Government
As an entrepreneur, you regularly deal with government authorities. This may involve permits, subsidies, tender procedures, enforcement or decisions by a municipality, province or national authority. Such decisions can have a significant impact on your business operations. That is why it is important to know quickly where you stand and which steps are possible.
The rules surrounding government decisions are often extensive and change regularly. The deadlines for lodging an objection or taking action are usually short. This makes the relationship with the government different from an ordinary commercial relationship between businesses.
In practice, many issues may arise. You may want to apply for a permit, respond to a zoning plan, participate in a tender or act against a decision that has an adverse effect on your business. In the event of inspections, fines or other enforcement measures, it is also important to determine immediately what is sensible.
The sooner you understand your position, the better you can stay in control. Sometimes lodging an objection is necessary. In other cases, consultation with the government or a practical solution is faster and more effective. We therefore look not only at the legal options, but also at what they mean for your business.
Different rules also often apply when you contract with the government. Procedures, conditions and assessment criteria may differ from what you are used to in commercial relationships. Good preparation helps to limit risks and make better use of opportunities.
If a dispute with the government arises, it usually proceeds through administrative law. For example, you can lodge an objection or appeal against a decision. In urgent situations, interim relief may be necessary so that clarity is obtained quickly.
LVH Advocaten helps entrepreneurs with administrative law matters. We advise on decisions and regulations, guide permit procedures and tenders and act in objection and appeal proceedings. We also think along quickly and practically in cases involving enforcement, fines or other government measures.
Our aim is to ensure that you know what options you have, which deadlines are important and which approach fits your situation. This enables you to act in a targeted way and prevents opportunities or legal remedies from being left unused.
Is there a decision, permit procedure or enforcement issue at play? Feel free to submit your situation to us. We will quickly map out which deadlines, choices and next steps are important.
SPECIALIZED LAWYERS
These are our lawyers who specialize in this area.
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