• the choice of the right corporate form;
• the transaction process in mergers and acquisitions (overseeing the due diligence investigation, conducting negotiations, drafting the final agreement);
• various corporate disputes handled through mediation, arbitration and/or the courts;
• drawing up the corporate housekeeping documents and contracts between all the partners involved in the business;
• the avoidance of, and assistance with, legal proceedings in the area of directors’ liability.
  

Commercial law

Commercial law encompasses all aspects of doing business, making this a highly dynamic branch of law. The day-to-day relations between businesses and between a business and its customers or public authorities are reflected in, among others, commercial contracts, loan contracts, licence contracts, building contracts, distribution agreements, agency agreements, franchising arrangements, commercial leases, office and logistics leases and purchase and sale contracts. A business also has the freedom to trade at its own discretion, and this entails that it must be able to assess its liability easily and correctly.

A company can distribute its products or services through various channels and in different ways. The relationship between the company and its distributors or commercial agents also exists to varying degrees. Here, sound legal advice is crucial in the establishment and management of a distribution network.

Freedom of competition is another cornerstone of economic life. Every business must accept competition, except where this is contractually restricted. Competition must be fair, and if that is not the case action can be taken to demand the cessation of unfair practices. In situations like this, swift and efficient action is of the essence. The enforcement of contractual restrictions on free competition is also a frequently-recurring theme in business relations.

Certain rules need to be observed vis-à-vis the consumer as well. For example, businesses must take care when devising advertising or promotional campaigns since they must be sufficiently appealing and enticing to the customer, while at the same time complying with the law. In this connection, we offer in-depth knowledge of both product liability and consumer protection.

Finally, unpaid invoices can compromise the cash flow of a business. Here as well, the law provides for a wide range of instruments to secure payment by action either in or out of court. It is recommended to obtain legal advice to ensure that you make the right choice.

We offer assistance and advice relating to:

• representation in the most diverse national and international disputes and transactions;
• drafting or reviewing loan, distribution, franchising and agency contracts, or terminating such contracts;
• scanning your marketing campaign to make sure it is attractive as well as legally compliant;
• recovering unpaid invoices, proposing out-of-court settlements, sending dunning letters and negotiating instalment plans;-
• securing an enforceable judgement and, if necessary, taking additional action such as attachment and foreclosure.