Current circumstances update the old adage attributed to Abraham Lincoln more than ever before: “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”

Undoubtedly, the crisis caused by COVID 19 brings numerous challenges, all of which must be approached with a diligently planned legal agenda. In times of uncertainty, we must analyse the procedures and the degree of compliance with the numerous legal obligations which are hanging over the companies and their managers in all regulatory areas and areas of practice.

The aim is to prevent, identify and manage any and all risk that may derive from a breach of any existing law or regulation in order to prevent the enforcement of any sanctions, economic loss or reputational damage.

Upon examination of the specific situation, the objective is to provide adequate action policies that facilitate the identification of operational and legal risk that the company faces, minimizing the possible effects, and establishing control procedures for prevention, monitoring effectiveness and solving any issues that may arise in the event of a breach.

On a different note, the specific response that business managers give to the different challenges or issues that the company currently faces will be decisive for the purpose of examining the incidence of their decisions – or lack thereof – in a hypothetical situation which may trigger legal consequences. In this sense, avoiding manager and executive liability in areas such as labour and tax is essential, as well as preventing directors from incurring any liability relating to their management, especially regarding any liability resulting from insolvency procedures.