Ogier advises founder in successful High Court breach of duties defence

Ogier’s specialist contentious corporate team in Jersey, led by partner James Angus, has advised anti-piracy and cyber-security entrepreneur Jonathan Friend on the Jersey law aspects of his overwhelmingly successful defence of a High Court breach of duties claim.

The claims were brought by the current management team of UK company Friend MTS Limited and its Jersey-based parent company Friend Media Technology Systems Limited. Both entities are part of the Friend Group, which was founded by Mr Friend 20 years ago.    

The proceedings concerned allegations that Mr Friend had breached his director and fiduciary duties owed to both the UK and the Jersey parent company (of which Mr Friend remains a director and shareholder). Further allegations concerned supposed breaches of Mr Friend's contractual obligations under his service agreement, as well as claims that he had disclosed confidential information belonging to the claimant companies. These claims were later described by the High Court as "hopeless" and "entirely without foundation".  

After careful consideration, the High Court rejected all claims brought against Mr Friend, concluding unequivocally that "the Claimants’ claims fail in their entirety".   

The judgment further noted that management's decision to remove Mr Friend's access to company systems was "motivated by the wider and widening, dispute with Mr Friend," and commented that such conduct "does not reflect well on those involved". 

Read the full judgment delivered by the High Court in the case of Friend Media Technology Systems Limited & Anor v Jonathan Norman Friend & Anor [2025] EWHC 2897. 

Ogier continues to represent Mr Friend, and other stakeholders, in closely-related unfair prejudice proceedings brought in Jersey. The defendants in those proceedings are the majority shareholders of Friend Media Technology Systems Limited, as well as the company itself.   

During the High Court proceedings, Mr Friend was represented by Gavin Mansfield KC and Carla Fischer of Littleton Chambers and Thomas Ogg and Samuel Willis of 11KBW, instructed by his English solicitors Lewis Silkin (David Samuels, Alistair Hayes, Craig Turner, Oliver Shepley and Tom Glenn). 

How Ogier can help

Ogier’s Dispute Resolution team in Jersey regularly advises clients in relation to a range of court procedures, including shareholder disputes and other contentious corporate engagements. Reach out to any of the key contacts listed for more information.