XYZ v UVW

Facts

The claimant, anonymised as XYZ, brought a claim for breach of confidence against the defendant, UVW, an employee whose employment the claimant purported to terminate on 31 October 2025 but which continues by virtue of an order of a foreign court in separate proceedings between the parties governed by the law of that jurisdiction. The claim, commenced in November 2025, concerns documents the defendant is alleged to have downloaded on 30 October 2025. On 14 November 2025 O'Farrell J made a search and imaging order without notice, containing restrictions on publicity including anonymisation of both parties. On the return date, Mansfield J gave judgment on 11 December 2025, granting an imaging order and prohibitory injunctions, refusing the defendant's discharge application, and directing a Further Return Date on the first available date after 26 January 2026. The December Order was varied by Choudhury J on 30 December 2025 and by Master Byass on 30 January 2026, each extending the Deletion Deadline. No Further Return Date was ever listed; the claimant instead applied on 24 March 2026 to continue the publicity restrictions on paper. After directions and explanatory evidence from Mr Frape of Ashtons, the court listed the Further Return Date of its own motion, both parties then seeking new and varied relief at the eleventh hour.