Die weltweite Ausbreitung des Coronavirus sorgt für heftige Turbulenzen im Wirtschaftsleben. Gerät eine GmbH in finanzielle Schieflage, steht besonders die Geschäftsführung unter Druck. Sie kämpft um das wirtschaftliche Überleben der Gesellschaft. Gleichzeitig kommen verschiedene Szenarien für die Haftung des Geschäftsführers in Betracht, wenn dieser keine Krisenprävention durchgeführt hat oder in der Krise nicht die erforderliche Sorgfalt anwendet.

Haftung wegen unzureichender Krisenprävention

The coronavirus pandemic is sending shock waves through the business world. If a GmbH (German limited liability company) finds itself in financial distress, the management in particular will be under pressure and must fight for the survival of the business. At the same time, there are various scenarios in which managing directors could be held liable for not implementing crisis prevention measures or exercising the necessary diligence during the crisis.

Liability for inadequate crisis prevention

A recent decision of a specialist tribunal in Dubai could have far-reaching consequences for the maritime industry. In this article Robert Thomas QC, of Quadrant Chambers, and Robert Lawrence and Leonard Soudagar, of Clyde & Co, examine how it is now possible, in certain circumstances, for a shipowner to set up a limitation fund in the UAE.

When Hanjin Shipping went into administration in late 2016, reportedly over 500,000 containers were stranded or arrested at ports worldwide, including many in the Middle East. Cargo owners who find themselves in such circumstances can be critically affected (particularly if the cargo is temperature sensitive, perishable or urgently required), and they will often look to their cargo insurers. This note highlights a number of issues which are likely to arise when a carrier becomes insolvent during a laden voyage, and claims are made under a marine cargo policy in the UAE.