Michael Barnea

Micky is one of the strongest M&A transaction partners in the country, combining exceptional legal knowledge with deep industry knowledge.

With over 30 years’ experience in both corporate and securities law, Micky plays a lead role acting for some of Israel’s largest public and private companies, as well as for prominent international corporations, on their most significant transactions, including strategic alliances, joint ventures, partnerships, and reorganizations.

He also counsels clients, both foreign and domestic, on their day-to-day legal matters, and accompanies foreign corporations in establishing and structuring their Israeli operations.

Micky offers his clients leading market knowledge, built up over years of working with clients from across all industries.

In 2019, Micky accompanied significant merger and acquisition deals in the Israeli market. He represented Azrieli Group in the sale of its holdings in Supergas, Cryolife in a strategic transaction with the Israeli medtech startup Endospan, the private equity group Bridgepoint in its acquisition of control in the Israeli company Qualitest, Danel Group in its strategic acquisition of 51% of Levinger Group, and Johnson and Johnson in its various investments in Israeli companies.

Micky is greatly respected as a legal advisor to public companies traded on both Israeli and foreign stock exchanges, as well as to foreign investors with stakes in Israeli publicly traded companies.

In the technology sphere, Micky advises various types of entities in the Israeli ecosystem: technology companies; local subsidiaries of multinational corporations; accelerators and incubators; R&D centers; VC, PE, and CVC funds; and startups. He also oversees prominent cross-border technology-related transactions.

Micky is a well-known figure in the Israeli hi-tech ecosystem. He lectures on a regular basis to various Israeli accelerators, in addition to serving as a mentor for young entrepreneurs. 

Prestigious directory Chambers and Partners consistently ranks Micky as a leading lawyer in the Corporate/M&A and TMT practice area. The guide describes him as “really brilliant and very straightforward. Problem solver,” and as “instrumental for the success of the transaction.” The Chamber’s HNW guide for 2020 ranked Micky as an expert in the field of Private Wealth Law, as well. The guide describes him as someone who “takes nothing for granted and [is] very thorough.”

Legal 500 describes him as “one of the top lawyers in commercial and corporate in Israel. He is a proactive and high-quality lawyer, always available.” The directory also praises him as “a brilliant lawyer, the quality of his work is perfect, his knowledge and experience with startups and hi-tech companies is second to none.”

The IFLR1000 directory steadily ranks Micky for his work in the Capital Markets: Equity and M&A sector. It pronounced him “a professional” and also “a deal maker and a doer. He focuses on the right topics and is very experienced.” 

In addition, Micky serves as the Middle East Liaison Officer of the IBA Law Firm Management Committee.