High Court dismisses Chris Hutcheson's petition to wind up Gordon Ramsay Holdings

The High Court has dismissed a petition from Chris Hutcheson, the former chief executive officer of Gordon Ramsay Holdings (GRH), to wind up the celebrity chef's company.

Hutcheson was dismissed from GRH in October 2010 for alleged financial impropriety but settled out of court with son-in-law Ramsay last year after agreeing to what is believed to have been a £2m pay-out.

However, Hutcheson consequently made an application to the High Court to have GRH wound up in pursuit of an alleged unpaid debt. He also alleged that GRH was under investigation from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)over tax fraud at the company, which comprises Ramsay's multi-Michelin-starred London operations, including Maze and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.

However, Hutcheson's petition has now been dismissed by the High Court.

Hutcheson's solicitor, Ryan Carthew, told Caterer and Hotelkeeper: "I can confirm that the petition to wind up GRH has been dismissed on the undertaking that GRH pays the outstanding debt in full."

Meanwhile, a source close to GRH added: "The winding up petition was published maliciously and in contravention of the court rules, which amounts to an abuse of process. The issue between the parties was never about GRH's solvency."

The source added that GRH was "actively and amicably" working with HMRC to resolve the tax investigation, which relates to an issue that arose under "previous management".

Ramsay sacked Hutcheson, his former right-hand man who masterminded the rapid growth of the chef's restaurant empire, after it emerged he had withdrawn money from the company to fund a secret double life. Previously Gordon Ramsay was awarded £250,000 after a judge ruled that Hutcheson had illegally accessed his e-mail and computers.

The pair settled out of court in January 2011 and consequently withdrew their claims about each other.

Hutcheson has since made a return to the hospitality industry with the launch of healthy fast-food concept, Scoffs.

Gordon Ramsay's father-in-law to launch healthy fast-food chain Scoffs >>
Gordon Ramsay Holdings returns to profit >>
Gordon Ramsay and father-in-law Chris Hutcheson settle legal action out of court >>

By Kerstin Kühn

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