Catchwords:

CONTRACTS – express obligations of confidence allegedly preventing voluntary communications with the solicitors for opposing party in litigation – primary judge followed AS v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (Ruling No 6) [2016] VSC 774; 53 VR 631 in exercising a discretion to relieve persons owing otherwise enforceable obligations of confidence to facilitate the overarching purpose of civil litigation rather than considering whether the provisions were void at law because they had a tendency to interfere adversely with the administration of justice or were enforceable by way of injunction in equity – held that the approach in AS v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (Ruling No 6) is contrary to principle leading to error in the making of the primary judge’s order

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION – consideration of the sources of obligations of confidence

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – consideration of orthodox approaches to enforcing obligations of confidence and obtaining information from potential witnesses in advance of trial