The World Health Organization (WHO) described on March 12, 2020 the rapid spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world as a pandemic. We have prepared for you an overview of the main legal aspects and difficulties that businesses face in the current situation.

Our clients have recently enquired quite a lot about the possible legal options for reducing costs. These requests are motivated not only by the coronavirus but also by the current economic situation both in Russia and in the world. We have compiled and answered the top HR questions raised by our clients.

This is to remind you that there is very little time left to hold annual general meetings of shareholders.

Amendments[1] to the law on protection of competition[2], which introduce the concept of “a system for ensuring compliance with the requirements of antitrust law, i.e. antitrust compliance” entered into force on March 12, 2020.

Liability for personal data protection and information dissemination  has been tightened in Russia since December 02, 2019.

Certification of workplaces was replaced in 2013 with special assessment of working conditions which is meant to fulfill the same functions, i.e. identify harmful and hazardous factors in the workplace and provide employees with means of protection against negative factors, as well as other guarantees and compensations.

At the end of October 2018, the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation rendered ruling, which cleared up the uncertainty around the calculation and payment of compensation for unused leave.

We would like to remind you that notices of salary payment to highly qualified specialists for the third quarter of 2018 must be submitted to the local office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs dealing with migration matters no later than October 31, 2018.

On October 03, 2018, the President of Russia signed a law amending the Criminal Code by adding a new article (Article 1441) on liability for unfair dismissal and refusal to hire people on grounds of their pre-pension age.

The third transfer pricing case has not been long in coming[1], and it is the transactions of PAO Toliattiazot (further “TOAZ”) for supply of ammonia to a Swiss trader Nitrochem Distribution AG (further “Nitrochem”) that were scrutinized by tax authorities this time.