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2026 IBA Conference in Copenhagen
Adv. Micky Barnea, Adv. Simon Jaffa, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss, Adv. Eyal Nachshon, and Adv. Liat Keisary will attend the annual International Bar Association (IBA) Conference in Copenhagen. They look forward to a week of meetings with friends and colleagues from around the world to discuss market developments, cross-border work, and opportunities for collaboration. During the conference, Adv. Liat Keisary, a partner at our firm, will speak on a panel exploring LGBTQ+ family rights, cross-border parenthood, and surrogacy. She will also moderate a panel on legal marketing in the digital age and the professional ethics of social media use.
Inven Capital Co-Leads Wint’s Funding Round
We are proud to have advised Inven Capital, which co-led Wint’s funding round. Wint develops technology for the early detection of water waste and the prevention of costly water damage. Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss and Adv. Rahaf Awawdi of our firm advised Inven Capital throughout the transaction.
Femtech: Navigating Legal and Regulatory Risk
Femtech spans a broad spectrum of long overdue solutions addressing women’s health, from connected devices to digital health platforms and data-driven care tools. It is a fast growing and historically underserved market operating at the intersection of evolving healthcare, AI and privacy laws and regulation, each with distinct nuances, costs and operational demands.
Barnea: Representing Henkel in a Strategic Investment
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss, a partner in the firm's International Commercial Department, along with Adv. Dean Weinberg, represented Henkel in its strategic investment in the Israeli predictive maintenance startup Feelit Technologies.
Barnea: Representing ARM in an Investment Round in proteanTecs
The startup proteanTecs has completed a funding round, securing investment from some of the most prominent players in the semiconductor industry. Our firm, through Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss and Adv. Tamar Greenstein, advised Arm, alongside White & Case, in this round. Other participants included Samsung Catalyst Fund and Siemens.
Barnea: Representing Munich Re in USD 2.6 Billion Acquisition of Next Insurance
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss and Adv. 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 Adv. Hanna Daher and Adv. 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.
Representing Vaalon Capital in USD 72 Million Transaction
Our firm represented Vaalon Capital, through its SPV IWS, in the sale of its entire stake in Prodalim to Israel Corporation, the country’s leading publicly traded holding company, in a transaction valued at USd 72 million. The sale was part of an initial investment and two secondary transactions, through which Israel Corporation acquired a significant minority stake (~27%) for a total consideration of USD 116 million.
Singapore-Based Prytek Acquires TipRanks at USD 200 Million Valuation
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss and Adv. Rahaf Awawdi represented TipRanks in a transaction in which Prytek acquired an additional 40% stake in TipTanks, becoming its controlling shareholder. In 2021, TipRanks raised USD 77 million, partially through a secondary offering led by Prytek. This transaction was also handled by the firm, with Adv. Hanna Daher assisting in all tax aspects.
Barnea: Representing Trivago in Investment in Israeli Startup Holisto
Our firm represented Trivago, a leading global hotel search platform, in its strategic investment and call option to acquire Holisto, an Israeli AI-driven travel tech platform that serves as a hotel rate aggregator and white-label booking engine provider. Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss and Adv. Dean Weinberg represented Trivago.
International Bar Association: Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss on Acquiring Startups
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss spoke as part of an IBA webinar on the key legal considerations of acquiring startups and early-stage companies in India.
Barnea: Representing Thermo Fisher in Investment in CytoReason
Our firm represented Thermo Fisher in its participation in CytoReason's USD 80 million financing round, alongside notable investors OurCrowd, Nvidia, and Pfizer. CytoReason provides pharmaceutical and therapeutic leaders with molecular-level insights and advanced AI tools that support data-driven decision-making in healthcare and the life sciences. Adv. Simon Jaffa, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss, and Adv. Rahaf Awawdi represented Thermo Fisher in the transaction.
Barnea: Hosting Conference for Female Entrepreneurs
Our firm hosted a Fem F*ck Up Night conference in collaboration with NOGAFEM, aimed at female entrepreneurs. The event included, among others, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss and Adv. Inbar Gorelick, who discussed how to avoid but also learn from mistakes.
Hosting a Delegation of Entrepreneurs from Mexico
We hosted a delegation of entrepreneurs from Mexico, who arrived in Israel to learn about investment opportunities in the Israeli high-tech market. As part of the delegation’s visit, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss lectured on the legal aspects of doing business in Israel.
Azrieli Group to Sell Stake in Compass Data Centers for ILS 3.2 Billion
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss has been representing Azrieli in its ongoing investments in the data centers field. Following its 2019 acquisition of 20% of Compass for USD 135 million, Azrieli announced yesterday an agreement for the sale of Compass to Brookfield Infrastructure. Compass Data Centers is one of the largest developers of data centers in the world.
Earn-Outs – Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss Op-Ed for CTECH
CTECH by Calcalist has published an op-ed by Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss, a partner in our International Corporate Department. Ariella explains that earn-outs are becoming an established tool for compromising on a company’s valuation.
Barnea: Representing Convent Capital in its Investment in BeeHero
Our firm represented Convent Capital, a private equity firm based in Amsterdam, in a USD 42 million funding round in BeeHero. The Israeli startup BeeHero is developing a platform for bee pollination and owns the largest database of bees and pollen in the world.
Barnea Represented Mouro Capital in USD 80 Million Investment in Vesttoo
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss represented Mouro Capital in its role as lead investor in an USD 80 million Series C financing round in the Israeli insurtch startup Vesttoo. The investment was based on a company valuation of USD 1 billion.
Barnea Represents GameChain in USD 24 Million A Round
We represented the Israeli crypto and NFT startup GameChain (UnCaged Studio) in raising USD 24 million as part of a series A round. The round was led by Griffin Gaming Partners and was joined by Vgames, Maverick Ventures Israel, MaxStealth, Drive by DraftKings, and 6th Man Ventures. Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss and Adv. Tal Freilich provided representation in the transaction.
Barnea Represents Cibus Fund in Biotech Company Investment
Barnea represented Cibus Fund in an investment in Phytolon, a biotech company that develops fermentation-based natural food colors.
Barnea Represents Azrieli in Data Center Acquisition
We represented Azrieli Group in the acquisition of a London data center operator for GBP 52 million. The acquisition is part of Azrieli's expansion in the data center sector. Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss, Adv. Mayer Winkler, and Adv. Tal Freilich provided representation in the transaction.
Migdal Group Invests in Scandinavian Energy
Migdal Group has invested, together with other partnerships, in the alternative energy projects of Fu-Gen AG and Fu-Gen Assets 4 AB. Firm partners Adv. Micky Barnea, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss, and Adv. Roy Engel advised on the ILS 1 billion investment.
Warburg Pincus Leads Funding Round in Israeli Digital Health Startup MDClone
We represented the global private equity firm Warburg Pincus in its investment in MDClone, an Israeli healthcare data analysis company. Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss and Adv. Tal Freilich advised on the transaction.
Shift 4 Acquires Israeli Clearing Technology Company Finaro
Shift4 Payments, an American public company, has acquired Finaro for USD 575 million. Adv. Simon Jaffa, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss, Adv. Mayer Winkler, Adv. Harel Perlmutter, Adv. Hanna Daher, and Adv. Fadi Atallah advised on the transaction.
Representing Shareholders in Startup's Acquisition by Vontier
We represented Inven Capital, Volvo Group Venture Capital, and Ombu Group in the sale of their shares in Driivz to Vontier, a global mobility company. Adv. Simon Jaffa, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss, Adv. Harel Perlmutter, and Adv. Fadi Atallah advised on the transaction.
A Share Deal or An Asset Deal in Israeli Mergers & Acquisitions?
You have identified an Israeli target company to purchase. Now the question is – how to structure the acquisition? There are two traditional routes in Israeli private M&A transactions. The first is to purchase the shares of the target company, and the second is to purchase its assets. Each structure has benefits and disadvantages for the purchaser.
Barnea Represents Mouro Capital in Investment in Vesttoo
We represented Mouro Capital in its USD 8 million equity investment in the Israeli tech insurance startup Vesttoo, as part of its role as the lead investor in the company's USD 16 million Series B round. Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss represented Mouro Capital in the deal.
Barnea Represents Inomize in Transaction with Facebook (Meta)
We advised Inomize, an Israeli developer and manufacturer of electronic components, on its acquisition by Facebook through the transfer of Inomize's employees' know-how and expertise. Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss led the transaction, with Adv. Netta Bromberg and Adv. Jacki Silbermann advising on employment matters.
Barnea Represents Reef Technology in Acquisition of Israeli Startup Bond
We advised Reef Technology, a leading US operator of mobility and logistics hubs and neighborhood kitchens, on its acquisition of Bond, an Israeli logistics startup originally founded as Shookit, a direct-to-consumer grocery delivery company that delivered fresh produce to customers across the city within hours. The transaction was led by Adv. Michael Barnea, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss, and Adv. Tal Freilich. Adv. Netta Bromberg advised on employment matters, while Adv. Harel Perlmutter and Adv. Hanna Daher advised on tax matters. Adv. Anat Even-Chen advised on data privacy, cybersecurity, and other regulatory matters.
Barnea Represents GAP Inc. in Acquisition of Israeli Startup
Our firm advised fashion retail giant Gap on its first significant acquisition of an Israeli technology startup. As part of the transaction, CB4's team will join Gap as full-time employees. Adv. Simon Jaffa and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss represented the US clothing and accessories retailer, while Adv. Netta Bromberg and Adv. Jacki Silbermann advised on the employment matters arising from the transaction.
Barnea Represents Niio in Strategic Partnership and Financing Agreement with Samsung
Our office has served as legal counsel for Niio, a unique digital art platform, since its establishment. The startup recently completed a USD 15 million fundraising round. Adv. Simon Jaffa and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss also represented Niio in a strategic partnership and financing agreement with Samsung Display, which will exhibit on hundreds of its frames the digital artwork Niio offers.
Barnea Represents RSBG in USD 140 Million Sale of Shares to LG
Barnea represented RSBG Ventures GmbH in the USD 140 million sale of its shares in the Israeli cybersecurity company Cybellum Technologies Ltd., as part an acquisition of a majority stake (65%) in the company by LG Electronics Inc. Adv. Simon Jaffa and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss led RSBG’s role in the transaction.
Barnea Represents Azrieli Group in ILS 2.8 Billion Acquisition of Norwegian Data Center Company
Our firm represented Azrieli Group, the largest income-producing real estate company in Israel, in a share purchase transaction of Green Mountain for ILS 2.8 billion. The company operates three server farms in Norway and holds contracts with a total volume of 24 megawatts.
Barnea Represents Azrieli Group in Franchise Agreement with AllSaints
Our firm represented Azrieli Group in the acquisition of the franchise for leading British fashion brand AllSaints. Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss advised Azrieli on the franchise agreement. The first store will launch in August 2021.
Barnea Represents Migdal in Investment in Sunbit
Sunbit, a fintech company, has developed an AI-based technology that enables personalized payment options. It recently raised USD 130 million in a Series D financing round led by Group 11, Zeev Ventures, and Migdal Insurance. Adv. Micky Barnea and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss represented Migdal in the transaction.
Barnea Represents Migdal in Investment in Behalf
Our firm represented Migdal in a financing round worth millions of shekels in Behalf, a startup that provides alternative financing solutions to B2B companies. The client was represented by Adv. Micky Barnea, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss, and Adv. Daniel Arbov.
TipRanks Completes USD 77 Million Funding Round
Israel-based fintech company TipRanks announced today the completion of a USD 77 million funding round led by Prytek and Mor Investment House. Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss represented TipRanks in the round. TipRanks currently has 60 employees located mostly in Tel Aviv. With the new investment, the company plans to double its workforce and open offices in New York.
Dentsply Sirona Acquires Datum Dentel Ltd.
We represented Datum BioTech Ltd and its non-wholly owned subsidiary, Datum Dental Ltd, an Israeli company that develops medical devices for the mouth and jaw, in its sale to American company Dentsply Sirona. Adv. Micky Barnea and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss advised the client throughout the deal.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Negotiating Leaver and Vesting Provisions on Venture Capital Deals
As part of a comprehensive guide prepared by Humphreys Law Ltd on leaver and vesting provisions, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss contributed her perspective on the Israeli market.
Barnea Represents Knorr-Bremse in Acquisition of Additional 19.8% of Rail Vision
Adv. Simon Jaffa and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss represented Knorr-Bremse, the German global market leader for braking systems for rail and commercial vehicles, in its USD 10 million investment in the Israeli railway safety company Rail Vision.
Barnea Represents Cyberx Shareholder in Microsoft Acquisition
We represented Inven Capital, a Czech-based VC fund and a shareholder in Cyberx Israel, an Israeli IoT & ICS cybersecurity startup, in Cyberx's sale to Microsoft for USD 165 million. CyberX has gained tremendous customer growth, with a number of leading companies using its IoT security platform to protect their web facilities. Cyberx has raised about USD 48 million since its inception in 2013. This is Microsoft’s eighth acquisition in Israel in the last decade.
Doing Business in Israel – Practical Law
This year, we were once again responsible for preparing the QA guide on doing business in Israel for the Practical Law website. The guide provides an overview of recent key developments that have affected doing business in Israel, including the legal system, foreign investment, employment, tax, competition, privacy, and IP.
First Steps for Startups: Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss Lectures at Bengis Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss lectured today on founders' agreements and raising initial funding to Faculty of Business and Management students from Ben Gurion University’s Bengis Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.
Barnea Represents Surf in Sale of Video Division to Lytx
Lytx Inc., a US-based fleet management software developer, has acquired the video division of Israeli company Surf Communications, which will serve as Lytx’s Israeli R&D center. Founded in 1996, Surf develops multimedia digital signal processing technologies for telecommunications infrastructure. Adv. Micky Barnea and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss represented Surf in the transaction, valued at USD 20-30 million.
Pi-Cardia Ltd. Raises USD 27 Million in Financing Round Led by Sofinnova Partners
Pi-Cardia, an Israel-based global leader in developing non-implant catheter-based solutions to treat heart valve calcification, has raised USD 27 million in funding. The round was led by our client, European life sciences venture capital firm Sofinnova Partners, with participation from Pi-Cardia’s chairman, Prof. Jacques Séguin, and existing investors. Adv. Micky Barnea and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss represented Sofinnova Partners in the transaction.
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss Featured in Article on Femtech Market
2019 was a record year for femtech (female technology), a term generally applied to a category of software, diagnostics, products, and services that use technology to focus on women’s health. As this is one of the most growing markets in recent years, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss was asked by Start-Up Nation Central to discuss the challenges and potential in the market. In an interview, Ariella commented that "femtech is essentially a palatable term, a euphemism, to describe tech products and services in the field of female health: digital health apps, consumer health tech products, and medical devices that address menstruation, menopause, fertility, breastfeeding, incontinence, contraception, and female cancers.”
Representing MAT Investment Holdings in Merger between Two Manufacturers of Control Valves from Kibbutz Industry
Our firm represented the Spanish multinational industrial group MAT Investment Holdings in the merger of its Israeli subsidiary Dorot Management Control Valves from Kibbutz Dorot with A.R.I. Flow Control Accessories, a company owned indirectly by Kibbutz Kfar Haruv.
IBM Alpha Zone – Mentors Meet Class 10
As part of the firm's representation of the IBM Alpha Zone Accelerator, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss attended a session with participants of the new class and lectured on raising financing and investment terms.
Good Night 2019!
Check out some interesting developments in the Israeli high-tech sphere in 2019.
Podcast: Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss for 50inTech on Femtech
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss spoke to 50inTech as part of a special podcast on the growing femtech industry. She discusses challenges facing entrepreneurs in the field and offers advice on how to talk to investors.
Barnea Represents CryoLife in Strategic Transaction with Israeli Medtech Startup Endospan
Our firm represented CryoLife in a strategic transaction with Israel-based endovascular stent graft system developer Endospan. The transaction involved an option to purchase Endospan for up to USD 450 million in the future, together with an exclusive distribution arrangement and USD 15 million in secured debt financing.
Barnea Represents Azrieli Group in Equity Investment in Compass Datacenters LLC.
Our firm is representing Azrieli Group in its equity investment in Compass Datacenters LLC., a company engaged in the commercialization of hyperscale data centers in North America. This acquisition is part of Azrieli Group's overall expansion into real estate in the international arena.
Femtech Meetup at Barnea
Our firm hosted today a meetup for entrepreneurs in the femtech field. Co-hosting was 50inTech, a French organization that provides a platform for women in the high-tech industry. During the meetup, in which 25 entrepreneurs gathered, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss delivered a brief overview of challenges, trends, and opportunities in the femtech field.
Femtech: The Market High-Tech Ignored and Then Discovered Was Worth Tens of Billions
Adv. Ariella Dreyfus, a partner in our firm who has advised startups in the femtech field, was interviewed by TheMarker for an article on the burgeoning femtech market. This market is estimated to reach a value of USD 50 billion in 2025.
Barnea Represents Johnson & Johnson Innovation in Investment Round in DayTwo
Our firm represented JJDC in its follow-on investment in the Israeli medtech company DayTwo, as part of a USD 31 million Series B round.
Barnea Represents Johnson & Johnson Innovation in Investment Round in Techsomed
Adv. Micky Barnea, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss, Adv. Itay Gura, and Adv. Mayer Winkler represented Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JJDC) in an investment round in the Israeli medtech startup Techsomed Medical Technologies Ltd. Founded in 2012, Techsomed has developed an image analysis system that helps track tissue response to thermal ablation, the process of destroying tumors using extreme heat or cold. Techsomed intends to use the funding toward receiving regulatory approval in the US, Europe, and Japan. JJDC led the company's current round of financing, which included both former and new investors, such as Screen Holdings, the Alfred Mann Institute at the Technion (AMIT), NextLeap Ventures, and Axil Capital.
2019: The Rise of Femtech
In the past three years, an estimated $1 billion has been invested in women’s health technology, and according to Pitchbook, femtech raised $650 million in VC funding last year alone and $241 million so far this year. Still since just around 6% of all decision-makers at U.S. venture capital firms being female, it is not surprising that it is difficult to secure funding for women’s issues.
M&A in Israel Guide 2019
Adv. Micky Barnea and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss of the firm's Corporate Department provided a snapshot of merger and acquisition law in Israel, as published by Lexology.
Doing Business in Israel – Practical Law
Barnea's Q&A guide to doing business in Israel was published by Practical Law. The guide provides an overview of recent key developments that have affected doing business in Israel, including the legal system, foreign investment, regulation, employment, taxation, and IP.
French Tech Tour – Healthcare Delegation
We hosted today a delegation of French startup companies from the life sciences and medtech sectors. The delegation was organized by the Embassy of France and visited Israel to learn about the local life sciences scene. During the event, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss discussed the Israeli medtech ecosystem and the legal challenges companies should be aware of.
Lecture: First Steps in Launching a Startup
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss lectured today at Ben-Gurion University on the first steps of launching a startup, including legal structure and what companies should avoid. The lecture is part of a course for MBA students in the Faculty of Management.
Lecture: Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, and Investment in Startups
A high-tech expert, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss was invited to speak in China as part of a course on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and investment in startups. The course was organized by the University of Geneva for students of China's Tsinghua University.
Warranty & Indemnity (W&I) Insurance – It’s All in the Name
Sellers in an M&A transaction are required to make certain statements about the company they are selling. If these statements are not true, the buyer can claim against the seller for any damages it incurs as a result of the inaccuracies. W&I insurance can cover the cost (or part of the cost) of the buyer’s damages.
IBM Alpha Zone 8th Class Selection
Our firm participated in the selection process for the 8th class of the IBM Alpha Zone accelerator.
Female Lawyers Leading M&A Transactions for High-Tech Companies
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss is featured in a TheMarker article about female lawyers who have led merger and acquisition transactions for high-tech companies. Ariella is mentioned as the partner who led the Viola Private Equity investment in SimilarWeb.
Barnea Represents JJDC as Lead Investor in OrthoSpin Ltd.
We represented the US pharmaceutical and medical devices company Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation (JJDC) in a USD 3 million investment round in OrthoSpin Ltd,, an Israel-based startup that provides smart robotic external fixation systems.
Barnea Represents ADM Capital in Investment in Rootility
Barnea represented ADM Capital, a UK-based investment fund, in an investment round in the Israeli plant-breeding startup Rootility.
IFLR 2018 M&A Israel Report
A report on the M&A market in Israel was written by Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss and published on the international IFLR 1000 ranking guide's website. The report analyzes the trends and developments in the M&A market in Israel.
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss Mentors at IBM's Alpha Zone Pitch Day
As part of our cooperation with IBM Alpha Zone Accelerator, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss will mentor today at the IBM Alpha Zone Accelerator's 7th Class Pitch Day, where participating startups have the opportunity to present to industry leaders and receive relevant feedback.
Johnson Cornell Tech Institute Boot Camp
We are hosting today together with Enterprise Florida a delegation of students from the Johnson Cornell Tech for a presentation session with venture capitalists. Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss, a partner in our Corporate Department, will participate in the session.
First Steps for Startups: Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss to Lecture at Bengis Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss will lecture today at the Ben-Gurion University Innovation Program on the topics of founders' agreements, IP, and investment agreements.
Goodnight 2017…
It has certainly been an interesting 2017 in the Israeli Hi-Tech world, here is a rundown of 5 highlights, in case you missed them.
Barnea Represents EXO Technologies in Acquisition by Lear
We represented Israeli startup EXO Technologies, a developer of GPS technology for autonomous and connected vehicle applications, in its acquisition by the US corporation Lear.
Barnea Represents HP in Acquisition of Samsung Electronics Co.'s Printer Business
HP Inc., represented by Barnea, has completed its acquisition of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.’s printer business in a deal valued at USD 1.05 billion.
Hosting a Delegation of Chinese Executives
We are hosting today a delegation of senior executives from large enterprises across a variety of industries in China. These executives have come to Israel to learn about Israeli innovation and entrepreneurship.
Article in The Times of Israel on Drag-Along Provision
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss contributed an article to The Times of Israel on the drag-along provision included in most investment documents. Ariella outlines five tips for minority shareholders looking to ensure the drag-along mechanism works for them when negotiating investments.
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss Lectures at HUstart – The Hebrew University Entrepreneurship Center
As part of our cooperation with HUstart, The Hebrew University Entrepreneurship Center, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss will speak today to participants of the Trans-Disciplinary Innovation Program. Ariella’s lecture will focus on the legal aspects of raising initial financing.
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss Lectures the Bengis Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss will deliver a lecture today to participants in Ben-Gurion University’s international innovation program on founders’ agreements, intellectual property, and investment agreements.
Barnea Represents Johnson & Johnson in iInvestment in DayTwo
Barnea represented Johnson & Johnson in its USD 12 million investment in the startup DayTwo, which provides personalized nutrition recommendations based on mapping and analyzing the composition of intestinal bacteria.
Big Data, Big Legal Minefield
The speed in which vast and complex “bits” can now be processed is staggering. This information is being collected, stored and analyzed to drive efficiency and create actionable intelligence – translating into increased revenues. In short, in today’s world data is power.
Big Data, Big Legal Minefield
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss in an article in Globes Dun's 100 discussing the legal minefields to be avoided when engaged in big data technologies.
Tel Aviv University Innovation Conference
Barnea is participating in the Tel Aviv University Innovation Conference for the second year. Adv. Micky Barnea will deliver a lecture on the legal challenges facing late-stage startups and serve as a judge in the competition final alongside mentors from Shazam, Prezi, Capsula, Strauss Group, and IAI. Adv. Yuval Lazi and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss will judge the startup competition in the fintech, gaming, and IoT categories. Yuval will also participate in a panel discussion on startup funding alongside a representative of the Office of the Chief Scientist, the CEO of TAU Ventures, and the CEO of Cockpit, El Al’s startup support program.
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss Participates in Legal Panel for Non-Native Hebrew Speakers
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss will lecture today at the Radzyner Law School in IDC Herzliya, as part of the tutoring program Olim Le’Mishpatim, which aims to provide non-native Hebrew speakers with extra lessons in legal courses.
Barnea Represents Viola Private Equity in Investment in Similar Web
Barnea represented Viola Private Equity in a USD 50 million investment in Similar Web, a leading digital market intelligence platform that provides insights for websites and applications.
Barnea Co-Hosts Event with UK Israel Tech Hub
Barnea and the UK Israel Tech Hub are co-hosting delegation from the UK, who will be visiting Israel for the first time to look for investment and cooperation opportunities, mainly in the mobility field.
Innovation Cocktail Event Hosted with Israel-South Africa Chamber of Commerce
Barnea, together with the Israel-South Africa Chamber of Commerce, is hosting today a cocktail event to promote networking between South African businessmen living in Israel and Israeli businessmen.
Doing Business in Israel – Practical Law
Doing business in Israel? A Q&A guide to doing business in Israel written by Barnea was published by Practical Law. The guide provides an overview of the legal system, foreign investment, regulation, and other issues pertaining to Israel.
8 Things that Happened in the Israeli Hi-Tech World in 2016
It has been an interesting 2016 in the Israeli Hi-Tech world, here is a rundown of 8 things that happened, in case you missed them.
Convertible Notes
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss, a firm partner, has published an article on convertible notes. According to Ariella, convertible notes are an attractive instrument for investors, but they can also be advantageous to entrepreneurs. If drafted correctly, they may balance the interests of both parties.
Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions 2016 – Virtual Roundtable
Corporate LiveWire held a cross-border M&A roundtable featuring experts from around the world, including Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss. Participants discussed regulatory changes, legislative precedents, challenges and opportunities, as well as key trends and recent developments.
Barnea Represents IGP in Investment in Jacada
Barnea represented Israel Growth Partners (IGP), a private equity fund, in an agreement to buy 300,000 Jacada shares, 7% of the company's share capital, from Robert (Bob) Ashton's investment firm Kinetic Catalyst Partners.
Mistakes Early-Stage Entrepreneurs Should Avoid
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss will lecture to early-stage entrepreneurs who participated in starTAU's Elite Entrepreneur Program. Her lecture will address founders' agreements and what pitfalls new startups should avoid.
Reverse Vesting and Holdback – Good News for Entrepreneurs?
On July the Israel Tax Authority presented its position that the sale of equity by a founder should be treated as a capital gain and not income, irrespective of whether such shares had been subject to a Reverse Vesting mechanism and/or Holdback. A double edged sword for entrepreneurs.
Reverse Vesting and Holdback – Good News for Entrepreneurs?
Earlier this month, the Israel Tax Authority stated that proceeds from a founder’s sale of shares should be treated as capital gains rather than ordinary income, regardless of whether the shares were subject to reverse vesting or a holdback arrangement. For entrepreneurs, this position is a double-edged sword.
To Be or Not to Be a Director?
Investors, whether angels, venture capitals, or corporates, typically demand a seat on the board of directors of their target company in return for their investment. For the full article by Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss, click here.
Raising Funds and Selling Your Startup: Be Prepared
Most Israeli entrepreneurs have an exit in mind from day one. Yet many are not adequately prepared, and preparation is key to a successful exit.
TAU Innovation Conference 2016
Barnea invites you to the TAU Innovation Conference 2016, the largest international innovation conference in the Middle East. Bringing together more than 6,000 attendees from around the world, the conference features educational sessions and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, industry leaders, diplomats and investors, alongside distinguished keynote speakers. As Barnea is participating in the event, our clients receive a 35% discount using the code TAUBarnea2016. Adv. Micky Barnea will join the IPO and exits panel, and Adv. Yuval Lazi will join the fundraising panel. Adv. Yuval Lazi and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss will also serve as judges in the Tel Aviv StartUp Challenge competition.
Tel Aviv University Receives USD 50 Million Donation
Adv. Simon Jaffa and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss represented the Jeremy Coller Foundation in connection with its donation of up to USD 50 million to Tel Aviv University’s School of Management.
K.I.S.S
Entrepreneurs, you are creative and innovative, but when raising financing it is ok to follow the norm. There is no need to try and reinvent the wheel. Standard also works. I would even argue that from an investment perspective it is superior.
China's Fosun to Buy Dead Sea Cosmetics
The signing ceremony for the share purchase agreement to sell Ahava Dead Sea Laboratories Ltd. to China’s Fosun for approximately ILS 290 million took place yesterday in Jerusalem. Adv. Micky Barnea, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss, and Adv. Itay Gura of our firm represented Kibbutz Mitzpe Shalem, one of the selling shareholders.
Angel Investor – Important Factors to Ensure Your Money Is Best Invested
Israel is brimming with high tech ideas and you want to be part of the action, one way to do so is by providing a start-up with early seed money.
But you need to protect your investment.
Barnea Represents Continuity Software
Barnea represented Continuity Software, a leading provider of service availability risk management solutions, in its sale to Kedma Capital for ILS 160 million. Adv. Micky Barnea and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss represented Continuity Software, while Adv. Yuval Lazi represented Kedma Capital.
Angel Investor Workshop
As part of our collaboration with the MIT Enterprise Forum of Israel, our firm will participate in a six-session workshop for angel investors. Adv. Micky Barnea, Adv. Yuval Lazi, and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss will deliver lectures during the workshop.
Barnea Represents Covercy
Adv. Simon Jaffa, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss, Adv. Itay Gura, and Adv. Karin Kashi represented Covercy, a fintech startup in the foreign exchange and remittance sector, in a financing round led by SGVC.
Barnea Represents Johnson & Johnson in USD 28 Million Investment Round
V-Wave, a privately held company with offices in Israel and the U.S., completed a USD 28 million Series B financing round. The round was led by Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JJDC Inc., represented by Barnea. Other investors included TriVentures, Pura Vida and BioStar Ventures, alongside existing shareholders BRM, the fund of Eli and Nir Barkat, Pontifax, and Edwards Lifesciences.
Crowdfunding Comes to Israel
Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss published an article in The Lawyer, a leading UK legal publication, examining new Israeli legislation on alternative fundraising methods. The law aims to help small Israeli companies raise capital through crowdfunding and facilitate the establishment of high-tech funds to be traded on a new index on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
Finally, Crowdfunding comes to Israel
The social phenomena of crowdfunding, adopted by high-tech startups as an alternative means to raise funds, was previously limited in Israel by Israel’s Securities Law. Section 15 of the law dictates that any offer or sale of shares to the public (i.e. to more than 35 potential investors) requires the issuance of a prospectus approved by the Securities Authority; a timely and costly endeavor, rendering crowdfunding prohibitive in Israel.
Barnea Appoints New Partners
Effective January 1, 2016, Barnea appointed three new partners: Adv. Ilan Blumenfeld, who specializes in antitrust law, the kibbutz sector, and corporate matters; Adv. Liat Keisary, who advises private clients and specializes in real estate law; and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss, who advises technology companies and specializes in M&A transactions.
Israeli Companies May Submit Documents to Companies Registrar in English
In an article published in The Lawyer and Lexology, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss and Adv. Asaf Shalev discuss a draft bill published earlier this month that would allow Israeli private and public companies to submit documents to the Israeli Companies Registrar in English. The bill aims to make it easier for foreign investors to invest in Israeli businesses and participate in Israel’s high-tech sector.
The Israeli Registrar of Companies now in English - Increasing Certainty
The State of Israel has two official languages – Hebrew and Arabic. As a result, in recent years the Israeli Companies Registrar has held that all documents submitted to the Registrar have to be submitted in either of these official languages. If a document was submitted in English it would be rejected. Such documents include the constitutional documents – the articles of association of Israeli companies and debentures creating pledges over the assets of such companies.
Setting the Record Straight – Limiting Employees' Rights to Compensation for Service Inventions
In 2010, the Committee for Compensation and Royalties issued a groundbreaking ruling on employees’ assignment to their employers of rights to “service inventions,” meaning inventions created in the course of employment. The Committee held that assigning an invention does not, by itself, constitute a waiver of the employee’s right to compensation under section 134 of the Patents Law, 1967. An employer could therefore own the rights to an employee’s invention yet still be required to pay the employee royalties for contributing to the company’s technology. The ruling sent shockwaves through Israel’s high-tech industry. Companies, prospective acquirers, and investors faced uncertainty over whether current and former employees might seek compensation for inventions developed during their employment. A subsequent decision appears to have clarified the position. On May 4, 2014, the Committee rejected a former employee’s claim for royalties, holding that the right to compensation for service inventions is not absolute and may be waived. It also found that a general waiver signed by the employee upon termination was sufficient to release the employer from the obligation to pay royalties, even though the waiver did not specifically refer to inventions or section 134 of the Patents Law. The decision indicates that an assignment of rights to service inventions, combined with a general release upon termination, may be sufficient to bar a subsequent claim for compensation. Nevertheless, employers would be prudent to include an express waiver of the right to compensation for service inventions in their employment agreements.
Having a Say on Pay
While the UK press has widely reported on excessive salaries and bonuses paid to top executives at UK public companies, Israel has introduced legislation to curb similar excesses by limiting executive pay.