Entain Gets Court Approval to Keep Defense Documents Secret

Entain, the global betting company that owns Ladbrokes and Coral, has won a court order to keep its legal defense private in an ongoing lawsuit involving two of its former top leaders. The High Court’s Chancery Division made this ruling on 13 May, backing the company’s push to stop sensitive legal information from becoming public knowledge.

Entain Wins Secrecy Ruling in Legal Dispute with Former Executives Over Turkish Bribery Probe

The court’s decision has an impact on defense arguments from both Entain and its lawyers, Addleshaw Goddard LLP, in a lawsuit that Kenny Alexander and Lee Feldman, former GVC Holdings CEO and chairman, started this year. The two ex-leaders claim that confidential legal advice was given to UK prosecutors while Entain was working out a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) for past wrongdoing in Turkey.

The court’s privacy order stops outside groups from seeing the sealed papers unless they tell all involved parties, including the people suing, the defendants, and the Director of Public Prosecutions, at least a week beforehand, reported Next.io. The same seven-day notice rule applies to anyone trying to access related materials that fall under earlier privacy orders from April.

People who know about court rules say it is pretty normal to ask for some papers to be kept secret in lawsuits about touchy business or legal matters. Entain says the lawsuit against them has no real basis and they are going to fight it hard.

Alexander and Feldman Push for Disclosure in Ongoing Legal Fallout

The legal fight is about what Entain used to do in Turkey, where they got in trouble for giving agents money they should not have. Entain left Turkey in 2017, but the investigation after that led to a big settlement last year. In the deal with HMRC, Entain agreed to pay £615 million ($820 million) for fines, charity gifts, and lawyer fees. The agreement did not charge any specific people.

Alexander and Feldman claim they were Addleshaw Goddard’s clients when they worked at the company. They believe this entitles them to see any legal advice given to authorities. They want a court to declare them clients and order the disclosure of relevant legal documents.

This lawsuit adds to Entain’s growing legal troubles, which include investor lawsuits about poor financial reporting. Despite these legal issues, the company reported its yearly profits had increased by over 10%. Entain also namedStella David as its new CEO to lead the company forward.