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...
The role of the coronavirus crisis in e-Commerce, potentially boosting automation and digitalisation processes
Whilst the harsh measures adopted to face the health crisis at the beginning of this year 2020 may have a...
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.
Legal implications for the energy sector as a result of the COVID-19 state of alert in Spain
Since Spain has been in a state of alarm, the government has drawn up various packages of social and economic...
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...
Spanish government ramps up workplace legislation in fight against Covid-19
Following the declaration of a "state of alarm" in Spain and the issue of employment-related measures published in the Royal...
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...
COVID-19 | Employment measures in Spain
Following the declaration on 14 March of a 'state of alarm' in Spain by the Royal Decree 463/2020 for the...
The Rebus Sic Stantibus clause in the presence of Covid-19
We are facing a worldwide crisis as a result of the appearance of Covid-19 (or better known as Coronavirus), and...
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...
Coronavirus | Preserving your legal position in adversity
Main measures established by Royal Decree 463/2020, of 14 March, declaring the state of alarm for the management of the health crisis situation caused by COVID-19
On March 14, 2020, Royal Decree 463/2020, of the same date, entered into force, declaring the state of alarm for...
Royal Decree Law 7/2020: Urgent socio-economic measures to respond to the economic impact of COVID-19
Royal Decree Law 7/2020, of 12 March, adopting urgent measures to respond to the economic impact of COVID-19 represents the...
'State of alarm': Spanish business and the Covid-19 lockdown
On 14 March 2020, the Spanish Government declared a "state of alarm" through the Royal Decree 463/2020, as an attempt...
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...
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 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...
The role of the coronavirus crisis in e-Commerce, potentially boosting automation and digitalisation processes
Whilst the harsh measures adopted to face the health crisis at the beginning of this year 2020 may have a...
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.
Legal implications for the energy sector as a result of the COVID-19 state of alert in Spain
Since Spain has been in a state of alarm, the government has drawn up various packages of social and economic...
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...
Spanish government ramps up workplace legislation in fight against Covid-19
Following the declaration of a "state of alarm" in Spain and the issue of employment-related measures published in the Royal...
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...
COVID-19 | Employment measures in Spain
Following the declaration on 14 March of a 'state of alarm' in Spain by the Royal Decree 463/2020 for the...
The Rebus Sic Stantibus clause in the presence of Covid-19
We are facing a worldwide crisis as a result of the appearance of Covid-19 (or better known as Coronavirus), and...
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...
Coronavirus | Preserving your legal position in adversity
Main measures established by Royal Decree 463/2020, of 14 March, declaring the state of alarm for the management of the health crisis situation caused by COVID-19
On March 14, 2020, Royal Decree 463/2020, of the same date, entered into force, declaring the state of alarm for...
Royal Decree Law 7/2020: Urgent socio-economic measures to respond to the economic impact of COVID-19
Royal Decree Law 7/2020, of 12 March, adopting urgent measures to respond to the economic impact of COVID-19 represents the...
'State of alarm': Spanish business and the Covid-19 lockdown
On 14 March 2020, the Spanish Government declared a "state of alarm" through the Royal Decree 463/2020, as an attempt...
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...
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 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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