The intention of this brief note is to present an analysis of internal crises within law firms and the way of avoiding them. We define a crisis as an unexpected and grave difficulty or danger (“a time of intense difficulty or danger”). As a matter of fact the greek origin of crisis (“krisis”) meant “decision” (from “krinein” – decide) ...
The long-awaited and controversial Equality Bill (the Bill) has been published and laid before Parliament. Public consultations are scheduled on several of the measures outlined in this very significant piece of legislation, though it is not expected to come into force until the end of next year. With a General Election likely in June 2010, it remains to be seen how quickly the Bill will progress and how much of it will survive ...
Introduced in 1979, the Quebec Stock Savings Plan (QSSP) was enormously success ful in the 1980s, encouraging the emergence of numerous Quebec SMEs which later became some of the most noteworthy success stories in Quebec business . On the other hand, the SME Growth Stock Plan, which replaced the QSSP in 2005, achieved a more mixed success . The 2009-2010 provincial budget, presented last March 19, attempts to remedy this situation ...
Contents Greater opportunities for GST/QST claims Shielding the directors of a company placed under the protection of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act The value of a trade-mark: a matter of control The Export and Import Permits Act: an act too often overlooked GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR GST/QST CLAIMS Philippe Asselin [email protected] Last April 23rd, the Supreme Court of Canada rendered its fi rst judgment concerning the GST ...
The White House issued a proposed 2010 budget which includes the Obama administration’s plan to reform sections of the U.S. Tax Code on international transactions. One proposal includes a change in how international and domestic banks with foreign clients withhold tax and report to the Internal Revenue Service. The rule change is aimed at improving collection efforts on taxes owed by foreign investors and reducing tax evasion by U.S. citizens and residents ...
The establishment and operation of many Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) involves cooperation amongst industry participants, including those who may be competitors in other aspects of their businesses. It is very important that participants in CRCs remember that the prohibitions against anti-competitive conduct in the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) (TPA) will apply to the CRC collaboration ...
On May 7, 2009, the White House issued its proposed budget for fiscal year 2010, which outlines the Obama administration’s plan to reform certain of the Internal Revenue Code’s provisions on the taxation of international transactions. Proposed changes to the rules on withholding taxes, which are aimed at reducing tax evasion by U.S. citizens and residents and improving collection efforts for taxes owed by foreigners investing in the U.S ...
On May 7, 2009, the White House issued its proposed budget for fiscal year 2010, which outlines the Obama administration’s plan to reform certain of the Internal Revenue Code’s provisions on the taxation of international transactions. Proposed changes to the rules on withholding taxes, which are aimed at reducing tax evasion by U.S. citizens and residents and improving collection efforts for taxes owed by foreigners investing in the U.S ...
EIS is a direct investment in a small unquoted company, which meets strict HMRC criteria. The tax advantages of such an investment are: Income tax relief at 20% on a maximum investment of £500,000 ...
The Chancellor delivered the 2009 Budget on 22 April 2009. The following is a summary of the main points of interest. Income tax From 6 April 2010 there will be an additional higher rate of 50 per cent on taxable income above £150,000. The basic personal allowance for income tax will be reduced by £1 for every £2 an individual's net income is above £100,000 ...
The new forms for reducing the amount of corporate income (IRC) tax to be withheld (MOD. 01-DJR) and for the partial refund of IRC (MOD. 02-DJR) withheld on the payment of interest and royalties between associate companies from different European Union Member- States under the Interest and Royalties Directive were approved in February ...
With the Baltic States a hotbed of energy related activity and practice areas such as M&A decidedly lukewarm, law firms in the region could be forgiven for hoping that several high-profile ventures in the sector would brighten up an otherwise gloomy 2009. But the highly political nature of the energy market means that lawyers are watching frustrated from the sidelines as large scale projects consistently fail to get off the ground ...
A Foreign Company ("FC") is subject to Swedish taxation on income from a permanent establishment ("PE") in Sweden. Today, different types of tolling arrangements are part of the business model of many MNE’s. The purpose of this article is to analyze the Swedish tax implications of a tolling arrangement, primarily the risk of a FC to acquire a PE in Sweden. The below example can be used in order to illustrate the PE issues at hand ...
The New Mining Law After almost four years of discussions, the Bill on Minerals and Coal Mining was finally passed by the House of Representatives on 16 December 2008 and signed by the President on 12 January 2009 as Law No. 4 of 2009. The enactment of the New Mining Law brings mining under a new licensing regime whereas for the last 40 years, foreign investors have had to sign a Contract of Work to engage in mining ...
Indonesia has been described as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. In 2008, the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index stated that Indonesia ranked 130th least transparent out of 180 countries. However, the continued existence of the Corruption Court in Indonesia which has tried many corruption cases and is trying to improve Indonesia’s anti corruption activities, is now under threat ...
Lavery, de Billy makes its mark with a new brand and new firm signature: Lavery, Law Business. The new “Lavery” brand and “Lavery, Law Business” signature are a reflection of the firm’s personality ...
Commission adopts temporary State aid 'credit crunch' framework The European Commission has adopted a temporary state aid framework, designed to help tackle the spiralling negative effects of the 'credit crunch' on the real economy. Under the framework, Member States can - after notifying the Commission - put into effect a range of aid schemes aimed at helping otherwise sound companies that are finding it difficult to access funding ...
Leif Ramberg in team advising the West Sweden Chamber of Commerce on comments on proposal from the Environmental Procedure Committee Summary The Environmental Procedure Committee has been instructed, by supplementary directive, to review the legal rules which apply to the expansion of wind power ...
Effective January 1, 2009, the rules governing the right to obtain tax registration as a self-employed business person has been changed. Thus, it is now possible for non-executive directors to obtain registration as such. The amendments are made by clarifying the term "business". This is achieved by introducing additional criteria when assessing whether an independently conducted business is at hand or not ...
The new Income Tax Law is Law No. 36 of 2008. It intends to boost the competitiveness of Indonesia's economy and create a favorable investment climate. Under the new law, income tax for corporations will be 28% flat in 2009, replacing the existing progressive system. The rate will be further reduced to 25% in 2010 ...
Family Intervention Tenancies (FITs) are a new type of tenancy to be introduced by Sections 297-298 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. They will be another tool for registered providers (the new term for both Registered Social Landlords and local authorities to tackle anti-social behaviour ...
Today when financial experts are busy in measuring the depth of present financial turmoil, layman is cursing Governments and experts are blaming sub-prime mortgage payment defaulters but no-body in the economic fraternity could appreciate that it was a policy failure. Moreover, no one in the financial world could imagine the enormous size of the trouble that lending on sub-prime would bring the world’s biggest financial catastrophe of the century ...
Following consultation with national competition authorities and the public, the European Commission has published enforcement priorities guidelines, which it will follow when applying Article 82 to exclusionary conduct by dominant companies. Throughout the guidelines, the Commission reiterates that Article 82 should protect competition and consumers – rather than individual competitors (an approach previously advocated by Commissioner Kroes) ...
Contents Acquisition of control of a corporation… Unexpected tax consequences The corporate veil again! Resigning as a director: It’s not merely a formality! Don’t forget the deemed year-end! Acquisition of control of a corporation… Unexpected tax consequences By Philippe Asselin [email protected] ...
