As we recently observed in many states across the EU, national lawmakers have been coming up with bills that put in place mandatory non-EU FDI (foreign direct investment) approval requirements. The purpose of this legislation is to give state authorities competence to assess risks to national interests arising from such FDI and, if necessary, take … Continue Reading
On April 15, 2020, the Chair of the Polish Competition and Consumers Protection Authority (UOKiK), Mr. Tomasz Chróstny, delivered a speech defining UOKiK’s main focus areas amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. In a 90-minute address, Mr. Chróstny defined the areas of particular attention for UOKiK in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.… Continue Reading
On April 9, 2020, the Polish Sejm (lower House of Parliament) passed the Act on special support instruments with regard to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease caused by it (the so-called Shield 2.0), featuring much anticipated changes to the deadlines for filing for bankruptcy.… Continue Reading
In order to counteract the effects of the COVID-19 epidemic and the effects of economic slowdown, the Polish government has announced another PLN 100 billion (EUR 22 billion) support package for Polish business. The main goals of the program are supporting the liquidity of enterprises and maintenance of employment.… Continue Reading
The Polish government is putting the finishing touches to legislation aimed at supporting entrepreneurs in the time of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The new legislation is divided into several parts and deals with aid through public sources, such as financing of maintenance of employment, microloans to SMEs, deferring payments of certain amounts due … Continue Reading
By virtue of the Regulation of the Minister of Health dated March 21, 2020 on Declaring the State of Epidemic within the Republic of Poland following COVID-19 infections, a number of restrictions have been enacted which have a bearing on the functioning of certain companies. The raging epidemic and the associated interaction and mobility restrictions … Continue Reading
The coronavirus pandemic poses new risks and challenges for business at a scale unknown before. In order to assist businesses, the Polish government has announced that a PLN 212 bn ($53bn) stimulus package will be put in place. For a summary see our previous post. Start up of the aid package will take time, and … Continue Reading
2019 saw a number of changes in corporate and commercial law, which may have a bearing on Polish operations and transactions. Further developments are anticipated in 2020. The beginning of the new year is a good opportunity to round up issues essential for business.… Continue Reading
In October 2019, the Council of the European Union formally adopted a new Directive for the Protection of Whistleblowers, requiring both private and public organisations to create safe channels for reporting across a wide range of areas, including public procurement, financial services or money laundering. Member States will have two years to transpose the Directive … Continue Reading
On September 3, 2019, an amendment to the Commercial Companies Code came into effect (Amendment), introducing a major change in how shareholders can hold their annual shareholders’ meetings. Rather than holding shareholders’ meetings at the company’s registered office or any other location specified in the articles of association (within Poland), the shareholders of limited liability … Continue Reading
As of 1 January 2014, the Czech Republic has enacted new legal rules regarding the corporate law presented in the act no. 90/2012 Coll., Business Corporations Act (the “BCA”). Meanwhile the new regulation was settling in, the practice has discovered a number of gaps and shortcomings of the new law and thus the lawmakers has … Continue Reading
Will the concept of “piercing the corporate veil” be accepted in Polish law? Is the Polish lawmaker ready to break one of the major rules of the Polish companies’ law? The Polish government is working on a law introducing shareholders’ liability to the creditors of a company. We have already touched upon the issue of … Continue Reading
The liability of divided companies for the obligations of acquiring or newly incorporated companies under division by separation has given rise to controversy and debate within the legal doctrine in Poland. The legislation in force before March 1, 2019, did not provide the creditors of dividing companies with much protection. Since March 1, 2019, under … Continue Reading
Under Czech law, can a statutory body member of a Czech company escape from the risk of his/her liability, if a certain action (e.g. entering into a contract on behalf of the company) is approved by GM or the sole shareholder in advance? Directors of Czech limited liability companies and members of boards of directors … Continue Reading
Like any other major change of legislation, the recodification of Czech private law in 2014 has raised a long list of interpretation issues. At the end of August 2018, the High Court in Prague outlined (since the decision has not yet been confirmed by the Supreme Court) an interpretation with respect to one of the … Continue Reading
One of the greatest conceptual changes and innovations of the currently effective new Civil Code (Act V of 2013 on the Civil Code) was the permissive regulation of the corporate rules, which is more flexible than the former binding approach. Members and founders of a legal entity can now – in the deed of association … Continue Reading
One of the many questions asked by our clients is: “Does Polish law recognise the concept of ‘piercing the corporate veil?’” Is it possible to disregard the separate legal personality of a company or corporation and make shareholders liable for the debts of the company? This question has been asked since the introduction of the … Continue Reading
The Slovak Ministry of Justice was very busy last year, and the recent amendment to the Commercial Code introduces a number of provisions that are aimed at fixing local malpractice related to mergers and liquidation of companies, use of “straw men” as executives and the impact of bad decisions of shareholders on the local affiliates. … Continue Reading
As of 1 January 2018, Hungary’s new communication platform is now in use. It is a concept similar to the electronic communication platform that has been widely available to private individuals for some time. The purpose of both platforms is to enable users to communicate efficiently with the central and local governments online. While private individuals … Continue Reading
As of January 1, 2018, those who are obliged to file a petition for declaration of bankruptcy of a company will face stricter liability in Slovakia, which could even result in their disqualification to sit on boards of Slovak companies.… Continue Reading
Are you already a board member or executive of a Slovak company or about to become one? If so, you should know about the proposed amendment to the Slovak Commercial Code. The amendment aims to address the so-called “white horses” and “tunneling (asset stripping)” of the companies. The amendment should come into force on 1 January 2018. As … Continue Reading
As of June 2017, the business registers of all EU Member States are now interconnected. The system – called BRIS (Business Registers Interconnection System) – is a joint effort of the EU governments and the European Commission. According to the information provided in the European e-Justice portal, which provides access to the BRIS to individual … Continue Reading
Recently, the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic (the “Ministry”) published a draft of amendment to the Slovak Commercial Code (the “Draft Amendment”) for public consultation. The Draft Amendment contains numerous substantial changes which we will discuss in series of separate blog posts. This post will look at the provisions relating to capital funds … Continue Reading
The Central Government Portal The creation of the Central Government Portal (CGP) has signaled the beginning of the digitalization of Slovakia. The CGP is an information system designed to provide users with official electronic communication with public authorities and with centralized and unified access to information resources through a single entry point. Over the course … Continue Reading
