Hipgnosis SFH 1 Ltd v Manilow & Ors [2025] EWHC 444 (Ch) (27 February 2025)

Hipgnosis SFH 1 Ltd v Manilow & Ors [2025] EWHC 444 (Ch) (27 February 2025)

Clause 14(4) of the Agreement provides Defendants with a choice to litigate Purchase Price claims in either England or Los Angeles/New York, unaffected by Claimant's commencement of proceedings in England. Defendants exercised this choice by commencing proceedings in Los Angeles, crystallising jurisdiction there....

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2025] EWHC 444 (Ch)
Parties
Claimant (respondent): Hipgnosis SFH 1 Limited; Defendant (applicant): Barry Manilow; Defendant (applicant): Manilow Productions, Inc; Defendant (applicant): Hastings, Clayton, Tucker, Inc DBA Stiletto Entertainment
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
27 February 2025
Procedural Posture
Commercial Contract Dispute / Application to Challenge Jurisdiction
Outcome
Stay granted as of right for Purchase Price claims; non-Purchase Price claims may proceed in England.
Legal Topics
Jurisdiction Clauses, Exclusive Jurisdiction, Parallel Proceedings, Stay of Proceedings
Private International Law Contract Law Jurisdiction Clauses Exclusive Jurisdiction Parallel Proceedings Stay of Proceedings

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Parties

Hipgnosis SFH 1 Limited

Claimant (respondent)

Barry Manilow

Defendant (applicant)

Manilow Productions, Inc

Defendant (applicant)

Hastings, Clayton, Tucker, Inc DBA Stiletto Entertainment

Defendant (applicant)

Procedural Posture

Commercial Contract Dispute / Application to Challenge Jurisdiction

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the English court has jurisdiction over Purchase Price claims under the Agreement
  2. 2 Interpretation of jurisdiction clause (clause 14)
  3. 3 Effect of parallel proceedings in Los Angeles and England

Ratio Decidendi

Clause 14(4) of the Agreement provides Defendants with a choice to litigate Purchase Price claims in either England or Los Angeles/New York, unaffected by Claimant's commencement of proceedings in England. Defendants exercised this choice by commencing proceedings in Los Angeles, crystallising jurisdiction there. The English court must stay Purchase Price claims as of right, allowing non-Purchase Price claims to proceed in England.

Court Disposition

Stay granted as of right for Purchase Price claims; non-Purchase Price claims may proceed in England.

Orders

  • Stay of all Purchase Price claims pleaded in the Particulars of Claim, with liberty to apply.
  • Non-Purchase Price claims to proceed in England pursuant to clause 14(2).