Welcome to the April 2020 issue of Legal News. COVID-19 is creating unique and unprecedented challenges for all businesses. In a slight change to our Legal News format, we have also highlighted some articles that our William Fry team shared this month, scroll down to read our Business Insights.

For more information, on how your business can address the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic brings, please visit our COVID-19 Hub. We regularly update our guidance on the legal implications of key pandemic-related issues.

Here are some of our recently published website articles and insights you may have missed.

• Shareholders’ Rights Directive II Becomes Irish Law
  On 20 March 2020, the provisions of the Shareholders’ Rights Directive II finally became law in Ireland with the publication of the European Union (Shareholders’ Rights) Regulations 2020. 
• Central Bank Identifies Deficiencies in Investment Firms’ Management of Conduct Risk
  In a recent industry letter, the Central Bank specified good and bad practices in the identification, management and mitigation of market conduct risk by wholesale market firms.
• Regulator’s Attempt to Claim Special Exception to Privilege Rejected
  A recent English Court of Appeal decision firmly shut the door on any further exceptions in the UK to privilege for the regulatory sphere.
• COVID-19 – Accelerating the Trend Towards a Cashless Society? 
• EU Court to Consider if an Irish Pension can be Exempted from a UK Bankruptcy Estate
  A dispute regarding a €6m Irish pension scheme in a personal bankruptcy was referred to the CJEU by the English High Court to determine whether it falls with the scope of freedom of establishment.
• Spring Pensions Briefing
  In our Spring Pensions Briefing, our team consider the likely implications of the McCloud and Bauer cases on the Irish pensions regime, and provide an update on some key regulatory developments.

COVID-19 Business Insights:

• Lay-Off and Short-Time Working in Response to COVID-19: What Employers Need to Consider
  We consider the Irish position on lay-off and short-time in the context of the current Covid-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. 
• Force Majeure Clauses: Contracting Against the Coronavirus
  Practical advice on whether companies can rely on force majeure clauses to remedy a breach of contract if their business is affected by Coronavirus and what they should do if faced with a force majeure claim against them.
• COVID-19: New Emergency Legislation Allows Travel to and from Work for “Essential Services” Only
  In line with new restrictions, implemented as part of Ireland’s national response to COVID-19, only “essential” workers will be allowed to travel to and from work. 
• COVID-19: Practical Considerations for both Landlords and Tenants
  There are challenging times ahead for landlords and tenants of commercial property.  What are  the challenges and does a commercial lease provide any answers?
• The Home Front: Remote Working Guidance for Employers
  As thousands of people begin to work remotely, we share our top 5 best practice tips for employers adopting home-working practices.