Today, we discuss Royal Decree-Law 5/2023 of June 28th (https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2023/06/29/pdfs/BOE-A-2023-15135.pdf). Legislation is constantly evolving to adapt to the changing needs of citizens. At A&O Lawyers, your law firm in Marbella, we explain the modifications of the new regulation. In this regard, Royal Decree-Law 5/2023 of June 28th introduces significant changes in the regulation of commercial companies. We now proceed to explore how Royal Decree-Law 5/2023 of June 28th affects various areas of the legal framework.
Structural Modifications in Commercial Companies:
Structural modifications in commercial companies are critical operations for businesses that allow them to adapt to the new market circumstances. These operations include the transformation of a company, merging with other companies, splitting to create new entities, and the global transfer of assets and liabilities.
The transformation of a company involves changing its legal form, which may include becoming a joint-stock company, a limited liability company, or any other form of business entity permitted by the law.
Royal Decree-Law 5/2023 introduces clearer and more efficient procedures for carrying out this operation, with an emphasis on protecting the rights of shareholders and creditors.
Regarding mergers, these are operations where two or more companies join together to form a single entity. The new regulation aims to promote transparency in merger processes, ensure proper valuation of assets and liabilities, and protect the rights of workers affected by the operation.
On the other hand, spin-offs allow a company to split into two or more independent entities. Royal Decree-Law 5/2023 establishes stricter requirements for the information that must be provided to shareholders and creditors in the spin-off process and ensures proper distribution of assets and liabilities.
The new regulations establish mechanisms to ensure equal treatment of creditors and adequate protection of the interests of all parties involved.
Royal Decree-Law 5/2023 also addresses structural modifications involving Spanish and foreign companies. In an increasingly globalized world, companies need flexibility to operate in different jurisdictions. The new regulation facilitates cross-border structural modifications by establishing clear rules for their execution and coordination with authorities in other involved countries.
One of the areas most affected by Royal Decree-Law 5/2023 is labor law. Significant reforms have been introduced to promote gender equality in the workplace. These reforms include:
1. Salary Equality: The new legislation establishes stricter measures to ensure equal pay between men and women in equivalent positions. Companies must review and adjust their wage policies to comply with these provisions.
2. Work-Life Balance: Measures have been implemented to improve work-life balance, such as promoting telecommuting and flexible working hours, to facilitate women’s participation in the labor market.
3. Anti-Discrimination Measures: The decree strengthens penalties for gender discrimination in the workplace and promotes a culture of equality in companies.
Royal Decree-Law 5/2023 also brings changes in the fiscal realm. Some of the most notable tax modifications include:
1. Corporate Tax: Measures are introduced to combat tax evasion and improve the taxation of large corporations. Stricter regulations are established regarding the taxation of corporate profits.
2. Personal Income Tax (IRPF): The tax brackets and rates of IRPF are adjusted to ensure a more equitable distribution of the tax burden among citizens.
All of these are just some of the most significant measures. Similarly, measures affecting civil procedure law, especially judicial suspensions, are also introduced. This includes the streamlining of formalities and procedures, as well as the promotion of the use of technology for filing lawsuits and appeals electronically, which expedites judicial processes and reduces bureaucracy.
Mediation is a valuable tool for resolving disputes outside of the courts. The new decree actively promotes mediation as an effective alternative for resolving civil disputes. Procedures and resources are established to facilitate and encourage mediation as a viable option before resorting to litigation, which helps alleviate court congestion and reduces the workload in the civil justice system.
Royal Decree-Law 5/2023 modernizes voluntary jurisdiction, allowing more matters to be resolved swiftly and efficiently without the need for a full judicial proceeding. This includes issues such as estate division and the approval of agreements between parties. Streamlining these processes benefits citizens and businesses by reducing time and costs.
The new decree strengthens transparency in the judicial system, which includes greater publicity of judicial auctions and clearer regulation regarding access to judicial records. Safeguards are also established to ensure the respect of the rights of all parties involved in a judicial process.
We will now discuss how it influences judicial suspensions.
One of the most notable aspects of the decree is the introduction of the possibility to suspend judicial hearings in cases of exceptional circumstances. This could include situations of emergency, health crises, or natural disasters that prevent the holding of a trial under normal conditions. The inclusion of this provision allows for greater flexibility in case management during extraordinary situations.
Royal Decree-Law 5/2023 establishes safeguards to protect the rights of the parties involved in a judicial process when a suspension occurs. It ensures that the parties receive timely notice of the suspension and that their rights to defense and due process are respected. This ensures that suspensions are used fairly and equitably.
The decree also introduces measures to expedite the process of rescheduling suspended hearings. This is important to ensure that cases do not remain in legal limbo and that the parties involved can resolve their disputes in a timely manner.
Royal Decree-Law 5/2023 introduces significant changes in the way judicial hearing suspensions are managed in Spain. These changes aim to streamline the process, ensure the protection of the rights of the parties, and provide flexibility for exceptional situations. Lawyers, judges, and citizens should be aware of these reforms to adapt to a legal system in constant evolution and take advantage of the opportunities they offer for more effective and fair administration of justice in Spain. Ultimately, the goal is to strengthen the justice system and ensure equity and efficiency in the resolution of legal disputes.
Do you have an ongoing judicial process and believe it could be expedited? Do you want to know if Royal Decree-Law 5/2023 will affect you in any way? At A&O Lawyers, your litigation law firm in Marbella, we will assist you. Contact us now.
In the meantime, please proceed to read another one of our blogs, https://andradesortegaabogados.es/index.php/2022/09/16/la-cancelacion-de-los-intereses-de-las-tarjetas-revolving/.