Braunford LLP & Anor v Pierre Allain
| Court | Chancery Division |
| Judgment Date | 06 October 2025 |
| Neutral Citation | [2025] EWHC 2545 (Ch) |
| Date | 06 October 2025 |
| Year | 2025 |
Neutral citation number: [2025] EWHC 2545 (Ch)
Claim No: IL-2025-000064
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
BUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTS
OF ENGLAND AND WALES
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LIST (ChD)
Rolls Building
7 Rolls Building,
Fetter Lane
London EC4A 1NL
Tuesday, 6 October 2025
Before
HIS HONOUR JUDGE HODGE KC
Sitting as a Judge of the High Court
BETWEEN:
(1) Braunford LLP
(2) Corbiere Limited
(a company incorporated under the laws of the Marshall Islands)
Claimants
-v-
Pierre Allain
Defendant
_______________________________
Mr DAVID CRAIG KC, Mr CHARLES CIUMEI KC, Mr ALEX RIDDIFORD, and Mr
CHRISTIAN DAVIES (instructed by Allen Overy Shearman Sterling LLP ) appeared on
behalf of the Claimants
Ms KENDYA GOODMAN (instructed by Rakasons Limited) appeared on behalf of the
Defendant
1
This Transcript is Crown Copyright. It may not be reproduced in whole or in part other than
in accordance with relevant licence or with the express consent of the Authority. All rights
are reserved.
EMPLOYMENT – Confidential information – Issues for disclosure – Whether defendant to
have permission to call expert evidence of quantitative or algorithmic trading strategies –
Principles governing the grant of permission for expert evidence – Relevance of
confidentiality restrictions imposed during the course of the litigation to protect the
claimant’s interests on the admission of expert evidence to resolve disputed issues of fact –
Relevance of the burden of proof on the admission of expert evidence
The following case law authorities are referred to in this judgment:
AlphaSharp Ltd v ADG Capital Management LLP [2021] EWHC 1779 (Comm)
Astex Therapeutics Ltd v AstraZeneca AB [2017] EWHC 1442 (Ch)
Barings Plc v Coopers & Lybrand [2001] PNLR 379
Bridgewater Associates LP v Minicone 16 July 2020 (Employment Arbitration Tribunal)
British Airways v Spencer [2015] EWHC 2477 (Ch)
CF Partners (UK) LLP v Barclays Bank Plc [2014] EWHC 3049 (Ch)
Clifford v Chief Constable of the Hertfordshire Constabulary [2008] EWHC 2549 (QB)
Henderson & Jones Ltd v Salica Investments Ltd [2025] EWHC 475 (Comm)
Lombard North Central Plc v Airbus Helicopters SAS [2020] EWHC 3819 (Comm)
McParland & Partners Ltd v Whitehead [2020] EWHC 298 (Ch), [2020] Bus LR 699
Performing Right Society Ltd v Qatar Airways Group QCSC [2021] EWHC 869 (Ch)
The RBS Rights Issue Litigation [2015] EWHC 3433 (Ch)
Stellantis Auto SAS v Autoliv AB [2024] EWCA Civ 609, [2024] 1 WLR 4728
2
APPROVED JUDGMENT
This judgment was handed down remotely at 10.30 am on Tuesday 7 October 2025 by
uploading it to CE-File, by circulation to the parties’ legal representatives by e-mail,
and by release to the National Archives.
HIS HONOUR JUDGE HODGE KC:
Introduction
1. This is my considered judgment on the first full case management hearing in this case.
On 24 and 25 July 2025 I heard a number of applications and delivered two extemporary
extension of time for service of his defence and a successful application by the claimants for
an expedited trial, and [2025] EWHC 1952 (Ch) on the defendant’s unsuccessful application
for an anonymity order. This has resulted in orders dated 25 July (and sealed on 29 and 30
July) for expedition and directions, for confidentiality, and for a confidentiality club. The
directions order provided for an expedited trial, to be listed in a five day window from 16
February 2026, with an estimated length of 8-10 days. It also provided for a case
management conference on 18 September 2025 with a time estimate of one day to determine:
(a) any issues between the parties in respect of disclosure; (b) any application made by the
defendant to rely on expert evidence; and (c) whether the proceedings should be subject to
cost budgeting (and if so, to list a costs and case management hearing).
3
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1 cases
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Braunford LLP v Pierre Allain
...joint expert; and that the cost will be in the region of no more than £50,000 (with the possibility of up to a £10,000 uplift for VAT[2025] EWHC 2545 (Ch) HIS HONOUR JUDGE Hodge KC Sitting as a Judge of the High Court Claim No: IL-2025-000064 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE BUSINESS AND PROPER......