Business Law in Europe

This book is intended to serve as a guide to businessmen and their advisers, either from outside the Common Market or from within, who seek basic information on questions in three main fields: company law and related legal matters, taxation, and labour law. For those who wish to establish an enter- prise or form a holding or financing company in one of the Member States of the Common Market (including Greece, of course) or Switzerland this guide offers a unique opportunity to compare conditions in the various countries in the three fields. This is facilitated by the strict adherence to one format for each national chapter. Those who are already present in one or more of the eleven countries will find a global answer to a number of practical questions that may arise. For detailed answers the local lawyer or other consultant remains indispensable. The format is based on two different approaches the foreign investor may take: either he 'goes it alone', by way of establishing a branch, setting up a subsidiary or taking over an existing company, or he joins forces with another investor from within the host country or from outside. In the latter event there are a number of legal forms (jointly owned company, partnership, etc. ) which may be used.