Former CEO of Chartered Land suing founder Joe O'Reilly for unpaid payments

High Court reporters

The former CEO of the Chartered Land company is suing its founder Joe O'Reilly for payment he says he is due in relation to the development of sites in Ballsbridge, Dublin.

Andrew Gunne, former boss of Chartered Land Estate Management, and current principal of Beo Residential, is seeking judgment for €500,000 against Mr O'Reilly for an unpaid performance payment.

His case was admitted to the Commercial Court on Monday following an application from David Whelan BL, for Mr Gunne, who said the overall value of the payments exceeded the €1 million threshold for entry to the fast track commercial list.

Andrew Fitzpatrick SC, on behalf of Mr O'Reilly, who disputes the claim, objected to entry of the case to the list. The judge was however satisfied that on balance the case came within the rules of the Commercial Court.

Chartered Management is the exclusive development manager of what is known as Project Trinity, a major redevelopment of lands in Ballsbridge which include the former veterinary college.

Under a development management agreement of 2015 with the land owners, Copper Bridge, which is owned and/or controlled by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, a range of fees were to be paid to Chartered Management.

Payment

Mr Gunne said in an affidavit that payment due to him arose out of a 2018 agreement relating to him selling his shares in one of Chartered Land's indirect holding companies, Victorem Unlimited Co (VUC).

He said when he joined Chartered Land he agreed with Mr O'Reilly that he would be entitled to 10 per cent of the defendant's return on the disposal of certain assets managed by Chartered, including the Dundrum Town Centre.  Although this agreement was not documented, he says, he became a 25 per cent shareholder in VUC.

When he subsequently asked Mr O'Reilly when his 10 per cent would be paid, the defendant "gave a variety of excuses", he said.

Following protracted "and on occasion heated discussions and negotiations", he says the sale of shares was agreed where he would in turn get a number of performance or "promote payments" based on the return achieved by the Abu Dhabi owners in Project Trinity.