Insights & News

Adv. Roy Engel is speaking this morning at a conference hosted by the Israeli Hedge Fund Association (IHFA) at the offices of PwC. His lecture focuses on key considerations and insights from a fund manager’s perspective during due diligence processes.

We represented Viola Group, a leading Israeli technology investment group, in a ₪28 million transaction in which it sold its holdings in Gaan Holdings, a prominent Israeli company operating through subsidiaries in retail, logistics, and financial services. Adv. Michael Barnea, the firm’s Managing Partner, together with Advs. Misha Gitterman and Tal Freilich Hai, led the transaction to closing.

Our firm was selected through a tender process to advise Mekorot, Israel’s national water company, on the commercialization and management of its patent portfolio. Adv. Ken Shaked, a partner in our Commercial Department specializing in technology commercialization agreements, will lead the consulting engagement with Mekorot.

Adv. Hagit Ben Moshe represented Kibbutz Ruhama in executing an agreement with the Tekuma Administration and the Settlement Division, aimed at facilitating the organized absorption of approximately 520 residents of Kibbutz Kfar Aza. This agreement marks a significant milestone in an ongoing process that commenced in February 2024, pursuant to which two dedicated residential neighborhoods were established within Kibbutz Ruhama to serve as temporary housing for the displaced residents until their return to their permanent community.

Shortly before US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day freeze on tariffs affecting most of the US’s trade partners—sending global markets soaring—he published a series of controversial posts referencing the ticker of a company he owns. These posts raised serious legal questions regarding potential market manipulation, conflicts of interest, and regulatory exposure. We shared our legal insights in an interview with N12.

Israel’s financial landscape has recently faced significant shocks. With capital markets experiencing notable declines, the question arises: what does this mean for real estate? Adv. Alon Wolner, a partner in our Real Estate Department, spoke to TheMarker about how current capital market volatility is influencing real estate investment trends in Israel and the key challenges developers are now facing.

The Israeli real estate market is facing both local and global pressures, from wars to rising interest rates and economic uncertainty. Adv. Alon Wolner, a partner at our firm, was interviewed by TheMarker on challenges and opportunities in the evolving real estate landscape.

Our firm achieved another significant legal success in the field of franchise law, representing the Kfar HaSha’ashuim retail chain in a lawsuit against a former franchisee. The court accepted our client's claims and ruled that the franchisee had unlawfully used the brand after the termination of the agreement, emphasizing that franchise relationships are not binding once the contract ends. The case was led by Advs. Eran Winner and Hadar Gonen.

We hosted an event focused on international arbitration, led by Advs. Lina Makhuli and Zohar Lande. The event was held in collaboration with the Israeli Forum of International Arbitration and ILVYAP, the forum for young arbitration lawyers, for which Lina serves on the founding and managing committee, alongside Adv. Ksenia Zemskov, Dr. Miriam Feinberg, and Adv. Shay Lechter. The event featured a roundtable discussions on various topics, from practical insights into professional development to tips for building a successful career in the field.

The conference on technology regulation and compliance challenges in the age of artificial intelligence was held under the leadership of our firm, in collaboration with Microsoft Israel. The event focused on the impact of artificial intelligence on legal strategy and the evolving regulatory landscape. We extend our sincere thanks to the organizers, speakers, and participants for their valuable contributions and insightful discussions, and for advancing a meaningful and in-depth dialogue on these cutting-edge topics. The conference was led by Dr. Avishay Klein and Adv. Masha Yudashkin from our firm's Privacy, Cyber and AI Department.

Yozmot - Real Estate Development, an entrepreneurial contracting company specializing in urban renewal, has successfully completed its inaugural bond issuance and is now listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, raising approximately ILS 50 million. The offering was supported by Adv. Elad Reshtick from our firm's Capital Markets Department.

AI is becoming emotionally intelligent, with new models designed to recognize and respond to human emotions. Tech companies are investing in emotional AI to improve customer service, potentially making AI agents more empathetic than human representatives. Dr. Avishay Klein, a partner and head of our Privacy, Cyber & AI Department, spoke to Globes about what the near future of this technology might look like.

Advs. Gal Rozent and Irit Brodsky represented Danshar in all competition-related aspects concerning the sale of its private label for US-imported microwave popcorn. The sale was made to food company Sugat, which is owned by the Fortissimo investment fund.

Advs. Ariella Dreyfuss and Dean Weinberg from our Corporate Department advised Munich Re, together with our colleagues at Kirkland & Ellis, on its definitive agreement to acquire Next Insurance for USD 2.6 billion. They were supported by Advs. Hanna Daher and Fadi Atallah from our Tax Department; Adv. Netta Bromberg, head of our Employment Department; and Dr. Avishay Klein, head of our Privacy, Cyber and AI Department.

Advs. Harel Perlmutter and Maya Carmi Lubartovski from our firm participated in the Israel Bar Association's (Southern District) Tax Conference. The conference covered various aspects of taxation, including real estate tax, income tax, and VAT. Harel and Maya participated in a panel on trust taxation, discussing the practical application of trust taxation (income tax and real estate tax) and how it is actually carried out in practice.

Adv. Harel Perlmutter, a partner and head of the firm's Tax Department, was interviewed yesterday on Channel 12, Israel's main news channel, regarding the largest exit in Israeli high-tech history. He discussed the tax implications of the deal, stating that "between ILS 12 and 16 billion will flow into the state's coffers, covering nearly 10 percent of the national deficit with this deal alone."

Isracard has acquired one-third of the shares in the fintech company BIZI, which provides loans to small businesses through a digital platform, at a pre-money valuation of ILS 90 million. Advs. Ilan Blumenfeld, Daniel Kleinman, and Shahaf Arbely from our firm advised BIZI in this transaction.