Covid-19 | Analyses of the ordinances taken by the French government

This page brings together presentations, drafted by our lawyers, of the ordinances and implementing decrees. It is structured around the following eight topics: Time-Limits, Litigation and Proceedings; Solidarity Fund and Distressed Companies; Company Administration; Tax Law; Employment Law; Public Law and Environment; Real Estate; Intellectual Property and New Technologies.

• The right of creditors to object to corporate transactions in Covid-19 period (last update on 05/06/2020)
• Mandatory laws and ordinances in 2020 – International application of the freezing of periodic penalty payments, penalty clauses, termination clauses and forfeiture clauses during a state of public health emergency
• The resumption of consumption works (private markets) subject to the health management of the Covid-19 epidemic

TIME-LIMITS, LITIGATION AND PROCEEDINGS

• Extension of time-limits during the health emergency period and adaptation of procedures during the same period (last update on 18/05/2020)
• Adaptation of the rules of criminal procedure to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak (last update on 18/05/2020)
• Adaptation of the rules applicable to judicial courts ruling in non-criminal matters (last update on 27/05/2020)
• Adaptation of the rules applicable before the administrative courts (last update on 15/05/2020)

SOLIDARITY FUND AND DISTRESSED COMPANIES

• Creation of a solidarity fund for companies severely affected by the economic, financial and social consequences of Covid-19 and related containment measures (last update on 14/05/2020)
• Adaptation of the rules related to difficulties faced by companies and farms due to the state of public health emergency (last update on 27/05/2020)

COMPANY ADMINISTRATION

• Adaptation of the rules relating to the preparation, decree, audit, review, approval and publication of accounts (last update on 18/05/2020)
• Adaptation of the rules governing meetings and deliberations of assemblies and governing bodies (last update on 03/06/2020)
• Financial conditions for the cancellation of certain tourist travel and holiday package contracts in the event of exceptional and unavoidable circumstances or force majeure
• The impact of Covid-19 on supplier-client relations (last update on 03/06/2020)
• Adaptation of EU and French merger and antitrust rules in the context of the Covid-19 outbreak

TAX LAW

• Tax measures (last update on 03/06/2020)

EMPLOYMENT LAW

• Adaptation of the terms and conditions for granting the supplementary indemnity and for paying sums allotted under the mandatory and optional profit-sharing schemes (last update on 13/05/2020)
• Emergency measures taken regarding paid vacation, rest days and working time (last update on 08/04/2020)
• Emergency measures in terms of partial activity (last update on 13/05/2020)
• Emergency measures taken regarding staff representative bodies (last update on 18/05/2020)
• Modification of the deadline and conditions of payment of the exceptional buying power bonus
• Works Council (CSE) consultations in light of the Covid-19 health crisis

PUBLIC LAW AND ENVIRONMENT

• Q&A: Consequences of the state of public health emergency on planning and commercial planning permissions (last update on 15/05/2020)
• Q&A: Environmental law implications of a state of health emergency (last update on 17/05/2020)
• Measures to adapt the rules for the award, procedure or execution of contracts subject to the French code of public procurement (last update on 14/05/2020)
• Continuing operation of local institutions, local authorities and local public establishments (last update on 28/05/2020)
• Public sector arrangements in France (last update on 18/05/2020)

REAL ESTATE LAW

• Payment of rent and water/gas/electricity bills for professional premises leased by businesses affected by the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic (last update on 15/05/2020)
• Adaptation of the rules applicable to contracts of condominium’s managing agents and co-owner general meetings (last update on 21/05/2020)
• Extension of the winter ban on tenant evictions (last update on 15/05/2020)

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES

• Consequences in terms of intellectual property (last update on 18/05/2020)
• Adaptation of time frames and procedures applicable to the installation or modification of electronic communications equipment to ensure the availability of electronic communications services and networks in the context of Covid-19 (last update on 14/05/2020)
• Exceptional aid to holders of copyrights and neighbouring rights on account of the consequences of the spread of the Covid-19 virus

Click here to read the legal updates of Gide’s multidisciplinary taskforce set up to answer all your legal issues relating to Covid-19.

During this period, all our teams remain by your side and are fully operational to answer your questions and the challenges your company may be facing.

As the situation is constantly changing, we have set up a dedicated email address for all your Covid19-related questions: covid19@gide.com. Please also feel free to get in touch with your usual contacts at Gide to discuss the impact of the Covid-19 on your business.

Stay safe,

The Management Committee & the Covid-19 taskforce
on behalf of the Partners of Gide