Committal for contempt—dealing with unrepresented contemnors (McKay v All England Lawn Tennis Club (Championships) Ltd)

Article summary

Dispute Resolution analysis: This case highlights the care that practitioners need to take when commencing committal proceedings against an alleged contemnor acting in person, to ensure the application is compliant with procedural requirements and that the hearing of the application is dealt with fairly. It also considers the relationship between mandatory orders to disclose information which may amount to an offence, and the protection of privilege against self-incrimination. The court held that section 13(2) of the Fraud Act 2006 (FA 2006) had significantly curtailed the scope of that protection, removing the right to claim the privilege in certain contexts, but preventing any information provided from being used in criminal fraud proceedings. Although Mr McKay’s appeal against the committal order made against him was ultimately rejected, the court highlighted the numerous defects in the application notice which caused Hickinbottom LJ ‘much anxiety’ in deciding the appeal, before concluding that the defects had not led to any unfairness...