means an event, series of events or circumstance arising from the physical impacts of Climate Change that affects multiple countries or continents [and prevents [X OR a party] from performing its obligations under this agreement].

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has announced that Panama has notified its decision to appeal the dispute panel report in case DS599, ‘Panama — Measures Concerning the Importation of Certain Products from Costa Rica’. The panel report, which was initially circulated to WTO members on 5 December 2024, was formally appealed by Panama on 24 January 2025 through notification to the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body.

NOTE—to see whether notification thresholds in Panama and throughout the world are met, see further: Where to Notify. 1. Have there been any recent developments regarding the Panamanian merger control regime and are any updates/developments expected in the coming year? Are there any other ‘hot’ merger control issues in Panama? There have been no recent developments regarding the Panamanian merger control regime. However, proposed amendments to the merger control regime continue to be discussed, including the possibility of introducing notification thresholds. As regards the electricity sector specifically, proposed amendments to the merger control provisions of the Electricity Sector Law (Law 6 of 1997) are currently being debated before the National Assembly, with approval expected in the near future. In terms of 'hot' issues, the authorities seem to be particularly concerned about sectors or markets that have a visible impact on a large number of consumers (eg the food industry). 2. Under Panamanian merger control law, is the control test the same as the EU concept of ‘decisive influence’? If not, how does it differ and what

1 Pandemic management team and strategy Action point Owner Status and comments Identify a person to lead the Pandemic management team (Pandemic management coordinator) and clearly define their role [Insert name or role of owner of this action point] [Confirm status and add comments as required] Establish a Pandemic management team, to include representatives from the following functions:—senior leadership;—finance;—business units;—human resources;—business continuity;—risk management;—[real estate OR property] management;—facilities management;—communications;—legal. Pandemic management co-ordinator [Confirm status and add comments as required] Clearly define the responsibilities of each member of the Pandemic management team. Pandemic management co-ordinator [Confirm status and add comments as required] Draw up a high-level Pandemic management strategy. [Insert name or role of owner of this action point, eg Business unit heads] [Confirm status and add comments as required] Create a schedule of the Pandemic management team members, with full contact details (and annex to the Pandemic management strategy). [Insert name or role of owner of this action point, eg Business unit heads] [Confirm status and add comments as required] [Insert next] [Insert name or role of owner of this action point] [Confirm status and add comments as required] 2 On-site operations Action point Owner Status and comments Establish whether there are any business-critical

Definitions (General) Competent Authority • any authority having jurisdiction in relation to the Property, its occupation or use; Restricted Period • any period [exceeding [number] [continuous] weeks] during the Term in which a Pandemic Restriction applies; Pandemic Restriction • any Legislation, or any requirement of, or guidance published by, a Competent Authority which: (a) arises

ARCHIVED: This Precedent has been archived and is not maintained. This Precedent contains links to a range of optional clauses, or part-wording for insertion into existing clauses, which can be included in a lease in order to deal with some of the consequences and/or issues arising out of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic or other similar scenarios. The clauses and part-wording are drafted on the assumption

1 Introduction 1.1 A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease. A viral pandemic occurs when a new virus emerges and spreads around the world—and most people do not have immunity. Examples of pandemics include the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from 2020 onwards. 1.2 This pandemic management strategy sets out [insert company name]’s strategy for managing a pandemic. The impact of pandemic outbreaks on individuals, businesses and societies can be reduced by being well prepared. This means having a comprehensive strategy, that is reviewed on a regular basis and refined. 1.3 In response to the potential threat of a pandemic, [insert company name] regularly monitors the risk to individual countries in which [insert company name] has an existing presence. In addition, [insert company name] has prepared a high level pandemic management strategy, which is set out in this document. 2 Pandemic management team 2.1 A Pandemic management team has been set up [for each jurisdiction in which we operate ]to ensure [insert company name] manages the response to any pandemic in the most appropriate way. 2.2 The Pandemic management team is led by [insert name

This Checklist is intended for in-house lawyers. It sets out the clauses you should consider to protect your organisation in both existing and new contracts in the event of a pandemic. It should be read in conjunction with Practice Note: Pandemic risk management guide. See also Practice Note: Drafting for unforeseen events—commercial contracts Clause Existing contract New contract Force majeure See Q&As:—Can my force majeure clause protect me against the economic impact of coronavirus (COVID-19)?—Is a force majeure clause enforceable in a business-to-consumer contract because of coronavirus (COVID-19)?—Does coronavirus (COVID-19) qualify as a biological contamination for the purposes of a definition of force majeure? Force majeure is defined as a list of event and does not have any broader wording such as ‘without limitation’ or similar?—Where a force majeure event is defined as something beyond a party's reasonable control 'including but not limited to' a list of specified events, would a court consider that list as indicative of the type of event that would constitute a force majeure event?See also Precedent: Force majeure

Pandemics are exceptional events which present organisations with difficult business conditions, uncertainty and particularly challenging information and cybersecurity issues. Office closures and social distancing required during a pandemic create unusual circumstances for businesses, including potentially managing an unprecedented number of staff who are working from home, some of whom having never done so before. Key information and cybersecurity risks to consider and seek to mitigate during a pandemic centre around: • continued compliance with legal and regulatory requirements • cybercrime • keeping systems and devices secure, and • staff awareness This Practice Note considers each risk area and suggests practical steps you can take to mitigate them. Legal and regulatory requirements Sound risk management practices require you to identify, monitor and manage all material risks to your business. See Practice Note: How to identify and evaluate risk across the business. Information and cybersecurity are important risks for any business. Identifying, monitoring and managing material risks is a regulatory requirement for law firms. Confidentiality Solicitors and law firms must keep the affairs of

ARCHIVED: This precedent has been archived and is not maintained. Definitions (General) Competent Authority • any authority having jurisdiction in relation to the Property, its occupation or use; Restricted Period • any period [exceeding [number] [continuous] weeks] during the Term in which a Pandemic Restriction applies; Pandemic Restriction • any Legislation, or any requirement of, or guidance published by, a Competent Authority which:

The extent of the restrictions imposed by regulators or government will largely dictate the nature of the risks that you need to manage for your organisation during any pandemic. Such restrictions could be ‘light touch’ or, as with COVID-19, a strict approach involving the forced closure of many businesses, restrictions on travel and extreme social distancing measures. This risk management guide anticipates a strict approach is taken. Therefore, you may need to adapt the measures suggested according to the circumstances in which your organisation finds itself. Additionally, this risk management guide does not cover the exacting requirements that may be imposed by regulators in respect of PLCs, financial organisations, competition law, advertising, consumer credit etc, or by specialist areas of legislation such as employment, taxation, insolvency or corporate law. Regulation concerning the public sector together with corporate accounting and finance also fall outside the scope of this risk management guide. Why you need to manage this risk The biggest issue for all businesses when faced with the risk of a pandemic must be how to avoid going

ARCHIVED: This precedent has been archived and is not maintained. [ Definitions (General) Competent Authority • any authority having jurisdiction in relation to the Property, its occupation or use; Restricted Period • any period [exceeding [number] [continuous] weeks] during the Term in which a Pandemic Restriction applies; Pandemic Restriction • any Legislation, or any requirement of, or