Selskapslovgivning i unntakstid

In the first half of 2020, the corona virus hit the Nordic countries and the international community. The health authorities initiated orders and recommendations to keep distance and avoid physical gatherings. These government measures were not consistent with requirements in company law regarding the holding of physical meetings. Therefore, there was a pressing need for temporary rules that provided increased opportunities for holding board meetings, general meetings and other company meetings without personal attendance. This article accounts for the temporary statutes adopted by the Norwegian Parliament. Which legal entities do they apply to? What requirements are set for holding electronic meetings? Who decides whether the meeting should be physical or electronic? Does a shareholder or a member for the board have a right to attend a physical meeting using electronic means? The article also discusses the rules regarding the right to sign minutes of the meetings using electronic signatures. Furthermore, the authors raise the question whether the right to use electronic communication in corporate relations should be expanded on a more generally basis regardless of any extraordinary situation.