Haider v Delma Enineering Projects Company LLC & Ors [2023] EWHC 218 (Ch) (07 February 2023)

Haider v Delma Enineering Projects Company LLC & Ors [2023] EWHC 218 (Ch) (07 February 2023)

The court held that Mr Haider established a prima facie case for permission to continue a derivative claim on behalf of Delma Engineering against certain defendants, including Mr Mohanan, Falcon FZE, Falcon Administrative Services, Falcon Cayman, Protouch, Global Tradelinks, Commodities International, West Trade, ATECO, and Ahmed Al Mureikhy, based on evidence of participation in the alleged frauds and satisfaction of UAE and English law requirements. The court found no prima facie case against Falcon Europe, Asia Pacific International Limited, or other Al Mureikhy family members. The matter should proceed to the second stage permission hearing.

Citation
[2023] EWHC 218 (Ch)
Parties
Claimant: Zulfiqur Al-Tanveer Haider; Defendant: Delma Engineering Projects Company LLC; Defendant: Mabani Delma General Contracting Co LLC; Defendant: Delma Emirates Diesel; Defendant: Delma Emirates Group; Defendant: Falcon Administrative Services (UK) Limited; Defendant: Falcon Group Europe Limited; Defendant: Falcon Trade Corporation FZE; Defendant: Falcon Group Holdings (Cayman) Limited; Defendant: Umesh Mohanan Gopalakrishnan; Defendant: Protouch FZE; Defendant: Ahmed Khalil Khaled Al Mureikhy; Defendant: Diab Ahmed Khalil Khaled Al Mureikhy; Defendant: Mariam Ahmed Khalil Khaled Al Mureikhy; Defendant: Al Anoud Ahmed Khalil Khaled Al Mureikhy; Defendant: Sherifa Ahmed Khalil Khaled Al Mureikhy; Defendant: Al-Dhafra Trading Enterprises Est; Defendant: Global Tradelinks Limited; Defendant: Commodities Trade International Limited; Defendant: West Trade International Limited; Defendant: Asia Pacific International Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
07 February 2023
Procedural Posture
Derivative Claim (permission Application) / First Stage Permission Hearing Under CPR 19.9 C
Outcome
Permission granted to proceed to second stage hearing for derivative claim against specified defendants; permission refused as to others.
Legal Topics
Derivative Actions, Fraud, Jurisdiction and Forum Conveniens, Directors' Duties, Unjust Enrichment
Company Law Civil Procedure Private International Law Derivative Actions Fraud Jurisdiction and Forum Conveniens Directors' Duties Unjust Enrichment

Case Brief

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Parties

Zulfiqur Al-Tanveer Haider

Claimant

Delma Engineering Projects Company LLC

Defendant

Mabani Delma General Contracting Co LLC

Defendant

Delma Emirates Diesel

Defendant

Delma Emirates Group

Defendant

Falcon Administrative Services (UK) Limited

Defendant

Falcon Group Europe Limited

Defendant

Falcon Trade Corporation FZE

Defendant

Falcon Group Holdings (Cayman) Limited

Defendant

Umesh Mohanan Gopalakrishnan

Defendant

Protouch FZE

Defendant

Ahmed Khalil Khaled Al Mureikhy

Defendant

Diab Ahmed Khalil Khaled Al Mureikhy

Defendant

Mariam Ahmed Khalil Khaled Al Mureikhy

Defendant

Al Anoud Ahmed Khalil Khaled Al Mureikhy

Defendant

Sherifa Ahmed Khalil Khaled Al Mureikhy

Defendant

Al-Dhafra Trading Enterprises Est

Defendant

Global Tradelinks Limited

Defendant

Commodities Trade International Limited

Defendant

West Trade International Limited

Defendant

Asia Pacific International Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Derivative Claim (permission Application) / First Stage Permission Hearing Under CPR 19.9 C

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the claimant has established a prima facie case to continue a derivative claim on behalf of a foreign company under English and UAE law
  2. 2 Whether the requirements for joining non-related parties to a derivative claim under UAE law are met
  3. 3 Whether the English court is the appropriate forum (forum conveniens) for the claim

Ratio Decidendi

The court held that Mr Haider established a prima facie case for permission to continue a derivative claim on behalf of Delma Engineering against certain defendants, including Mr Mohanan, Falcon FZE, Falcon Administrative Services, Falcon Cayman, Protouch, Global Tradelinks, Commodities International, West Trade, ATECO, and Ahmed Al Mureikhy, based on evidence of participation in the alleged frauds and satisfaction of UAE and English law requirements. The court found no prima facie case against Falcon Europe, Asia Pacific International Limited, or other Al Mureikhy family members. The matter should proceed to the second stage permission hearing.

Court Disposition

Permission granted to proceed to second stage hearing for derivative claim against specified defendants; permission refused as to others.

Orders

  • Permission to continue derivative claim on behalf of Delma Engineering against Mr Mohanan, Falcon FZE, Falcon Administrative Services, Falcon Cayman, Protouch, Global Tradelinks, Commodities International, West Trade, ATECO, and Ahmed Al Mureikhy.
  • Permission refused as to Falcon Europe, Asia Pacific International Limited, and other Al Mureikhy family members.