HPII v Stevens [2024]

Jacobs J this morning handed down judgment in HPII v Stevens[2024] EWHC 1263 (Comm). James Pickering KC and Samuel Hodge acted for the successful Claimants, resisting an application made by the Defendant to discharge an order requiring his devices to be forensically examined.

The judgment gives a useful overview of the principles applicable when a party argues disclosure should not be required because it would breach foreign criminal law. It also addresses interesting issues of Italian criminal law (including hacking and disclosure of secrets), and expert evidence.

Separately, following the Court of Appeal’s decision on remedies last October in HPII v Stevens [2023] EWCA Civ 1120 (which held that Mr Stevens was not liable for equitable compensation, but instead only to account of his own profits) – HPII has recently secured permission to appeal to the UK Supreme Court, with a hearing to be listed.