White & Case vows to appeal Deacons Hong Kong ruling

White & Case intends to appeal against Friday’s (27 October) ruling from the Hong Kong High Court that it behaved illegally when hiring a rated restructuring team from Deacons.

The court ruled that White & Case encouraged two rated insolvency lawyers, Mark Fairbairn and Edward Cairns, to breach their partnership contracts and persuade clients to move across with them to White & Case.

A damages hearing is likely to take place early next year.

However, the judge dismissed Deacons claims that White & Case breached a non-solicitation clause relating to merger talks between the two firms in 1999.

A White & Case spokesperson said the firm, “is gratified that the judgment handed down Friday by Deputy High Court Judge Gill in the Deacons dispute vindicates our position in key areas, especially the rights of clients to select the law firms of their choice. Additionally, the Judge found no cause for injunctive relief and dismissed several allegations made against White & Case and our partners, including claims that a Non-Solicitation Agreement was breached and that the partners improperly referred business to our firm.”