MDDP joined #RatujBiznes [#SaveBusiness] campaign run by the SME Ombudsman. Our experts will provided on a pro-bono basis legal and tax assistance to entrepreneurs from the SME sector affected by the current economic situation caused by the coronavirus. We assisted entrepreneurs in completing and submitting support applications.
Campaign purpose
The campaign aimd to inform micro, small and medium-sized enterprises about the support instruments they are entitled to take advantage of in the field of public receivables and to provide them with pro bono legal assistance in the preparation and submission of support applications. Thanks to the help of law and tax firms involved in the campaign, entrepreneurs had an opportunity to get the support without delay caused by the authorities’ requests to remedy formal deficiencies, rejection of applications originally submitted and the need to re-submit applications, etc.
How the assistance has been provided
Legal assistance to entrepreneurs has been provided remotely with the use of telephone, e-mail, video calls, instant messengers, etc. The principle is that the assistance / consultation / advisory in the preparation and submission of applications for the support will be provided free of charge. #RatujBiznes assistance has not applyed to any other issues (for example settlements with contractors, employer-employee relations, amendments to contracts, restructuring proceedings, etc.). Law firms and advisers participating in the campaign might have refuseed to provide free assistance other than preparing and submitting support applications. Any and all other activities and possible remuneration involved in their rendition has be determined by the law firm/advisory firm with the given entrepreneur. At the same time, please bear in mind that the SME Ombudsman was only the initiator and organizer of the #RatujBiznes campaign, it is has not an intermediary, proxy or any other entity that maight have been included in the relation between the firm offering assistance and the entrepreneurs for whom free legal services have be provided.
The law firm/advisory firm has also determined with the entrepreneur whether it has acted as the entrepreneur’s representative. The SME Ombudsman recommended that the applications have been signed and submitted by the entrepreneurs themselves. However, arrangements made between a law firm/advisory firm and an entrepreneur making use of the free assistance might have been differ from the recommended ones.