QFC 15/2020, [2021] QIC (F) 21
John and Wiedeman LLC v Trimoo Parks LLC and Others
This case involved the non-payment for legal work carried out under a retainer agreement. A key issue was as the work had been carried out for multiple separate companies which were affiliates whether there had been an implied change to the contract which made them all and not just the actual company which had signed the engagement letter. This had an impact on the jurisdiction of the court in respect of those additional companies. Rates of applicable interest were also considered.
Background
The Claimant was a limited liability company established in the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), where it is licensed to provide legal services. Prior to April 2020 it so practised under the name “ILC International Legal Consultants Ltd”. Michel Daillet was, and for many years had been, an owner/partner of the Claimant. The Defendants were limited liability companies, each separately incorporated in Qatar but outside the QFC. The principal owner/partner of one TBMT was, as at September 2018 was, Talal bin Mohammed Al Attiyah , a prominent Qatari businessman. TBMT was the parent company of Leisure and of Adabisc. This was, in turn, the parent company of Trimoo.