But how much damages Ong & Ong Architects can claim from Ms Rachel Yee, Mr Leslie Seow and Mr Ridzuan Sarbini remains to be seen.

Justice Belinda Ang, while ruling in favour of Ong & Ong, said that it was difficult to say whether the firm had suffered losses as a result of the employees' breach of duties.

A separate hearing will be held to assess the amount of damages.

In 2003, Ong & Ong chairman Ong Tze Boon had approached Mr Seow, who was a partner with Ms Yee at a small interior design firm, Six Planes & Partners (SPP).

This was part of a plan to acquire small companies and hire specialists so that the firm could provide integrated services.

Mr Seow and Ms Yee signed employment letters, were paid fixed salaries and given leave entitlements and benefits, including medical insurance and Central Provident Fund contributions.

Mr Ridzuan, who was with SPP then, was hired by Ong & Ong in March 2004.

Ong & Ong, represented by Senior Counsel Philip Jeyaretnam, charged that the three provided services on their own and used the firm's resources for these activities.

But the defendants, represented by Mr Adrian Tan, countered that they were not employees of Ong & Ong.

Ms Yee and Mr Seow said they had gone into a profit-sharing business venture with the firm.

Mr Ridzuan claimed that he had been seconded to Ong & Ong.

The trio contended that, under the joint venture, they were not prohibited from doing work for SPP.

Ms Yee and Mr Seow counter-sued Ong & Ong for about $230,000 - their purported 50-percent share of the profits under the joint-venture.

They also accused the firm of passing off SPP's works and awards as its own.

These claims were dismissed by Justice Ang, who held that the trio were employees and found no evidence of a profit-sharing agreement.