Hallmark owned an office premises. The Federal Court of Australia appointed interim receivers over the premises and other assets of Hallmark. After the date of appointment, Hallmark’s director executed on the company’s behalf a lease of the premises to State Securities Pty Ltd (SSPL). Hallmark went into liquidation, and the second defendant was later appointed as receiver and manager over Hallmark’s assets. The second defendant’s representatives locked SSPL out of the premises and asserted that the lease was invalidly granted and not binding on Hallmark.