David Reade KC acted for the Lansdowne Club, a private members club situated in Mayfair, in a trial, before Mr Justice Ritchie, of claims brought by a former member. The Claimant had been expelled as a member in November 2021 because of breaches, on the Club’s premises, of the then applicable Covid rules. The Claimant brought proceedings against the Club claiming that her expulsion was “mala fides”, in breach of the Club’s rules, procedures and the rules of natural justice. The Claimant sought a declaration or an injunction to compel her restoration to membership.
It was held that Club had not acted in breach and the claim was dismissed. The Judgment considers the scope and nature of the implied duties of natural justice over the termination of membership. The judgment is of wider interest for those concerned with unincorporated organisations or, as in this case, companies limited by guarantee in which relationships are based contract. A copy of the Judgment appears here.
