Consolidator ends legal action against former employee's firm.

Oval has been awarded a six-figure sum in an out-of-court mediated settlement following proceedings against broker Southall Harries.

The legal action arose after Marc Harries, a former employee at Oval’s Birmingham office, formed Southall Harries and took a number of Oval’s clients with him without consent, breaching a restricted covenants agreement.

Oval launched proceedings against Southall Harries, resulting in this settlement.

Peter Matthews, regional managing director of Oval in the Midlands, said: “We are pleased with the result, which vindicates our view that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.

“It should be stamped out of our industry.”

Matthew Southall, director at Southall Harries, said: “We are very pleased the situation with ourselves and Oval is over. Now we can concentrate on the business and focus on the things we do best.”

Earlier this year, Oval was awarded six-figure compensation in another case when it took Berkeley Burke, a rival broker, to court.

That legal action arose after four former employees of Oval’s Luton office joined Berkeley Burke and took a number of Oval’s clients with them without consent.