Saatchi ruling on Monday

Mr Justice Jonathan Parker is due to rule on Monday on Saatchi & Saatchi's legal action against Maurice Saatchi and three executives, who quit shortly after him with the aim of starting a rival advertising agency.

In closing arguments yesterday, the court heard that the action was an attempt "to strangle a new and legitimate enterprise at birth".

Mr Gordon Pollock QC, Mr Saatchi's counsel, added that if the court granted the injunction - aiming to stop the four soliciting Saatchi employees and to prevent the three executives doing preparatory work before joining the New Saatchi Agency - it "would have the effect of preventing Mr Saatchi carrying on the new business".

The trio who quit Saatchi following Mr Saatchi's departure at the turn of the year are Jeremy Sinclair, former chairman, and Bill Muirhead and David Kershaw, ex-heads of Saatchi & Saatchi Agency Worldwide.