HET FAMILIEBEDRIJF
PAO-Intensief cursus
In het kader van de door de Radboud Universiteit te Nijmegen en The University of Curaçao georganiseerde PAO-intenstief cursus “Actualiteiten Ondernemingsrecht” heb ik als docent een bijdrage geleverd over het onderwerp “Het familiebedrijf“.
Vanuit juridisch perspectief komen enkele onderwerpen die met het familiebedrijf samenhangen aan de orde. Om te beginnen wordt kort stilgestaan bij de wijzigingen in Nederland die in 2012 en 2013 zijn doorgevoerd (flex-BV en Wet bestuur en toezicht). Daarna wordt stilgestaan bij het monistisch bestuursmodel en in het verlengde daarvan bij het toezicht op en de adviserng van familiebedrijven.
Vervolgens komen enkele juridische instrumenten in het …
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DE ZORGPLICHT VAN PROFESSIONELE PARTIJEN
Naleving van de zorgplicht is een vorm van risicobeheersing
Google het woord ‘zorgplicht’ en constateer dat je dit begrip in relatie tot uiteenlopende onderwerpen tegenkomt: sport, kinderopvang, leerlingen, cliënten, werknemers, gevangenen, afvalwaterzorg, krijgsgevangenen, hemelwaterzorg, huurauto’s, grondwaterzorg, bancaire en financiële dienstverlening, enz. enz. enz.
Ons recht is met de zorgplicht doordrenkt. Dat is niet iets van de afgelopen jaren. Een begrip als de ‘zorg van een goed huisvader’ treffen we al eeuwen aan. En die zorgplicht betreft, zoals we al zagen, allerlei uiteenlopende situaties. Ik noem er nog een paar: de zorg van een goed vruchtgebruiker, de zorg van de arts …
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DIRECTORS’ LIABILITY REVISITED
People keep asking questions about this topic
Generally, in Curaçao (as well as in Aruba, St. Maarten and the BES islands) liability may arise in the event a managing director is found to be seriously negligent (‘hem een ernstig verwijt kan worden gemaakt’) in fulfilling his tasks as member of the management board of a legal entity (NV, BV, foundation or association).
Section 2:8 subsection 3 of the Curaçao Civil Code (‘CCC‘) provides that in performing its duties the management board is focused on the interest of the legal entity and its associated business operations, insofar as they exist. This …
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KEEPING ACCOUNTS OF A LEGAL ENTITY IN CURAÇAO
Rights and obligations must be known at all times
Section 2:14 subsection 1 of the Curaçao Civil Code (‘CCC’) provides that every director of a legal entity (NV, BV, foundation or association) is obliged towards the legal entity to perform the duties properly within the sphere of his activities. If there is only one director, the sphere of his activities covers all the duties.
Section 2:15 subsection 1 CCC provides that the management board is obliged to keep accounts of the financial position of the legal entity and of everything with regard to the activities of the legal entity, according …
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FIRST SET OF SINT MAARTEN LAWS TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH
Available online
37 organic laws of St. Maarten stemming from the Constitution, the explanatory memorandum to the Constitution and a glossary have been translated into British English. All translated legislations are now available on the government’s website along with the Dutch version.
The English translations are not binding in court. The original (Dutch) version of the laws will be used and referred to in court cases as Dutch is the official language used by the court. British English was used for the translations as it is the same as used by the Council of Ministers.
Prime Minister Sarah …
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DOORBRAAK VAN AANSPRAKELIJKHEID
Rechtspersoonlijkheid kan soms worden genegeerd
Naamloze en besloten vennootschappen hebben rechtspersoonlijkheid. Ze worden onder meer opgericht om de risico’s van commerciële activiteiten te beperken. Degene die een fabriek start om autobanden te produceren, weet dat daaraan risico’s zijn verbonden. Als hij als eenmanszaak opereert en het komt tot een faillissement, dan is hij met zijn gehele privévermogen aansprakelijk.
Drijft hij de onderneming in de vorm van een bijvoorbeeld een BV en komt het tot een faillissement, dan wordt zijn privévermogen daardoor niet geraakt, in die zin, dat de curator en de schuldeisers van de BV zich niet op zijn privégoederen …
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GOVERNMENT-OWNED COMPANIES
Opposing views on political influence
Few people would argue that the rules issued by the state (government) must also be correctly and strictly observed by that same state. It cannot be well conceived that, for example, the police and Public Prosecutor’s Office (as instruments of the state) should be allowed to violate the law with impunity.
Though there may be very different opinions about the nature and the role of the state (particularly from a philosophical and jurisprudential viewpoint), here we address the question of how we should consider government-owned companies, and in particular, what level of influence the government …
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THE INCORPORATION OF A CURACAO LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Incorporating an NV or BV is not a hassle
The act on corporate law (Book 2 Curaçao Civil Code) governs the NV (‘public limited liability company’) and BV (‘private limited liability company’). These companies can be used for group finance or holding activities, (international) joint-ventures, funds, structured finance, as a Curaçao Trust and for “plain-vanilla” (local) activities.
A notarial deed is required for the formation of an NV or BV and for any amendment to articles of association (a.k.a. articles of incorporation). Formation can however, be very quick (within one or two days if necessary) and does not require many …
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THE CURACAO TRUST BECOMES MORE AND MORE POPULAR
Curaçao Trust could be used for asset segregation purposes
According to Professor of Law David Hayton, an Anglo-Saxon trust arises from the settlor’s transfer of title to property to another person, intending that person to be a trustee-manager of it for the benefit of beneficiaries or for a charitable or other permitted purpose. Trusts are founded on a transfer of title to property: contracts are not. Professor Hayton:
Such a contractual concept inevitably leads – or rather misleads – civil lawyers to consider that the Anglo-Saxon trust is simply a glorified form of contract between the settlor …
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DUTCH CARIBBEAN BANKS AND REGULATORY ISSUES
A bank has less freedom than an ordinary legal entity
What would be the requirements, from a regulatory point of view, if a Curaçao or St. Maarten bank wished to sell its entire business or a substantial part thereof? Would it require approval from the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten (‘Centrale Bank van Curaçao en St. Maarten’)?
Generally, if the activity at a bank is characterized as some form of financial reorganization, for example, the prior approval of the Central Bank is required. The bank is also obliged to immediately inform the Central Bank in writing of any …
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LEGAL FEES: CHANGING LANDSCAPE
Alternative billing arrangements
According to Larry Primeaux, the construction of legal fees is undergoing a metamorphosis in reaction to changing economics. Fact is, indeed, that you read everywhere that law firms (lawyers, advocates, attorneys) have to change. The system of “hourly rate billing” in particular has to take the rap. “In this economy, at least for the short term, it appears that law firms will be forced to agree to alternative fee arrangements if clients demand those arrangements.” (2013 ABA Publication).
According to the website AMPulse, “the success of flat rate fees is dependent …
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LAW FIRMS SEE ALTERNATIVE FEE ARRANGEMENTS AS HERE TO STAY
“I don’t think the billable hour is dead, but I think it has company”
According to an article by Kim Lyons of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “the billable hour has long been the mainstay of law firms and their pay structure. But in recent years, firms have had to become more creative in how they get paid, as they compete for business with ever more cost-conscious companies.
Enter the “alternative fee arrangement.” Whether it’s a flat fee, a capped fee, a blended rate or some other variety, alternative fee arrangements are giving the billable hour a run for its money.”