Clydes acts for Eversheds on airport negligence case

The airport, which has instructed Ward Hadaway partner Tim Toomey, claims that Eversheds was in breach of its duty when it accepted an instruction from two former executive directors relating to draft contracts of employment. It is alleged that the contracts provided for an entitlement of multimillion-pound bonuses as a result of a ­refinancing to the directors.

It is claimed that the instruction was unauthorised and as a result of the firm’s acceptance of the mandates the airport suffered a loss when it executed the contracts without realising what they contained.

Eversheds is arguing that the executive directors had the authority to instruct the firm and the airport caused its own loss by failing to read the contracts before putting them into effect.

The case, which has been set down for 15 days in April 2012, will pitch 4 New Square’s Nicholas Davidson QC for the airport against Ben Patten QC of the same set, who has been drafted in by Eversheds.

In a statement the firm said: “Eversheds acted fully in accordance with ­instructions in all matters pertaining to its work for Newcastle International Airport. It would be wholly inappropriate for the firm to comment further on this case while legal proceedings are ongoing.”