
Managing Covid-19
The coronavirus (COVID-19) poses considerable risks and challenges for all sectors, across all regions.
For businesses, the implications range from immediate impacts on business travel, commercial activity and workforces to the knock-on effects on cashflow, debt repayment and covenant compliance, contractual performance, regulatory compliance and legal liability.
On this page you will find our latest insights on the legal issues relating to coronavirus and the actions that businesses should be taking now to prepare.
If you would like to discuss how we can help you identify and mitigate the risks to your business, please contact one of the experts listed below or your usual Osborne Clarke contact.

Article list

Predictions 2022: What could be in store for US and international business?
Meeting alternatives and COVID-19: Solutions for Belgian companies and their stakeholders
Updated on 29 June 2020. As companies prepare for their annual shareholders' meetings, Belgium's federal government has offered a number...
State aid | European Commission amends Temporary Framework for a third time to include aid for micro and small companies
Micro and small companies, including start-ups, may benefit from aid; while recapitalisation measures have been modified for businesses in general.
Covid-19 ׀ Lockdown in Belgium: what are the consequences and support measures for your business?
Following the World Health Organisation's announcement on 12 March 2020 that Covid-19 constituted a pandemic, several states have gradually introduced...
Exiting lockdown | How to remain privacy-compliant when carrying out medical monitoring and testing
Medical monitoring and testing plays a vital role in combatting Covid-19, but it is important to remain compliant with privacy...
Covid 19 and Belgian Retail - Law passed confirming delay of summer sales
Last month we informed you that two draft laws regarding the postponement of the sales were pending before the Chamber...
State aid | Part IV– European Commission amends Temporary Framework for a second time to include aid recapitalisation and subordinated debt measures
Companies with longer-term solvency problems have more possibilities to benefit from recapitalisation and obtain subordinated debt following an update of...
International guide | Navigating government COVID-19 support measures
Although governments are beginning tentatively to ease lockdown restrictions, for many, it will take some time before trading returns to...
Belgian Retail Update - Postponement of the summer sales
Each year, many consumers look forward to the sales period to find great deals. Sales which are strictly regulated by...
Tax implications of the coronavirus crisis
The Belgian tax authorities--mainly on the Federal level but also on Regional level--are acting quickly to support enterprises and individuals...
Royal Decree number 15: Covid-19 crisis and suspension of execution
On 24 April 2020, the Royal Decree number 15, regarding the temporary suspension in favour of undertakings of executive measures...
Immigration during Covid-19
Updates and practical guidance for employers – Belgium perspective
Coronavirus Legal Briefing | The EU's exit strategy for business
Welcome to Osborne Clarke's Coronavirus Legal Briefing, our newsletter on business law issues in these sombre times.
European competition law and Covid-19: exceptional rules for business cooperation
Antitrust rules have been eased temporarily by the European Commission to allow closer business cooperation – especially for the health...
State aid | Part III – European Commission amends Temporary Framework to include aid for Life Sciences sector
Life sciences businesses working on Covid-19 related products may be able to benefit from government funding for a range of...
Coronavirus A guide for your business
COVID-19 – and the measures governments have implemented to slow the spread of the virus – represent an unprecedented challenge...
Competition law in times of crisis: Can you get a free pass?
COVID-19 has affected our world in unprecedented ways. Hardly any industry is spared from the serious economic consequences. Though some...
State aid | How can governments support businesses in the midst of the coronavirus crisis? Part II – European Commission Temporary Framework
As the coronavirus causes the risk of significant economic losses for companies and for citizens across the Union, the European...
Covid-19 | Lockdown in Belgium: what about lease agreements?
The lockdown measures adopted by the Belgian Government in its ministerial decree of 18 March 2020 involve a complete closure...
Belgian Social Elections on hold
Given the exceptional times, the Social Elections process will be put on hold. No date has been set yet but...
State aid | How can governments support businesses in the midst of the coronavirus crisis?
As the coronavirus causes significant economic losses for companies and for the citizens across the Union, affected businesses are asking...
Corporate transactions: the impact of COVID-19 internationally
With coronavirus now officially categorised by the World Health Organization as a pandemic, businesses will be renewing their focus on...
Will coronavirus be a force majeure event? It depends on your governing law
Where coronavirus causes business disruption, from fulfilment of deliveries to cancellation of events, a common question is whether commercial parties...
International employers: five considerations amid the Covid-19 emergency
Employers faced with coping with the coronavirus (Covid 19) outbreak need to put in place measures to protect, as far...
Coronavirus set to stress corporate finance arrangements
With market pressures likely to lead to many businesses triggering events of default and material adverse change clauses, it is...
Coronavirus in commercial property: what action should you take?
The effect of coronavirus has hit the real estate market, lowering stock market values, postponing MIPIM and causing concern across...
Coronavirus | Good practice for personal data processing in France
What is best practice when a company processes personal data for the protection of its employees against Coronavirus?
Coronavirus: the provision of temporary staff during an epidemic
Businesses and employer organisations will need to keep going as best they can during the more disruptive period of any...
How will coronavirus impact corporate transactions and reporting?
As the situation in the UK and around the world evolves rapidly, many businesses will be focussed on the immediate...
Coronavirus | An update for UK employers as ACAS issues workplace guidance
The risk in the UK of coronavirus (COVID-19) has moved from low to moderate, with 35 cases now confirmed within...
Coronavirus: force majeure, supply chains and contractual performance
The coronavirus is having a substantial economic impact, disrupting production, supply chains and travel. Businesses need to consider the legal...
The Coronavirus: what do employers need to know and do?
The Coronavirus continues to dominate headlines around the globe. On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organisation declared that the...

Home and away: working across borders
Predictions 2022: What could be in store for US and international business?
Meeting alternatives and COVID-19: Solutions for Belgian companies and their stakeholders
Updated on 29 June 2020. As companies prepare for their annual shareholders' meetings, Belgium's federal government has offered a number...
State aid | European Commission amends Temporary Framework for a third time to include aid for micro and small companies
Micro and small companies, including start-ups, may benefit from aid; while recapitalisation measures have been modified for businesses in general.
Covid-19 ׀ Lockdown in Belgium: what are the consequences and support measures for your business?
Following the World Health Organisation's announcement on 12 March 2020 that Covid-19 constituted a pandemic, several states have gradually introduced...
Exiting lockdown | How to remain privacy-compliant when carrying out medical monitoring and testing
Medical monitoring and testing plays a vital role in combatting Covid-19, but it is important to remain compliant with privacy...
Covid 19 and Belgian Retail - Law passed confirming delay of summer sales
Last month we informed you that two draft laws regarding the postponement of the sales were pending before the Chamber...
State aid | Part IV– European Commission amends Temporary Framework for a second time to include aid recapitalisation and subordinated debt measures
Companies with longer-term solvency problems have more possibilities to benefit from recapitalisation and obtain subordinated debt following an update of...
International guide | Navigating government COVID-19 support measures
Although governments are beginning tentatively to ease lockdown restrictions, for many, it will take some time before trading returns to...
Belgian Retail Update - Postponement of the summer sales
Each year, many consumers look forward to the sales period to find great deals. Sales which are strictly regulated by...
Tax implications of the coronavirus crisis
The Belgian tax authorities--mainly on the Federal level but also on Regional level--are acting quickly to support enterprises and individuals...
Royal Decree number 15: Covid-19 crisis and suspension of execution
On 24 April 2020, the Royal Decree number 15, regarding the temporary suspension in favour of undertakings of executive measures...
Immigration during Covid-19
Updates and practical guidance for employers – Belgium perspective
Coronavirus Legal Briefing | The EU's exit strategy for business
Welcome to Osborne Clarke's Coronavirus Legal Briefing, our newsletter on business law issues in these sombre times.
European competition law and Covid-19: exceptional rules for business cooperation
Antitrust rules have been eased temporarily by the European Commission to allow closer business cooperation – especially for the health...
State aid | Part III – European Commission amends Temporary Framework to include aid for Life Sciences sector
Life sciences businesses working on Covid-19 related products may be able to benefit from government funding for a range of...
Coronavirus A guide for your business
COVID-19 – and the measures governments have implemented to slow the spread of the virus – represent an unprecedented challenge...
Competition law in times of crisis: Can you get a free pass?
COVID-19 has affected our world in unprecedented ways. Hardly any industry is spared from the serious economic consequences. Though some...
State aid | How can governments support businesses in the midst of the coronavirus crisis? Part II – European Commission Temporary Framework
As the coronavirus causes the risk of significant economic losses for companies and for citizens across the Union, the European...
Covid-19 | Lockdown in Belgium: what about lease agreements?
The lockdown measures adopted by the Belgian Government in its ministerial decree of 18 March 2020 involve a complete closure...
Belgian Social Elections on hold
Given the exceptional times, the Social Elections process will be put on hold. No date has been set yet but...
State aid | How can governments support businesses in the midst of the coronavirus crisis?
As the coronavirus causes significant economic losses for companies and for the citizens across the Union, affected businesses are asking...
Corporate transactions: the impact of COVID-19 internationally
With coronavirus now officially categorised by the World Health Organization as a pandemic, businesses will be renewing their focus on...
Will coronavirus be a force majeure event? It depends on your governing law
Where coronavirus causes business disruption, from fulfilment of deliveries to cancellation of events, a common question is whether commercial parties...
International employers: five considerations amid the Covid-19 emergency
Employers faced with coping with the coronavirus (Covid 19) outbreak need to put in place measures to protect, as far...
Coronavirus set to stress corporate finance arrangements
With market pressures likely to lead to many businesses triggering events of default and material adverse change clauses, it is...
Coronavirus in commercial property: what action should you take?
The effect of coronavirus has hit the real estate market, lowering stock market values, postponing MIPIM and causing concern across...
Coronavirus | Good practice for personal data processing in France
What is best practice when a company processes personal data for the protection of its employees against Coronavirus?
Coronavirus: the provision of temporary staff during an epidemic
Businesses and employer organisations will need to keep going as best they can during the more disruptive period of any...
How will coronavirus impact corporate transactions and reporting?
As the situation in the UK and around the world evolves rapidly, many businesses will be focussed on the immediate...
Coronavirus | An update for UK employers as ACAS issues workplace guidance
The risk in the UK of coronavirus (COVID-19) has moved from low to moderate, with 35 cases now confirmed within...
Coronavirus: force majeure, supply chains and contractual performance
The coronavirus is having a substantial economic impact, disrupting production, supply chains and travel. Businesses need to consider the legal...
The Coronavirus: what do employers need to know and do?
The Coronavirus continues to dominate headlines around the globe. On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organisation declared that the...
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