There will undoubtedly be many directors who, increasingly concerned about the solvency of their businesses and their potential exposure to personal liability for trading whilst insolvent, may have been considering whether to shut down during this pandemic. The UK Business Secretary, Alok Sharma, recently announced proposed new insolvency measures to suspend the laws on wrongful trading to offer some protection to business directors.

All businesses are now operating in uncharted waters. The government is reviewing its support for businesses on an almost daily basis and, last weekend, the Business Secretary announced a proposed relaxation of the law around ‘wrongful trading’ for 3 months (see our guide for more detail) thereby giving directors of otherwise viable businesses space to see whether the package of government incentives will enable them to survive the pandemic. Alok Sharma also announced he was considering other measures, largely based on the government response to the proposed changes to the insolvency regime in 2018.

On 5th March 2020, the Government unveiled its long-expected revised Immigration Bill to re-balance the immigration system and end Free Movement for EEA nationals from 2021. It simultaneously faced another priority: escalating the response to COVID-19.

Nick Abell, Chairman of Wright Hassall and Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership discusses the impact of coronavirus and opportunities for businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire.

As if we needed proof that bad news travels faster than good, we hear more and more reports of bad message management which is causing reputational harm to a number of organisations during the coronavirus crisis.

Requests from commercial tenants for rental holidays in the light of a drop in business caused by the coronavirus pandemic have become commonplace. Analysis indicates that overall rent collection for the March quarter fell by over 25% in the UK.

The Government has announced extra protection for businesses by placing a moratorium on commercial landlords’ sanctions for at least three months so that those who cannot pay their rent because of cashflow difficulties related to the coronavirus will be protected from eviction.

The “golden ticket” or “silver bullet” for the Main Contractor is to be able to claim both time and money. The Main Contractor is, therefore, looking for a Relevant Event and a Relevant Matter.

The Act deals with how landlords and tenants of commercial premises should conduct themselves in relation to rent arrears’ negotiations on debts that were accrued during the pandemic, known as a “Protected Debt”. Arbitration can be sought in the event of failure to agree but there is a deadline of 24 September.

Charities, like everyone else, may find themselves struggling to adapt to the fast-moving situation created by Covid-19.