Tilli – a remark must be interpreted in the light of the intended audience. I doubt that the majority of Pprune folk will have been lead down the dry and dusty road of statutory interpretation by my admittedly lax use of a professional phrase! My comment has a serious intent, for I too in the dim and distant past was the subject of such an bonding agreement.
I can see nothing in the HRA that might have a bearing on the bonding issue but am of course open to persuasive argument. Over to you.
FNG – restraint of trade has been the traditional defence employed in bonding situations, with a notable lack of success, although the cases of which I am aware pre-date the Bosman EU ruling to which you refer. I concur with your assessment of the chances of utilising this and similar judgements in situations to which this thread refers.