The benefits from starting a family foundation
The Family Foundations Act, entering into force on 22 May 2023, introduces the family foundation into Polish law as a new legal entity designed for collecting property and managing assets in accordance with the founder’s will and paying benefits to beneficiaries. Therefore, the objectives of a family foundation are different from those of existing foundations, which are non-governmental organisations operating for public benefit and not for profit.
Running a business through a family foundation
In just a few days, it will be possible to carry out intergenerational succession in Polish companies through the vehicle of a family foundation. This new legal entity is designed to meet the needs of business owners, who until now have been condemned to relatively limited choices under general provisions, or could choose foreign jurisdictions to set up a family foundation (e.g. in Austria, Liechtenstein, Malta, or the Netherlands).
Taxes and the family foundation
Along with the provisions allowing for establishment of a family foundation, entirely new tax provisions are being introduced, with attractive rules for taxation of asset transfers and foundation activities, but also a slightly too varied patchwork of tax rates.
Reducing the risks of setting up a family foundation
Like any other legal form, a family foundation may also involve the risk that the management of assets will be delegated to incompetent persons, the foundation will act in a manner contrary to its stated purpose or the interests of its beneficiaries, or it will conduct business activity in areas not permitted for a family foundation. However, in the Family Foundations Act, the Polish parliament has provided certain tools to prevent such situations.
Advertising of medical devices: Currently only with warnings
On 13 May 2023, a new regulation with detailed requirements for advertising of medical devices enters into force. Advertisers of such products, including influencers, must include warnings in advertising messages, similar to those familiar from drug advertisements.
Intellectual property: Changes in interim injunction and enforcement proceedings
Soon, another major amendment to the Polish Civil Procedure Code will enter into force, particularly affecting holders of intellectual property rights. The amendment will change the existing rules on interim injunction proceedings, which are typically used in intellectual property cases prior to filing a statement of claim. These changes will come into effect on 1 July 2023. Significant changes have also been made in the provisions on judicial enforcement, already in force since 15 April 2023.
Another overhaul to the Civil Procedure Code: Key provisions
The Polish parliament has voted to amend the Civil Procedure Code, introducing numerous changes primarily intended to speed up proceedings. On this occasion, the parliament decided to reinstate some solutions it had abandoned in recent years. Below we discuss the most important changes.
Rules for siting of onshore wind farms liberalised
On 13 March 2023, the President of Poland signed an amendment to the “10H Act,” setting the minimum distance of a wind power plant from residential buildings at 700 metres (over calls by power generators, industry organisations and many local governments that it should be 500 m). This means that the years-long struggle to liberalise the infamous “10H rule” has been half-successful.
The housing cooperative: A new approach for implementing residential projects
On the residential construction market in Poland, currently dominated by real estate developers, housing cooperatives can begin building starting 1 March 2023, when the new Housing Cooperatives Act enters into force, introducing a framework for their activities and providing incentives for such grassroots construction initiatives.
EU tenders: Foreign subsidies must not distort competition
The European Union has addressed the issue of the impact of third countries, from outside the EU, on the operation of the single market. Next year, the Commission will begin investigating sources of money giving foreign undertakings an advantage, including in public procurement procedures. Subsidised contractors will not get public contracts in the EU if awarding them a contract could disrupt the EU market.
New law on corporate groups enters into force in October 2022
An act amending the Commercial Companies Code was published in the Journal of Laws on 12 April 2022. It establishes the rules for operation of capital groups in Poland and modifies certain rules for operation of corporate authorities. The act will enter into force six months after publication.
The business judgment rule
The management board conducts the affairs of the company, represents the company externally, and under certain circumstances can be liable to the company and its creditors. Management board members should act with due care, which corresponds to the standard of care that would be observed by a conscientious merchant in dealings of a given sort. Failure to observe due care can lead to liability of members of the corporate authorities—and conversely, compliance with due care can shield them from such liability. An amendment to the Commercial Companies Code will make certain changes to these rules.
