Insights & News

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 ILS 1.4 billion.

Adv. Harel Perlmutter, a partner and head of the firm's Tax Department, was interviewed by Walla regarding the Israel 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.

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. 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.

Our firm is representing Azrieli in a strategic transaction to acquire control of Zemach Hammerman, with an estimated company valuation of approximately ILS 635 million, as part of a reverse triangular merger. Under the original offer, Azrieli aims to purchase about 67% of Zemach Hammerman’s shares for up to ILS 440 million, marking the group’s expansion into residential real estate development and construction in Israel. Our firm is supporting Azrieli throughout all stages of the transaction, including legal counsel on regulatory matters, transaction structuring, negotiations, and public company risk management.

Landa Corporation Limited, a company engaged in the development and manufacturing of digital printing technologies, recently filed a request for a stay of proceedings in order to formulate a debt arrangement outside of formal insolvency proceedings. According to the filing, the company's total debt amounts to approximately ILS 1.75 billion, including around ILS 1.4 billion owed to secured creditors and an additional ILS 300 million to suppliers and other unsecured creditors. Adv. Idan Miller of Barnea Jaffa Lande represents WINDER PTE, one of the principal creditors in the case.

We are holding a practical and professional webinar designed by GCs for GCs, led by our partners Adv. Gal Rozent and Adv. Irit Brodsky. The session will cover practical tools for mitigating antitrust exposure, including internal compliance mechanisms; early detection strategies; best practices for day-to-day; and crisis interaction with the Israel Competition Authority, competitors, suppliers, and customers. The webinar will also include a forward-looking discussion on key trends and developments expected in 2025. 

 We are holding a practical and focused webinar with GCs for GCs, led by Adv. Hagit Ross and Adv. Omri Oren, partners in the firm's Capital Markets Department.  The session will provide clear guidelines for building an effective compensation policy, including best practices for structure, mandatory components, and key considerations from regulatory, legal, and market perspectives that should inform the decision-making process. We will also take a close look at the special grant: when it is appropriate to include one, the rationale and circumstances for doing so, and how to best integrate it into the overall compensation framework, with a particular focus on the Israel Securities Authority’s current position and applicable legal requirements.

In the aftermath of the war, expectations are growing for a large-scale recovery wave in real estate and urban renewal projects. As an expert in the real estate field, Adv. Terry Almozlino Arnon was interviewed by Ynet and stated, among other things, "Entire buildings have been destroyed or damaged to the extent that they require full demolition and complete reconstruction. The solution, in her view, is to rebuild them through private developers under the urban renewal framework."

Our firm represented Azrieli Group in its acquisition of a 67% controlling stake in Zemach Hammerman, a complex transaction valued at approximately ILS 855 million. The deal was executed through a reverse triangular merger. Azrieli Group was advised by Advs. Micky Barnea, Misha Gitterman, and Tal Freilich, with additional support from our Real Estate, Employment, and Capital Markets Departments.

Following the recent missile attacks from Iran, several old buildings collapsed across the country. Government ministers have announced plans to advance urban renewal initiatives for these affected structures. As the state works to develop a comprehensive strategy, we examined the unique rights of elderly residents in urban renewal projects, since, in many cases, senior citizens are the ones living in these aging buildings. A detailed guide on the subject by Adv. Maya Carmi, an expert in real estate taxation, was published on Ynet.

Employers and employees are now facing new questions on a daily basis, such as can we go to the office, what if working from home isn’t an option, etc. Adv. Lior Girshevitz provides a comprehensive overview in a guide published on the Walla news website.

Can employees work from home? Who is permitted to attend the workplace? Are employers required to pay full wages or can vacation days be deducted? And what happens when the legal guidance isn’t clear? In today’s rapidly shifting reality, where emergency regulations are constantly being updated, we’re here to provide clarity. We are holding a focused and practical webinar led by Adv. Netta Bromberg, head of our Employment Department, who will address the most pressing questions employers are facing right now and help navigate this evolving landscape.

We are pleased to announce the publication of the third edition of The Legal 500: Class Actions Comparative Guide. The guide provides a comparative overview of class action procedures across multiple jurisdictions and serves as a valuable resource for legal professionals and international businesses. The Israel chapter was authored by Adv. Eyal Nachshon and Adv. Avinadav Preuss from the firm's Litigation Department.