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?
Driving change in employment in 2022: the challenges that arise from accelerating transformational change
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.
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...
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...
Postponement of tax deadlines to June 30th 2020
For March and April, the Government had implemented several tax measures such as the tax deferral of direct taxes. In...
Data protection and Covid-19: French companies, their suppliers and contractors, and cyber risks
As lockdown is extended in France for a few more weeks, companies still need to ensure they adopt actions required...
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...
Franchise des droits à l’importation et exonération de la TVA sur les importations octroyées pour les marchandises nécessaires à la lutte contre les effets de la pandémie de COVID-19
Décision de la Commission européenne n° C-2020-2146 en date du 3 avril 2020 relative à la franchise des droits à...
Soutenir les entreprises en France pendant la crise du Covid-19 : les nouveautés sur le régime de l'activité partielle
L'activité partielle temporaire est un régime spécifique existant en France pour soutenir les entreprises confrontées à un déclin d'activité /...
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...
Covid-19 | The French tax authorities clarify the implementation of tax measures
In the context of the Covid-19 crisis, the French government announced exceptional tax measures. The French tax authorities have provided...
Relaxation of State aid rules in France: how to take advantage of the new scheme
Facing the spread of Covid 19 and to alleviate its serious economic repercussions, the European Union announced a relaxation of...
French Competition Authority proposes competition reforms for digital platforms
The increased prominence of online services in the face of Covid-19 underlines the issues flagged by the French Competition Authority...
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...
Newly released movies in France can benefit from exceptional shorter time conditions for broadcast and on-demand access
The newly adopted Covid-19 health emergency legislation in France includes an exceptional derogation to the so-called media chronology rule imposed...
COVID-19 | How to avoid future litigation in France with your commercial partners?
Following the French government’s declarations relating to the COVID-19 epidemic, guidance is needed to manage your commercial relationships with the...
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...
Obligation to fight fake news applies to all online platforms, not only news or social media platforms
In a recently published questionnaire, the CSA (French Broadcasting Authority) has confirmed that regulations brought in to tackle fake news...
Coronavirus | Preserving your legal position in adversity
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...
Corporate tax residency: potential implications of COVID-19
Coronavirus-related travel restrictions may cause problems for certain non-UK companies if non-UK-resident directors cannot physically attend UK board meetings.
Coronavirus and employer liability | the limits in France
The coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic that is affecting many countries requires every employer to take the necessary measures to protect its...
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?
Driving change in employment in 2022: the challenges that arise from accelerating transformational change
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.
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...
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...
Postponement of tax deadlines to June 30th 2020
For March and April, the Government had implemented several tax measures such as the tax deferral of direct taxes. In...
Data protection and Covid-19: French companies, their suppliers and contractors, and cyber risks
As lockdown is extended in France for a few more weeks, companies still need to ensure they adopt actions required...
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...
Franchise des droits à l’importation et exonération de la TVA sur les importations octroyées pour les marchandises nécessaires à la lutte contre les effets de la pandémie de COVID-19
Décision de la Commission européenne n° C-2020-2146 en date du 3 avril 2020 relative à la franchise des droits à...
Soutenir les entreprises en France pendant la crise du Covid-19 : les nouveautés sur le régime de l'activité partielle
L'activité partielle temporaire est un régime spécifique existant en France pour soutenir les entreprises confrontées à un déclin d'activité /...
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...
Covid-19 | The French tax authorities clarify the implementation of tax measures
In the context of the Covid-19 crisis, the French government announced exceptional tax measures. The French tax authorities have provided...
Relaxation of State aid rules in France: how to take advantage of the new scheme
Facing the spread of Covid 19 and to alleviate its serious economic repercussions, the European Union announced a relaxation of...
French Competition Authority proposes competition reforms for digital platforms
The increased prominence of online services in the face of Covid-19 underlines the issues flagged by the French Competition Authority...
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...
Newly released movies in France can benefit from exceptional shorter time conditions for broadcast and on-demand access
The newly adopted Covid-19 health emergency legislation in France includes an exceptional derogation to the so-called media chronology rule imposed...
COVID-19 | How to avoid future litigation in France with your commercial partners?
Following the French government’s declarations relating to the COVID-19 epidemic, guidance is needed to manage your commercial relationships with the...
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...
Obligation to fight fake news applies to all online platforms, not only news or social media platforms
In a recently published questionnaire, the CSA (French Broadcasting Authority) has confirmed that regulations brought in to tackle fake news...
Coronavirus | Preserving your legal position in adversity
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...
Corporate tax residency: potential implications of COVID-19
Coronavirus-related travel restrictions may cause problems for certain non-UK companies if non-UK-resident directors cannot physically attend UK board meetings.
Coronavirus and employer liability | the limits in France
The coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic that is affecting many countries requires every employer to take the necessary measures to protect its...
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...