Publications

On 18 March 2020, the Federal Council ordered an extraordinary suspension of limitation periods under debt enforcement and bankruptcy law. The ordinary debt enforcement holiday suspensions appliesfrom 5 April 2020 until Sunday 19 April 2020. However, exceptions from this rule are permitted.

Dr. iur. Irma Ambauen, Dr. iur. Davide Pinelli

On 26 March 2020, as a result of the Coronavirus the Ordinance on the Grant of Loans and Joint and Several Loan Guarantees (COVID-19 Ordinance on Joint and Several Loan Guarantees) entered into force. According to this Ordinance, businesses are to be provided with sufficient liquidity through bridging loans in order to be able to cover their fixed costs, despite the revenue losses caused by the Coronavirus. Alongside the measures relating to reduced working hours and COVID loss of earnings compensation in order to cover salary costs, which have already approved by the Federal Council, these additional measures offer a comprehensive package of measures to avert the economic consequences of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. iur. Davide Pinelli, Dr. iur. Markus Kaufmann

The Coronavirus has a firm grip on our everyday lives at the moment. In order to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, the Federal Council has issued various ordinances, and it is still not certain whether further more stringent measures will subsequently be adopted. The measures issued are already having effects on various areas of the law, such as for instance reduced working hours compensation. Construction and property law has also been affected by the measures adopted by the Federal Government in order to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.

Dr. iur. Davide Pinelli, Mathias Birrer

On March 25, 2020 and March 27, 2020, the Federal Council adopted further measures to combat the economic consequences of the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). This update provides a brief overview and a core summary of the individual measures adopted. This list is not intended to be comprehensive.

Raffael Steger

Since the adoption by the Federal Council of the Ordinance on Measures to Combat the Coronavirus (COVID-19) of 28 February 2020, the effects on the Swiss economy have become immediately apparent. A number of legal questions have arisen, for instance in relation to reduced working hours compensation and loss of earnings compensation, debt enforcement and bankruptcy law, the law of civil and administrative procedure, general labour law as well as contract law. An assessment of a number of labour law issues is already available in our previous krfacts issue “Labour Law and COVID-19”. This issue will briefly summarise several selected questions regarding the issues mentioned above.

Raffael Steger

The Swiss Federal Council entered the Ordinance on the Control of Coronavirus (COVID-19) of 28 February 2020 into force and the effects on the Swiss economy were felt immediately. Contractual relations are particularly affected and various questions have arisenin the area of labour law. In addition to the operational measures that are necessary, the most important questions regarding the employment contract are briefly summarised below.

Andrea Meule, Raffael Steger

Various changes to federal legislation will enter into force on 1 January / 1 July 2020. Below is a selection of the most important changes which we have summarised for you.

Dr. iur. Markus Kaufmann, Andrea Meule

In 2015 Switzerland implemented the recommendations of the Groupe d'action financière (GAFI), which have led to the introduction of enhanced transparency requirements and reporting duties. On 21 June 2019 the Parliament approved the Swiss Federal Act on the Implementation of Recommendations of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes. After the referendum deadline expired unused on 10 October 2019, the Act will enter into force on 1 November 2019. The new Act will further enhance transparency requirements with the aim of enabling Switzerland to pass the next national examination carried out by the Global Forum with flying colours.

Andrea Meule, Dr. iur. Markus Kaufmann

The choice for the most suitable type of enterprise for a commercial undertaking in Switzerland is of great importance. Regarding liability and taxes, limited liability companies will be on the fore, at present as well as after the current amendments.

Dr. iur. Markus Kaufmann