Beckett Investment Management Group v Hall

Beckett Investment Management Group v Hall (Court of Appeal 28th June) is a significant case for all employers/employees who may have, or want, restrictive covenants. It is particularly relevant to the Financial Services sector.

The Court of Appeal Judgment contains 4 key messages:

1. Clauses should be construed with reference to their objective.

   A narrow interpretation of the drafting of a covenant which deprives the covenant of all practical utility in circumstances where all the parties are familiar with the background to and the aim of the clause is not sensible construction and covenants should be construed without a purist approach to corporate personality.

2. A restriction of 12 months may be enforceable.

   The Court of Appeal did not...