Management teams have found themselves confronted by a whole new world of perilous risks since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Regulatory, public health, legal and commercial developments have been rapid and unpredictable, causing risk profiles to shift in potentially dramatic ways and raising uncertainty as to the propriety of company responses. As litigators and…

We at KNOETZL are deeply sorry for all people affected by the coronavirus, and wish for everyone to stay alert and healthy during these difficult times. To help flatten the curve, we hope to increase awareness through this up to date information about the virus, courtesy of the infectious disease department at Johns Hopkins University:…

This message to all businesses affected by the imposed closures and curfews is a ray of hope in a dark time of crisis: According to § 1104 f ABGB (Austrian Civil Code), rental fees are (partially) waived if the tenant cannot (partially) use the rented premises “due to extraordinary circumstance”, e.g. “fire, war or an…

  UPDATE: Further information on the impact of COVID-19 on the non-performance of businesses UPDATE 26/03/2020:  The bill effectively suspending most legal actions except in cases of utmost urgency has been passed by Austrian Parliament and its measures are currently in effect. View the bill in German here.     ORIGINAL POST 19/03/2020: To curb the spread of…