A set of new rules regarding payment terms in commercial transactions has recently been enacted in Italy.
Legislative Decree No. 231/2002 (implementing Directive 2000/35/EC) has been amended in order to implement Directive 2011/7/EU of February 16, 2011[1] on combating late payments in commercial transactions. In addition, special provisions have been issued, some of which only apply to contracts relating to the of sale of food and agricultural products, while others apply to all business transactions (Article 62 of Law Decree No. 1/2012, implemented and amended by Law No. 27/2012; Ministerial Decree No. 199 of 2012).
The result of this new set of rules can be summarised as follows.
The payment terms for all commercial transactions will be 30 calendar days....
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TLT has been named National Firm of the Year in recognition of the firm's commitment to client service, astute business management and effective growth strategy in the prestigious Legal Business Awards.
The well-respected media title Legal Business commented that TLT is "the epitome of a well-managed firm characterised by consistent and steady growth" and that "in 2012 TLT took the bold move of using its profit to finance strategic expansion in Scotland and Northern Ireland". The award follows TLT's recent success in being rated first of all UK law firms for client service in Legal Week's client satisfaction report and cements TLT's reputation as a full-service law firm built around the needs of its clients and with a focus on delivering advice innovatively, efficiently and cost-effectively.
The....
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Klotini Sergis and Lindskog Malmström, two members of the European Law Firm network, have been representing the Spanish company Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF), S.A. in Mediation proceedings with Pasažieru Vilciens (PV), AS from Latvia.
In April 2012, CAF - one of the international market leaders in the design, manufacturing, maintenance and supply of equipment and components for railway systems and PV - the only local carrier, which provides public rail transport services in Latvia, signed an agreement on the delivery and maintenance of the rolling stock with a possible total contract value of €610 million.
The signed agreement provides for the dispute resolution by the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC) Mediation Institute. The institute was....
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To accommodate a growing team, Belgium member, Van Landuyt & Partners has moved into larger offices in Dilbeek. The firm has in fact moved back into their former premises where the firm was first established more than 30 years ago.
From the beginning of May 2013, Van Landuyt & Partners contact details are as follows:
Van Landuyt & Partners1700 DilbeekEikenlenberg 20Belgium
Tel: +32 2 466 65 21Email: luc.deleu@vlv-law.beWeb: www.vlv-law.be
....The British Government has announced a series of radical steps to facilitate the private enforcement of competition law in the UK (i.e. enforcement by individuals and businesses as opposed to public authorities).
Historically, much of the burden of enforcing competition law - whether regarding the prohibition of anti-competitive agreements or abuses of dominant positions - has fallen on the relevant competition authority, as is often the case elsewhere in the EU. However, the UK's intention, as communicated by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills or ‘BIS', is to make it easier for groups of consumers and companies to challenge anti-competitive behaviour themselves. The new measures are particularly interesting for Small and....
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In October 2012, the Swedish law firm Lindskog Malmström recruited two senior tax lawyers in order to strengthen its offer in the field of tax planning.
Cecilia Gunne has a Master of Law (LL.M.) at Uppsala University (1976) and has been practicing tax law for many years. She has worked as a judge at the Administrative Court of Appeal in Stockholm and as a tax specialist at the Swedish Ministry of Finance. She has provided Swedish and international tax advice related to asset management and banking for more than twenty years, as bank employed tax lawyer as well as partner of Family Office firms. Cecilia is a leading expert regarding taxation of investment products, foundations, closely held companies and cross-border issues.
Daniel Starberg has....
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TLT has been ranked first of all the UK top 100 law firms in Legal Week's Client Satisfaction Report 2012, which has surveyed 1,204 of the UK's largest companies including 89% of the FTSE 100. TLT beats all magic circle, City, national and regional law firms throughout the UK. TLT is ranked second of all firms when including US international firms as well.
As part of its annual research, Legal Week surveyed senior heads of legal at major UK, European and Asian companies forming part of its in-house audience, as well as listed companies, large private equity and family-owned businesses in the UK and throughout the world.
Company heads of legal were asked to rank their four main legal advisors on six criteria: the quality of legal advice; quality of commercial advice; service....
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Odvetniki Dolžan, Vidmar and Zemljarič, the European Law Firm member for Slovenia, has been declared the 2012 winners of the Acquisition International Legal Awards in the following three categories: "Slovenian Banking & Finance Law Firm of the year", "Slovenian Financial Services Law Firm of the year" and "Slovenian Securities Law Firm of the year".
The 2012 Acquisition International Legal Awards, recognise the achievements of law firms that are leaders in their respective fields and have due to their ability to adapt and act creatively in business, shown the greatest strength amid on-going global economic uncertainty. In addition, their exceptional performance is expected to continue into the future.
The winners were nominated by their clients, their professional relationships....
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In June this year, Parliament enacted a law, (known as "Legge Fornero" after Mrs Elsa Fornero, the current government Minister for Labour), which has completely reformed the labour market in Italy.
The following article outlines some of the new provisions which have for some time, prompted wide debate and numerous disputes among the trade unions, the political parties and lawyers who specialize in employment law matters.
Unlawful DismissalsThe Reform has amended article 18 of the "Statuto dei Lavoratori" (law 300/1970), providing different sanctions arising from unlawful dismissals in workplaces with more than 15 employees. Whilst the previous legislation provided reinstatement and complete back pay in all cases for the months between termination and reinstatement,....
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In order to stimulate the Slovenian capital market the Government of Slovenia recently revised its Takeovers Act. The new Act came into force on 26 June 2012 and includes the following changes: a raise of Slovenian takeover threshold from 25 percent to a third of voting rights in the acquired company, the possibility to fine individuals in violation of the takeover threshold and an obligation of creditors, which have reached the takeover threshold as a result of financial reconstruction, to report their reach to the Slovenian Securities Market Agency ("Agencija za trg vrednostnih papirjev").
The most important feature of the new Act is the raise in the shareholding threshold at which an investor is required to make a bid for a company in which it builds a stake. Under the....
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Concordia Attorneys at Law, the European Law Firm member for Estonia, has recently been voted "Matrimonial Law Firm of the Year" by Lawyer Monthly, a news website and monthly legal publication. The Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2012 recognise the achievements of those law firms and individuals who have engaged and responded most successfully to the demands being placed on them in the new post-recession business environment and the recent global economic turmoil.
Helen Hääl, partner, heads up the highly regarded private client and family law team at Concordia. The team has extensive experience in assisting clients with the preparation of marital property contracts and the resolution of disputes about the division of joint property and custody of children. Helen has also represented....
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Following a merger with Spagnuolo Vigorita Avvocati Associati at the end of October, Ceriani e Associati Studio Legale has re-launched as SCF Studio Legale. In addition to the Milan office, the firm has opened an office in Venice, headed up by Stefano Artuso and an office in Naples headed up by Gino Spagnuolo Vigorita, and co-operates with De Feo Vulpis, the most prominent law firm in Bari.
Please see http://www.scflex.it/ or the European Law Firm website for updated contact information.
....The next general meeting is being hosted by Naudi Mizzi & Associates and will take place in Malta from 24-27 January 2013. More details will follow.
....In February 2012 Slovenia adopted a revised Mortgage Bond and Municipal Bond Act, which replaced the existing act from 2006.
Even though the previous version of the act was presumably based on covered bond legislation of several European countries with a long tradition and extensive expertise in the area of covered bonds (i.e. Germany), key features of such legislation were either left out or were implemented with excessive restrictions. This led to a very impractical act that made the process of issuing such bonds virtually impossible and as a result, no covered bonds were ever issued in Slovenia. Given the on-going financial crisis, when banks are focused on finding additional sources of long-term financing the disadvantages of the 2006 act became more and more evident.
Ljubljana....
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ELF member for England & Wales, TLT LLP has launched new operations in Scotland and Northern Ireland to give the capability to deliver seamless legal advice across all three UK legal jurisdictions - England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. TLT LLP, TLT Scotland Ltd and TLT NI LLP (a separate practice) all operate under the TLT brand and are together known as "TLT".
The merger is intended to strengthen client relationships, deliver enhanced service and value, and enable clients to achieve operational efficiencies.
To deliver services in Scotland, TLT has merged with well-respected Scottish law firm, Anderson Fyfe to create TLT Scotland Ltd. Anderson Fyfe is a €3.7million (£3million) turnover law firm with eight partners, employing 48 people and with....
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On 13 June 2012, PAPANTONIOU & PAPANTONIOU LLC was approved as a "Nominated Advisor" by the Council of the Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE). Nominated advisors are authorised to undertake the listing of companies on the Emerging Companies Market (E.C.M.). This market is characterised as unregulated and therefore it does not come under the provisions for regulated markets which impose strict listing requirements and continuous obligations.
As a Nominated Advisor, PAPANTONIOU & PAPANTONIOU can now advise companies in respect of compliance with the rules and regulations of the Emerging Companies Market (E.C.M.) and more specifically can assess and present the Company to the CSE ensuring that the listing requirements are fulfilled. The Nominated Advisor is further able to represent....
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In April 2012, Neža Berlan, a soon to be Bachelor of Law of University of Ljubljana Law School joined Slovenian member Odvetniki Jurij Dolžan, Mitja Vidmar, Igor Zemljarič.
During her years of studies, Neža also attended the Law school of University of Bergen in Norway and participated in Summer schools in Law and Economics in Salzburg, London and Ljubljana. As a student, she worked in-house for two major banks, but this is her first official position in a law office, where, according to Slovenian legislation, she will be trained for independent legal practice.
....The network includes 29 commercially orientated law firms.
