header-logo header-logo

27 June 2012
Issue: 7520 / Categories: Legal News
printer mail-detail

Farepak outcome

Trial against Farepak directors collapses

A trial against the directors behind the £42m failure of the Farepak Christmas hamper business collapsed last week at the High Court after the Insolvency Service (IS) withdrew its action. Farepak’s seven directors had faced a 15-year ban from company directorships. The company went into liquidation in 2006 just weeks before families were due to receive the Christmas hampers and vouchers they had paid for during the course of the year.

Mr Justice Smith, said the case collapsed because “the witnesses, properly tested on their affidavits, revealed what they actually felt, namely that they had no complaints about the defendants”, and that the directors did everything they could to save the business.

Richard Highley, partner, DAC Beachcroft, who acted for the former CEO and CFO of the company, said: “We are pleased for our clients while regretting that Farepak customers have still not been compensated.”

Issue: 7520 / Categories: Legal News
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Harper James—Lottie Hugo

Harper James—Lottie Hugo

Commercial law firm announces appointment of corporate partner

Carey Olsen—Patrick Ormond

Carey Olsen—Patrick Ormond

Partner joinscorporate and finance practice in British Virgin Islands

Dawson Cornwell—Naomi Angell

Dawson Cornwell—Naomi Angell

Firm strengthens children department with adoption and surrogacy expert

NEWS
Freezing orders in divorce proceedings can unexpectedly ensnare third parties and disrupt businesses. In NLJ this week, Lucy James of Trowers & Hamlins explains how these orders—dubbed a ‘nuclear weapon’—preserve assets but can extend far beyond spouses to companies and business partners 
A Court of Appeal ruling has clarified that ‘rent’ must be monetary—excluding tenants paid in labour from statutory protection. In this week's NLJ, James Naylor explains Garraway v Phillips, where a tenant worked two days a week instead of paying rent
Thousands more magistrates are to be recruited, under a major shake-up to speed up and expand the hiring process
The winners of the LexisNexis Legal Awards 2026 have now been announced, marking another outstanding celebration of excellence, innovation, and impact across the legal profession
Three men wrongly imprisoned for a combined 77 years have been released—yet received ‘not a penny’ in compensation, exposing deep flaws in the justice system. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Jon Robins reports on Justin Plummer, Oliver Campbell and Peter Sullivan, whose convictions collapsed amid discredited forensics, ‘oppressive’ police interviews and unreliable ‘cell confessions’
back-to-top-scroll