Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by CMS Germany
New guidebook to the metaverse published
In collaboration with CMS, Germany's digital association Bitkom has recently published a guidebook to the metaverse. The metaverse is often seen as the next big thing in tech and "the future of the internet". However, the metaverse's business potential and legal framework have not been widely discussed in German business and society.
German Federal Labour Court: "There is a legal obligation to take action to record working time"
The reasons for the much-noted decision by the German Federal Labour Court of 13 September 2022 are now available. These clarify numerous points but some matters unfortunately still remain open. What applies? What? Employers have an obligation to set up a system to record the beginning and end, and therefore the duration, of the working time of their employees, including any overtime. There is an objective legal obligation to take action in this respect.
US adopts Executive Order to implement EU-US Data Privacy Framework
After announcing a political agreement on 25 March 2022, the US government has now announced more details on how it intends to put mass surveillance by intelligence agencies on a rule-of-law footing. In this connection, President Biden signed an Executive Order On Enhancing Safeguards For United States Signals Intelligence Activities, effective immediately.
German decision may exclude US subsidiaries with cloud providers from public tenders
In a controversial data-protection decision that has been the subject of critical discussions, on 13 July 2022 the Baden-Württemberg Procurement Chamber (Ref. 1 VK 23/22) ruled that even the possibility of accessing personal data from abroad must be considered a transmission. In the opinion of the procurement chamber, this means that no US cloud providers should be considered in future tenders, even if they offer their services via subsidiaries in Europe.
Most-favoured nation treatment
This article is an extract from The Investment Treaty Arbitration Review, 7th Edition. Click here for the full guide. I Introduction This chapter reviews the 2021 jurisprudence and treaty practice on most-favoured nation (MFN) clauses and offers some thoughts about the evolution of their role in the investment treaty context.
Gatekeeper regulation in the EU: Germany initiates further proceedings under new antitrust rules for tech gatekeepers, now against Google | Lexology
European Union, Germany May 27 2021 On 25 May 2021, the German competition watchdog, the Federal Cartel Office, initiated proceedings against Google and Alphabet based on the new competition law rules in the German Competition Act (Act against Restraints of Competition, ARC) for large digital companies. The Federal Cartel Office has already launched investigations against Facebook and Amazon based on these rules.
Crypto custody entering everyday regulatory life in Germany | Lexology
In March 2020, the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) published its long-awaited guidance notice on the crypto-custody business, which has already been included in the scope of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz) by qualifying as an activity subject to licensing. There was, however, no written administrative practice for crypto custodians, which changed with BaFin's guidance notice.
Tax on acquisitions in Germany | Lexology
Acquisitions (from the buyer’s perspective) Tax treatment of different acquisitions What are the differences in tax treatment between an acquisition of stock in a company and the acquisition of business assets and liabilities? The acquisition of a German enterprise can be organised in two different forms: the investor can acquire the assets and liabilities of the target company by a multitude of individual transfers (asset deal).
Business now feeling the effects of GDPR in M&A transactions | Lexology
European Union
October 24 2019 Automotive, healthcare and financial services are prime examples of sectors that are undergoing rapid digital change. This transformation in the digital environment is causing business models to be radically altered or replaced by other models, but few areas are undergoing more change in this digital area than Merger & Acquisition (M&A) transactions. How is M&A being impacted?
Transactional issues with healthcare M&A in Germany | Lexology
Transactional issues Structures What is the typical structure of a healthcare-related business combination in your jurisdiction? There is no typical deal structure of healthcare-related business combinations. The determination of the deal structure is highly variable and ultimately depends on the structure of the target and its role in the German healthcare system.
Regulation of healthcare M&A in Germany | Lexology
Germany
October 15 2019 Regulation Laws and regulations What are some of the primary laws and regulations governing or implicated in healthcare-related business combinations? Are healthcare assets subject to specific regulation that would be material in a typical transaction? Is law and regulation of healthcare national or subnational? In healthcare-related business combinations, the respective regulatory frameworks play an important role.
Germany's data protection authorities hand down a decision on M&A and GDPR | Lexology
European Union, Germany
July 18 2019 Decision of the DSK In its recent decision, the DSK identifies the following case groups to provide guidance when dealing with data in the context of an asset deal: Customer data for active contracts To execute the transfer of a contract, German civil law requires the consent of the contracting party. The DSK considers the data protection law consent for the transmission of data implicit in the civil law consent given for the transfer of the contract.
BaFin publishes a circular on the minimum requirements for the security of internet payments | Lexology
On 5 May 2015 BaFin published its eagerly awaited circular regarding the minimum requirements for the security of internet payments ("Mindestanforderungen an die Sicherheit von Internetzahlungen"). The circular reflects the official translation of the EBA Guidelines on the security of internet payments. The purpose of the circular is to bridge the time gap until the Payments Services Directive ("PSD 2") will come into effect.
Tax on Inbound Investment in Germany | Lexology
Use the Lexology Getting The Deal Through tool to compare the answers in this article with those from other jurisdictions. Acquisitions (from the buyer’s perspective) Tax treatment of different acquisitions What are the differences in tax treatment between an acquisition of stock in a company and the acquisition of business assets and liabilities? German tax law distinguishes between two fundamentally different cases of enterprise acquisitions.
Digitalisation and codetermination: Facebook, Google Maps... and now Twitter | Lexology
Germany, USA
March 13 2019 After the sensational Facebook ruling rendered by the Federal Labour Court,(1) the discrepancy between rapid digitalisation and restrictive case law with regard to Section 87(I)(6) of the Works Constitution Act has once again become the focus of attention in a labour law dispute.
With or without you - When does a corporation's arbitration agreement comprise its directors? | Lexology
Germany
January 30 2019 On 16 January 2019, the Higher Regional Court of Munich (“OLG Munich”) rendered a decision that dealt with the question of whether the personal scope of an arbitration agreement entered into by a limited company also extends to its directors.
Obedience without order - Application of res judicata where not applicable as a ground for setting aside an arbitral award | Lexology
Germany
January 25 2019 I. German Federal Supreme Court, Order of 11 October 2018 – I ZB 9/18 The decision of the German Federal Supreme Court (“BGH”) deals with the question whether the application of res judicata beyond its scope constitutes a ground for setting aside a later award for violating ordre public. II. The Facts of the Case The claimant acted as a commercial agent for the respondent based on a contract concluded in 1993 (“Contract”).
Conditions for recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in Germany | Lexology
Use the Lexology Navigator tool to compare the answers in this article with those from other jurisdictions. Conditions for recognition and enforcement Enforceable judgments Which types of judgment (eg, monetary judgments, mandatory or prohibitory orders) are enforceable in your jurisdiction and which (if any) are explicitly excluded from recognition and enforcement (eg, default judgments, judgments granting punitive damages)?
Procedures for recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in Germany | Lexology
Use the Lexology Navigator tool to compare the answers in this article with those from other jurisdictions. Conditions for recognition and enforcement Enforceable judgments Which types of judgment (eg, monetary judgments, mandatory or prohibitory orders) are enforceable in your jurisdiction and which (if any) are explicitly excluded from recognition and enforcement (eg, default judgments, judgments granting punitive damages)?
Litigation: Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Germany | Lexology
Use the Lexology Navigator tool to compare the answers in this article with those from other jurisdictions. General framework Domestic law Which domestic laws and regulations govern the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in your jurisdiction? Recognition in general civil matters Section 328 of the Code of Civil Procedure governs the recognition of judgments handed down by a foreign national court in general civil matters.
Potential risks of courier-delivered dismissal notices | Lexology
Germany
December 19 2018 Introduction Ensuring that a dismissal notice has been properly delivered is vital – especially when the circumstances of the dismissal are difficult – as employers could face considerable procedural risks. Disappearing letter boxes or allegedly empty envelopes – unpleasant surprises are not unusual. Not to mention the serious legal and financial consequences of a failed delivery or the inability to prove proper service.
New maximum hiring out period expires for some contractors | Lexology
An amendment to the Temporary Employment Act took effect on 1 April 2017. As stated in an explanatory memorandum, the amendment aims to "shift [the act's] focus closer to its core function as an instrument for meeting the need for temporary labour". It also seeks to prevent the disguised deployment of temporary employees (Section 2 vgl BT-Drucksache 18/9232).
China's courts pass controversial rulings on open-source licencing | Lexology
In a recent decision that could have legal implications on the use of open-source software in China, the Beijing Intellectual Property Court (BIPC) used a controversial test to determine whether software developer YouZi infringed on copyright or simply exploited open source technology when developing its product "APICloud".
Criminal penalties for tax fraud cannot apply to breach of trust allegations | Lexology
According to the Federal Court of Justice's established case law, the penalty for tax evasion of more than €1 million should generally be imprisonment rather than a suspended sentence. On 14 March 2018 the court ruled that these principles cannot apply to breach of trust allegations (2 StR 416/16, NJW 2018, 2210). In 2015 the Cologne Regional Court found four bank managers guilty of particularly serious breaches of trust.
Seizure of documents relating to internal investigations - legislative changes ahead? | Lexology
The question as to whether and to what extent documents relating to an internal investigation can be seized from lawyers is not new. There is broad consensus that documents relating to an internal investigation and stored in the company are in principle not covered by the privilege of the prohibition on seizure set out in Section 97 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This also applies if the documents were prepared by an in-house lawyer.
The Russian wholesale electricity and capacity market: opportunities for the future | Lexology
As part of the Russian electric power industry’s complex shift towards decentralised public regulation, Electricity Law No. 35-FZ*, as a general concept, determined that economic relations in this sector are based on market mechanisms and competition. At the same time, the Law provides for concepts such as energy security, and uninterrupted and secure operation of the electric power sector.
New EU regulation brings transparency to online intermediaries and search engines | Lexology
In the new draft set of rules ("Proposal for a Regulation for fairness and transparency for business users of online intermediation services"), the European Commission will oblige online intermediation services and search engines to observe greater fairness and transparency when dealing with business users. If this draft, completed on 26 April 2018, comes into force, it could have considerable effect on providers of portals, business users, and the EU's digital marketplace.
Federal Court of Justice resolves dispute on limitation periods in cartel damages claims | Lexology
Litigants may now seek cartel damages for a longer period as the Federal Court of Justice has affirmed the suspension of the statute of limitations for antitrust claims before 1 July 2005. The court's judgment creates legal certainty and increases Germany's attractiveness as a jurisdiction for plaintiffs in cartel damages cases.
Federal Court of Justice rules on price comparison tool ban | Lexology
In a decision published in January 2018, the Federal Court of Justice, Germany's last-instance court, held that absolute prohibitions to participate in online price comparison tools imposed on distributors in selective distribution systems amount to a hardcore restriction under Article 4c of the EU Block Exemption Regulation on Vertical Restraints (330/2010).(1) A closer look at the German decision reveals some doubts as to its compatibility with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) decisions...
Germany under pressure to amend position on taxable presence in foreign countries | Lexology
If an individual person or a company is active abroad in business, the question arises whether and to what extent such activity leads to a taxable presence in the relevant foreign country. The answer to this question generally depends on whether the business has a so-called permanent establishment ("PE") in that country.
Einigung im Tarifkonflikt der Metall- und Elektroindustrie
Tarifabschluss in der Metall- und Elektroindustrie: Lohnerhöhung und Flexibilisierung der Arbeitszeit. Nach medienwirksamen Warnstreiks der IG – Metall in Betrieben der Metall- und Elektroindustrie vergangene Woche haben die Tarifvertragsparteien in Baden-Württemberg nun eine Einigung erzielt. Diese Einigung betrifft 900.000 Beschäftigte der Metall- und Elektroindustrie in Baden-Württemberg und 3,9 Mio. Beschäftigte in ganz Deutschland. Baden-Württemberg ist bei den Verhandlungen der Pilotbezirk.
Details zum Auskunftsanspruch nach dem Entgelttransparenzgesetz
Entgelt, Vergleichbarkeit und Median: Richtige Ermittlung der Eckdaten?. Die bisher eher geringe praktische Relevanz des Entgelttransparenzgesetzes dürfte sich im Laufe des Jahres ändern. Denn seit dem 06. Januar 2018 kann der Auskunftsanspruch gemäß § 25 Abs. 1 EntgTranspG geltend gemacht werden. Entgelt im Sinne des Entgelttransparenzgesetzes Nach § 5 Abs.
The Act to Strengthen Company Pensions is coming - with implications for all employers | Lexology
The Act to Strengthen Company Pensions (Betriebsrentenstärkungsgesetz) came into force on 1 January 2018. In particular, it introduces "pure defined-contribution schemes," which changes the system of company pension schemes. Lawmakers hope this will bring the German market closer to the defined-contribution systems common in Anglo-Saxon countries.
„Frauen an die Macht″ - Autohaus darf explizit nach Verkäuferin suchen
Im öffentlichen Dienst bestehen weitere Besonderheiten: Weist ein öffentlicher Arbeitgeber in einer ansonsten geschlechtsneutral gehaltenen Ausschreibung darauf hin, dass „ein besonderes Interesse an Bewerbungen von Frauen bestehe“, werden hierdurch männliche Stellenbewerber nicht im Sinne des AGG unzulässig benachteiligt, wenn in der für die Stelle maßgeblichen Vergleichsgruppe Frauen unterrepräsentiert sind (LAG Düsseldorf v. 12. November 2008 – 12 Sa 1102/08).
Private Paketlieferung zum Arbeitsplatz
Die Bestellungen über das Internet bieten den Vorteil, dass abends nach Arbeitsende oder an Samstagen nicht der Gang in die häufig völlig überfüllten Innenstädte gesucht werden muss. Die Pakete werden ganz einfach und für den einzelnen ohne jede Anstrengung an den Ort der Wahl geliefert. Soweit zumindest die Theorie. Tatsächlich können auch die vermeintlich bequemen Online-Bestellungen für den Einzelnen in Stress und erheblichen Zeitaufwand ausarten.
Good things take time. New capital investment circular published by BaFin. Was it worth the wait?
On 12 December 2017, the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority ("BaFin") published the long-awaited new capital investment circular on the interpretation of the German Investment Regulation (Anlageverordnung, "AnIV") and the German Pension Fund Supervision Regulation (Pensionsfonds-Aufsichtsverordnung, "PFAV"): Circular 11/2017 (VA), Guidance notes on the investment of guarantee assets of primary insurance undertakings, to which to the provisions regarding small insurance...
Weihnachtsmann gesucht… aber bitte AGG-konform!
Damit die Suche nach dem perfekten Weihnachtsmann nicht in einem rechtlichen Fiasko endet, zeigen wir die wichtigsten Punkte für eine Stellenausschreibung auf! Immer mehr Weihnachtsmannvermittlungen suchen fähige Mitarbeiter für das Verteilen von Give-Aways in der Fußgängerzone, das Posieren mit Kunden einer Shoppingmall für ein schönes Erinnerungsbild mit dezentem Werbezug im Hintergrund oder für Besuche rund um den Heiligen Abend bei Familien oder Betreuungseinrichtungen wie Kindergärten,...
Berücksichtigung von Zeitarbeitnehmern bei den Schwellenwerten einer Massenentlassung
Das BAG legt dem EuGH die Frage vor, ob ein "Zeitarbeitnehmer" ein "Arbeitnehmer" im Sinne des § 17 KSchG sei. Zählen Zeitarbeitnehmer beim Kunden oder zählen sie nicht mit? Diese Frage hat der Gesetzgeber im Rahmen der AÜG-Reform – zumindest im Grundsatz – für die Schwellenwerte der Betriebsverfassung und der Unternehmensmitbestimmung mit einem „Ja? beantwortet (vgl. § 14 Abs. 2 S. 4 bis 6 AÜG).
Changes for EuVECA and EuSEF funds - will they now be selling like hot cakes?
On 10 November 2017, Regulation (EU) 2017/1991 dated 25 October 2017 was published in the Official Journal of the European Union; three months and twenty days later, it is applicable ("Amending Regulation"). The Amending Regulation amends the Regulation on European Venture Capital Funds ("EuVECA", Regulation (EU) 345/2013) and the Regulation on European Social Entrepreneurship Funds ("EuSEF", Regulation (EU) 346/2013).
Kidnap and ransom insurance in Germany: German Regulator allows conjunction with cyber insurance
The German Federal Insurance Supervisory Authority (BaFin) has decided recently to allow the conjunction of kidnap and ransom insurance cover with cyber insurance cover in one contract and has published this decisionon 15th September 2017 on its website.
Consignment Stock - New guidance issued by German tax authorities
In light of case law from the German Federal Tax Court, German tax authorities recently issued amended guidance on the application of VAT to German consignment stocks. This has been the subject of discussions for a very long time. The main issue is the differentiation between a VATexempt intra-community supply of goods and a domestic supply where consignment goods are shipped from another EU Member State.
Anpassung weiterer Branchenzuschlagstarifverträge
Weitere Branchenzuschlagstarifverträge werden noch vor dem 01.10.2017 an die geltenden gesetzlichen Anforderungen angepasst und teilweise korrigiert.
Betriebsratswahlen 2018: Wer trägt die Kosten?
Bei einer Betriebsratswahl entstehen Kosten, die stets der Arbeitgeber zu tragen hat. Wir geben einen Überblick darüber, welche Aufwände anfallen. Die Kostentragungspflicht des Arbeitgebers regelt § 20 Abs. 3 Satz 1 BetrVG. Ganz allgemein gefasst, fallen unter die Kostentragungspflicht alle Kosten für die Vorbereitung und Durchführung der Betriebsratswahl.
Qualifying infrastructure - and everything is cheaper?
On 14 September 2017, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1542 of 8 June 2017 was published in the Official Journal of the European Union and came into force one day later ("QI-Update-Regulation"). This Regulation amends the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/35 concerning the calculation of regulatory capital requirements for certain categories of assets held by insurance and reinsurance undertakings (infrastructure corporates).
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with CMS
Contact CMS, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack