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A new initiative led by Israel’s Ministry of Finance seeks to curb the involvement of organized crime in public tenders—a goal both important and necessary. However, the proposed language of the draft bill raises concerns that the burden may ultimately fall on the public, both financially and democratically. As an expert in the field, Adv. Liran Welcman, who heads our firm’s public tenders practice, shares his insights in a thought-provoking op-ed.

The firm represents Aviv Group, controlled by Melisron Ltd., one of Israel’s leading real estate companies specializing in the development and construction of residential, commercial, and luxury projects. We recently advised the group on a financing agreement with Mizrahi-Tefahot Bank for a project in the Maoz Aviv neighborhood of Tel Aviv, with credit facilities totaling approximately NIS 1.4 billion.

Adv. Harel Perlmutter, Partner and Head of the Tax Department at Barnea, was interviewed by Walla regarding the Israeli Tax Authority’s upcoming voluntary disclosure procedure for holders of cryptocurrencies and digital assets. The new framework is expected to offer immunity from criminal proceedings for taxpayers who come forward—without an anonymous track and without relief from interest or inflation adjustments. The procedure will apply to assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and NFTs, provided the disclosure is made before any investigation is initiated or relevant information reaches the authorities.

Adv. Zohar Lande, Head of our firm’s Litigation Department, participated today in a panel at the annual ACC Israel Conference, which focused on how companies handle crisis situations – such as regulatory investigations or office raids. Zohar spoke about the critical importance of the initial steps taken on the day a crisis breaks, and how a company’s immediate decisions can shape its legal, business, and reputational trajectory over time.

The court has approved Landa Digital Printing’s request for a stay of proceedings and ordered a suspension of creditor lawsuits until the end of August. During this period, the company will be able to seek a potential buyer and formulate a debt arrangement. Adv. Idan Miller of our firm represents Winder, a Singapore-based investment fund and one of the company’s key investors. At the hearing, Idan noted that the fund invested approximately USD 400 million in the company, including USD 230 million in loans. Notably, USD 14 million of this amount was injected over the past two months alone. “The claim that the investors have withdrawn is simply inaccurate,” he said. “We made every effort to support the company, and its current operations are being financed by us.”

Adv. Micky Barnea was interviewed by Globes regarding the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposal to tighten the criteria for foreign private issuers — a move that could affect around 100 Israeli companies currently traded in the US. These companies benefit from significant regulatory exemptions, including relief from filing quarterly reports and less stringent executive compensation disclosures. While the proposal primarily targets Chinese issuers, the implications for Israeli companies may be substantial, both in terms of regulatory burden and cost.

Our firm hosted a webinar focused on the current situation in Israel, following nearly two years of ongoing conflict and the recent removal of some of the major threats facing the country, most notably from Hezbollah and Iran. The discussion addressed Israel’s entry into a new geopolitical reality and explored pressing questions regarding the country’s future direction in the Middle East, as well as its diplomatic and security positioning on the global stage. Speakers included Maj. Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror, former National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Israel and former Head of the Research Department in the IDF Directorate of Military Intelligence; Prof. Yossi Shain, former Member of Knesset (24th Knesset), founding head of Tel Aviv University’s School of Government, and Emeritus Professor of International Affairs at Georgetown University and author of several internationally acclaimed books; and Mr. Jeffrey Kahn, an international strategy expert who has held senior positions across global institutions and industries. The webinar concluded with a lecture by Prof. Amichai Cohen, Special Counsel on International Law at our firm, on extending the Abraham Accords and new opportunities in the Middle East.

Adv. Ilan Blumenfeld, Partner and Head of our Israeli Commercial Practice in the firm's corporate department, delivered a lecture on “The Legal Aspects of Mergers and Acquisitions: Preparing a Company for Sale and/or Merger” as part of the CFO training program organized by the Manufacturers Association of Israel (MAI).

Adv. Gal Rozent, a partner in our firm’s Competition and Antitrust Department, delivered a lecture on “Managing Antitrust Risks Within Organizations: Practical Tools for Prevention and Post-Violation Response” as part of the CFO training program organized by the Manufacturers Association of Israel (MAI).

Our firm represents Meuhedet Health Services, the third-largest HMO in Israel, in a wide range of real estate matters across the country — from negotiating and drafting lease agreements for clinics, to advising on the acquisition of properties of significant value. Among other matters, we represented Meuhedet in the purchase of a commercial property in Bnei Brak for approximately ILS 40 million, and we are currently advising on a transaction for the acquisition of commercial properties in Bnei Brak and Beit Shemesh valued at over ILS 100 million.