Working with distressed companies is challenging but knowing that you are helping others is rewarding, says M&A expert

Acquisitions, mergers, sales, company restructuring, tax and legal structuring… These are only a few examples of activities that many businesses have to carry out. These are demanding strategic decisions even in standard circumstances, but what if the company is also in financial distress? In such situations, expert help is key. One of such experts is Jan Dudík, a Deloitte Legal lawyer who specialises in mergers and acquisitions in relation to distressed companies. What is his job like and what is interesting about this field of M&A? These are some of the questions we asked in our interview. 

The Electronic Signing of Documents: A Phenomenon in the Time of Digitization, but a Necessity in the Time of Crisis

Czech legislation permits companies, and their clients, to use several kinds of online communication, including those with the use of remote contract signing. Although it is not regulatory news, there are companies that have not yet embraced such digitisation, even in these times. During the coronavirus crisis, interaction without physical presence is not only an interesting bonus, it is an outright necessity. We have therefore summarised key information that will help companies avoid disruption in communication with their customers, continue entering into contracts, and still meet all the requirements of current measures. 

The Czech Republic has switched to the new DVB-T2 broadcasting standard

After less than a year, the process of switching from DVB-T to the new DVB-T2 broadcasting standard has successfully ended in the Czech Republic. However, what does this actually mean for viewers? For example, they will be able to watch more TV programmes. Televisions can expand their programme offers and broadcast their programmes in a higher standard. At the same time, the construction of 5G mobile networks can begin. 

What to pay attention to when employees work from abroad

Do you know what remote work is? Do different rules apply to remote work from the Czech Republic and from abroad? And what regulations apply to foreign employees carrying out remote work from the Czech Republic? 

According to the Supreme Administrative Court, rules for public contracts need to be applied to the acquisition of shares, equity investments in companies, and businesses

On 29 October 2020, the Supreme Administrative Court issued a final ruling (file no. 9 As 139/2020) in which it addressed the case of the acquisition of shares and a business by a public contracting authority. The substance of the dispute is the issue of whether the term “thing” as used in Act No. 134/2016 Coll., on Public Procurement, as amended, corresponds to the definition contained in public procurement directives of the European Union, or the Czech Civil Code. 

How to terminate an employment relationship? Always in writing and based on the proper grounds

Termination of an employment relationship is one of the most problematic employment law issues. Especially notice of termination served by employers often give rise to disputes that may result in an employee challenging the validity of the notice at court and the employer being required to prove that the notice of termination was served in compliance with the provisions of the Labour Code. Let us take a closer look at four basic ways to terminate an employment relationship and remind you of the rules relating to employment termination. Do you know, for example, which employees are protected from being terminated by notice and when severance payment may or must be provided to an employee? 

Sustainable transformation is gaining strength: What changes will greening the economy bring?

There is probably no need to emphasise what exceptional times we live in. Society is changing at a dizzying pace and is able to adapt to pandemic conditions with unprecedented flexibility. The newly acquired capabilities resulting from rapid and complex changes are an opportunity for us to open a number of social topics that we have not been comfortable discussing thus far. Greening the economy is one of them. Part of society will naturally perceive it as a forced mantra but let us take a different look and consider it as an opportunity for improvement. 

Coronavirus pandemic positively impacts sustainable private investments, public aid follows closely behind

The latest surveys and statistics show that investments into sustainable projects have been growing in the long term, also thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, it seems that ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) funds are more profitable than the traditional ones. The public sector is not lagging behind in aiding sustainable transformation; it is already possible to draw new funds on the Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovations for Competitiveness (OPEIC), which can be used for driving innovation and more sustainable businesses. At a European level, new calls in the Horizon 2020 programme were announced which should help fulfil the goals of Green Deal. In addition, the European Commission published guidelines that will allow member states to compensate certain businesses for indirect costs in relation to the greenhouse gas emission trading scheme after 2021. 

The energy sector is in the midst of a sustainable transformation with many ways of funding

Energy financing is a topical issue that affects the energy sector across the whole of the EU. For example, the Regulation on the Union Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism issued by the European Commission in September this year aims at raising funds to meet the Green Deal's commitments. However, this is not the only way – companies can also use the opportunity to fund energy transformation through a very advantageous EPC method (Energy Performance Contracting). Learn how businesses and consumers are aware of the transformation of the sector and how energy leaders themselves see the transition to renewables.