Seychelles.
s) FOF International Pty., Limited (ACN: 128812813)
t) FOF Consulting Services Pty., Limited (ACN: 128823076)
u) The FOF Trust.
v) Mr P. Puxon and/or Puxon Murray LLP.
w) Messrs Fergusons.
x) Sandwood Pty Ltd (ACN: 005276666) and/or G.E. Randall, L. Randall, P.R. McGrath, Ms T.P. Rothwell and P. McKay.
y) Effective Recoveries / Effective Funds Management Pty Ltd (ACN: 155827473), Macloans Pty Ltd (ACN: 082046035), Rothcock Pastoral Company Pty Ltd (ACN: 083702578 and/or the EFM Trust. Mr P. McKay, Ms T.P. Rothwell, and Ms B. Glare.
z) CA Consult of Jersey, the Channel Islands (company No.104581, formed on 08.12.09), CA Consult of the Seychelles, SXS Holdings of the Seychelles (IBC No. 88719), LGL Trustees Limited, LGL Nominees Limited, LGL Secretaries Limited, Legacom Services Limited, Hellenic Bank, IBC Nicosia and/or Mr A. Petru, Ms X. Georgiadi, S. Lazarava, Mr T.P. Gomez-Velasco.
aa) Taronga Investments Pty Ltd (ACN: 002-617-389) and/or the Taronga No. 1 Trust, the Taronga No. 2 Trust, Mr J. Summers, Summers & Summers and Mrs F.M. Nicholls.
bb) Scythian Mining Group Limited (company No.11038421), Scythian Resources B.V. (company No.70322465), SMG Gold B.V. (company No.76235448), Scythian Mining Group (Aust) Pty., Limited (ACN: 626089021), Scythian Resources LLP (company No.0c419452), Altyn Kokkus LLP, TSK Exploration & Mining LLP (company No.56450011Mr B. Davis, A. Paine, D. Clark, M. Zhunussov.
cc) Eurasian Fertilizers Group Plc (company No.07525619) and Eurasian Chemical Group Limited (company No.06345528), Geo Resources LLC, Bao Resources SA, Mr T.I. Sinclair, A. Harvey, M.G.S. Gibson, A. Paine.
dd) Qaznickel Limited, Kaznickel LLP, and/or K. Rakishev, M. Taishibaev, Y. Idrissov, T.I. Sinclair, Dr E. Chan, T.C. Khoon, S. Kozhakhmetov, Z. Omarov, B. Duisebayev, M. Kantbekuli.
ee) Eagle Point Investments Limited, and the Eagle Point Trusts No I and II.
ff) Hakkisan Finance Corporation.
gg) Myrzaly Limited.
hh) Norgulf Holdings Limited.
ii) Incomeborts Limited.
jj) Alexandra Neovius.
kk) Professional Trust.
ll) Mr RC Nicholls, Ms M Cole, Mr B Weir, Mr R Pearson, Mrs F M Nicholls, Mr J Summers and any other person in connection with the Walker Douglas Hotels Trust, the Longyard Trust and the Imperial Hotels Trust and also the property at 11 Rickard Avenue, Mosman as below.
Appendix B
a) Shares, options, warrants, commissions, success fees and bonuses sought and received as property of, or held to the order of the Temujin Partnership, or its designates and nominees, and whether directly or indirectly in:
a. Max Petroleum Plc ("MXP");
b. Frontier Mining Limited ("FML");
c. Sunkar Resources Limited ("SKR");
d. Roxi Petroleum Plc ("RXP", now called Caspian Sunrise Plc "CXP");
e. Eurasian Fertilizers Group Plc ("EFG"), and its affiliate Eurasian Chemical Group Limited ("ECG");
f. QazaqNickel / Kazakhnickel Limited;
g. Kaznickel LLP;
h. Scythian Mining Group Limited, Scythian Resources B.V. and Scythian Gold B.V. (collectively "SMG"); and
i. Sokol Holdings Incorporated.
Appendix C
a) Holm Farm, 160 Eurobodalla Road, Bodalla, NSW, 2545, Australia.
b) 51 Bannerman Crescent, Rosebery, Mascot, NSW, 2108, Australia.
c) 15A Baringa Road, Northbridge, Willoughby, NSW, 2063, Australia.
d) 4 Bayview Street, Bronte, NSW, 2024, Australia.
e) 1 Rowanbrae Crescent, Bella Vista, NSW, 2153, Australia.
f) 3 Miller Crescent, Hamilton, Melbourne, Victoria, 3300, Australia.
g) 17 Carlton Gore Road, Roseneath, Wellington, New Zealand (CT WN22B/004).
h) 9-5 Lane Street, Upper Hutt, 6007, Wellington, New Zealand.
i) 41 Officer Crescent, Ainslie, Canberra, the ACT.
j) 4 Chelwood Vachery, Nutley, East Sussex, TN22 3NR, the UK.
k) 4 the Courtyard, Sheffield Park, Nutley Hill, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 3QW, the UK.
l) 11 Rickard Avenue, Mosman, Sydney, NSW.
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Decision last updated: 28 February 2024
Parties
Applicant/Plaintiff:
Michael Wilson & Partners Ltd as the assignee of Robert Colin Nicholls & Temujin International Limited (as trustee of Temujin International (trading) Trust & Temujin Services Limited