CONFORMITATEA LEGISLATIVĂ A DECIZIILOR DE AFACERI ALE ADMINISTRATORILOR – O PROBLEMĂ DE DREPT EVIDENTĂ?

The increase of the volume of regulations influences the activity of the companies and of the administrators, implying the risk of the latter being liable to the company for legally non-compliant business decisions. Part I of the study examines the legal regime of the obligation of the administrators to comply with the law and the implications of intentionally making business decisions contrary to the law. The conclusion is that the obligation to comply with the law can be seen as an independent obligation or explained through the doctrine ultra vires, but it can also be associated to the obligations of loyalty, good faith and diligence. Part II of the study analyzes whether there are potential exceptions that may justify the making of some legally non-compliant decisions and whether the liability of the administrators could be excluded or limited in certain situations. In principle, the making of profit, the attainment of other interests for the company or the ratification of the decision by the shareholders are not able to justify and exclude the liability of the administrators for making decisions contrary to the law. These decisions also exclude the application of some guarantees against liability, such as business judgment rule, the liability clauses and liability insurance. However, the social, economic and technological transformations accompanied by the inefficient legislation and by the phenomenon of regulatory entrepreneurship can provide sufficiently convincing arguments to change the paradigm in respect of the obligation of compliance. Although the proposed problems and solutions seem obvious, the study raises for discussion some aspects not addressed in the local doctrine, but which do not lack theoretical and practical importance.