Legal Victory for Chef Online: Court of Appeal Upholds High Court Judgement
London, February 22, 2024 – Le Chef plc, operating under the trading name Chef Online, is celebrating a major legal victory after a rigorous litigation process. On February 14, 2024, the Court of Appeal upheld the verdict of the High Court in favor of Le Chef plc.
The legal battle began in August 2020 when Mr. Hafizur Rahman and Mr. Rifat Ahmed filed an unfair prejudice petition against Le Chef Plc and its Managing Director, Mr. Mohammed Munim, alleging unlawful share transfers. After a thorough examination of evidence and testimony, including discussions surrounding the formation of the online platform and the contributions of each party involved, the High Court dismissed the petitions in October 2022. This decision was also upheld by the High Court in a separate claim under intellectual property rights brought by Mr. Rahman.
Despite being refused permission to appeal in the intellectual property case in July 2023, Mr. Rahman continued to appeal the High Court’s decision in the unfair prejudice matter. However, on February 14, 2024, the Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the appeal, affirming the original judgment by HHJ Jarman KC. Lady Justice Falk stated, “I am satisfied that the judge was entitled to reach the conclusions that he did on the evidence before him in respect of the transfer of shares by Mr. Rahman.” The full decision can be accessed at https://mansfield.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2024/123.html.
Throughout the challenging litigation process, Le Chef plc has remained dedicated to transparency, fairness, and adherence to the rule of law. The company extends its gratitude to its legal team, consisting of Counsels Mr. Matthew Winn-Smith, Dr. Timothy Sampson from Lamb Chambers, Mr. Kennedy Obierozie, and Ms. Nabila Rafique from Lexpert Solicitors LLP, for their unwavering support and diligent representation.
Mr. Munim, Managing Director of Le Chef Plc, expressed his gratitude for the thorough consideration given to the case by both judicial bodies. He stated, “We are pleased that the Court of Appeal upheld the original judgment, affirming the legality of the share transfers. This outcome reaffirms our commitment to upholding the integrity of business agreements and dealings.”
Moving forward, Le Chef Plc is dedicated to providing innovative online solutions for restaurants and takeaways under the Chef Online platform. The company remains committed to fostering positive relationships within the culinary industry and upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.
For further inquiries, please contact Chef Online’s communication department at 07770181818.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.