Insights & News / Michael Barnea

As part of Israeli High-Tech Week 2026, our firm and Titan Branding invite you to a practical session on preparing for an IPO, choosing a stock exchange, and developing a compelling investment story. Experts in capital markets, law, underwriting, and branding will share insights into the journey to becoming a public company. Speakers include Adv. Micky Barnea, our managing partner; Adv. Elad Reshtick, a partner in our Capital Markets Department; and Kobi Elkabetz, CEO of Giza Singer Even Underwriting. November 3, 2026 | 09:00 | Barnea Jaffa Lande | 58 HaRakevet Street, Tel Aviv

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.

We represent US investment fund Steel Partners in litigation against InMode, its CEO, and its board of directors, focused on the question of who qualifies as the de facto controlling shareholder of a public company. In the claim, we argue that although the CEO holds only 7% of InMode’s shares, he effectively exercises control over the company. As a result, the acquisition offer he submitted should be subject to the stricter rules and standards applicable to controlling shareholders. The lawsuit comes amid an escalating battle for control of InMode, which is traded on Nasdaq and has a market capitalization of approximately USD 900 million. Steel Partners is represented by Adv. Micky Barnea, Adv. Eyal Nachshon, Adv. Shay Bello, and Adv. Noa Raz of our firm.

We represent Artivion, Inc., a publicly traded US medical device company (NYSE: AORT) focused on cardiac and vascular surgery products. The company engaged us to advise on its acquisition of the Israeli company Endospan. Adv. Micky Barnea, Adv. Misha Gitterman, and Adv. Tal Freilich Hay led the representation.

The Legal 500 has, for the first time, published a comprehensive guide on shareholder rights, activist investing, and corporate governance regulation. Adv. Micky Barnea and Adv. Misha Gitterman from our firm provided the chapter covering the local legal framework in Israel.

Adv. Michael Barnea, Adv. Misha Gitterman, and Adv. Tal Freilich represented Syremis Therapeutics, a spin-off of Clexio Biosciences, in the completion of a USD 165 million Series A financing round co-led by Dexcel Pharma and Third Rock Ventures, with participation from Bain Capital Life Sciences, Google Ventures, and QVT.

Adv. Micky Barnea, in an interview with N12, addresses the implications of widespread negative sentiment toward Israel, from high-tech companies' difficulties in raising capital to the decline in deal volume and foreign companies distancing themselves from collaborations with local counterparts. 

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, a special counsel on international law at our firm. He discussed extending the Abraham Accords and new opportunities in the Middle East.

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 Adv. Micky Barnea, Adv. Misha Gitterman, and Adv. Tal Freilich, with additional support from our Real Estate, Employment, and Capital Markets Departments.

We represented Viola Group, a leading Israeli technology investment group, in an ILS 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 Adv. Misha Gitterman and Adv. Tal Freilich Hai, led the transaction to closing.

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.

In an interview with Globes, Adv. Micky Barnea, our firm’s managing partner, discussed the complexities that characterized 2023 and the recent growth in the firm’s practice areas.

Israel’s M&A market is beginning to show signs of recovery. Adv. Micky Barnea, our firm’s managing partner, was interviewed by TheMarker on the subject. Micky noted that "so far, more deals are being made in private companies, but if there isn't a significant security escalation, this trend will extend to public companies as well."

With the Amir brothers’ entry to Shufersal, they appointed close associates to management positions as well as board directors on their behalf. This move has sparked debate about control and management in public companies and the blending of roles between CEO, board chairman, and majority shareholder. As an expert on corporate governance and shareholder struggles, Adv. Micky Barnea, our firm’s managing partner, was interviewed by TheMarker on the matter.

As an expert on control struggles, Adv. Micky Barnea was interviewed by Globes for an article on the Amir brothers' takeover of Shufersal. Micky explained the significance of holding less than 25 percent of a company and the tools available to the Israel Securities Authority in such transactions.

Adv. Micky Barnea, our firm’s managing partner, participated in a forum for senior legal professionals hosted by Dun’s 100. Micky noted, “The legal reform was a distraction we got swept away by. The main point of the government’s reform was to say ‘we’re doing what we want’ and to undermine legal gatekeepers along the way.”

In the past year, there has been a growing trend of institutional investors seeking to influence the companies in which they hold shares. As experts in the field, Adv. Micky Barnea and Adv. Zohar Lande were interviewed by TheMarker about institutional investors’ increasing involvement in companies.

In light of the Israeli government’s proposed reform to the judicial system, Law.com, an industry-leading media platform, spoke with key figures in the Israeli business and legal community to understand the potential effects of these changes on the practice of law. Adv. Micky Barnea, our firm’s managing partner, was invited to share his insights. To read the full article and Micky’s interview, click here.

We hosted members of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) for the conference, "The High-Tech Employment World." The conference focused on key issues in Israel's high-tech employment market and featured lectures on topics including non-compete clauses in employment agreements, the workforce as a critical element in the workplace, and more. Speakers included Adv. Micky Barnea, our firm's managing partner; Nani Maoz, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Everest; and firm partners Adv. Harel Perlmutter, Adv. Netta Bromberg, Adv. Inbar Gorelick, and Adv. Amos E. Rosenzweig.

Adv. Micky Barnea analyzes the issue of control struggles, hostile takeover attempts, and directors’ potential defensive measures. His op-ed was published in TheMarker's Ahad Ha'am magazine.

The Ista deal, in which representatives on behalf of a broad public oversaw a sale of assets at a price that turned out to be attractive to buyers, has faced severe criticism. As an expert on corporations and the capital market, Adv. Micky Barnea was interviewed by Globes about the deal. Micky explained the role and responsibility of public representatives, who manage members’ funds, and clarified some ways to manage long-term investments.

Our firm is proud to announce the launch of "Barnea with You," a program aimed at supporting new parents at our firm. As part of this program, new mothers who remain on maternity leave longer than (the paid) 15 weeks will be entitled to a monetary grant from the office for each month of parental leave, up to a maximum of three months. Other benefits include five extra days of paternity leave at the company's expense and group activities for mothers on maternity leave. For more information, read the Globes article.

Are the heirs of business owners entitled to inherit company shares in equal parts? Read the Globes interview with Adv. Micky Barnea, our firm's managing partner.

Following Judge Michal Agmon-Gonen’s ruling to drop certain charges from the indictment in the Bezeq securities case, Adv. Micky Barnea, the firm’s managing partner, was interviewed by Globes. Micky noted, “This ruling should not diminish the status of independent committees, but rather create order regarding them.”

In 2021, capital compensation grew to become a more dominant component in the salaries of senior executives of companies traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. As part of an interview series with a number of capital markets experts in Globes, Adv. Micky Barnea noted, among other things, that "we are talking about managers who usually received their capital component, whether in options or in shares, before the company's issuance. This is not a negative phenomenon, as we would expect the chairman of the board, for example, whose role is to provide strategic support to the management staff, to have an identity of interests with the shareholders. When he holds such a capital component, which is positively affected by the rise of the stock, this creates an identity of interests."

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.

Adv. Micky Barnea, Adv. Ilan Blumenfeld, and Adv. Daniel Kleinman from our firm represented Danel Group in the acquisition of Manor Medical, which operates in the surrogacy, egg donation, and medical tourism fields. This transaction constitutes the completion of Danel’s acquisition of Manor Medical based on an ILS 100 million valuation.

The phenomenon of mergers between law firms gained momentum in 2021 and its results are changing the face of the industry. Adv. Micky Barnea was interviewed by Calcalist on the subject, noting, "I assume the number of large law firms is expected to be reduced to a group of about ten large firms, which will concentrate a high level of expertise and knowledge and ability to serve the needs of large clients and complex matters."

In recent years, several companies listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange have been the subject of takeover attempts. One prominent example was the 2022 control struggle over Norstar Holdings Inc. Adv. Micky Barnea, an expert in corporate takeovers, was interviewed by TheMarker for an article on the subject. He explained that “control takeovers begin with a combination of two things: an analysis to identify the business potential and a legal analysis that clarifies which steps are required to acquire control.”

Kan 11’s leading podcast “Hayot Kiss” featured an episode on how the success of the Israeli high-tech industry affects other industries in the country. As the managing partner of a law firm that works closely with the high-tech industry, Adv. Micky Barnea was interviewed on the podcast about the effects of the high-tech boom on the legal industry.

High-quality lawyers have become a particularly sought after commodity, and law firms are adapting themselves to the new market. In an interview with Globes, Adv. Micky Barnea, our firm's managing partner, discusses the advantage large firms have in preparing for change.

Our firm is representing Ness Technologies, owned by Hilan, a TASE-traded software company, in a transaction to acquire 100% of the share capital of DXC Technology's IT services company in Israel (formerly EDS). The scope of the transaction is USD 65 million, and its completion is expected at the end of the first quarter of 2022. Adv. Micky Barnea, Adv. Yuval Lazi, Adv. Mayer Winkler, and Adv. Dana Ben-Yehuda represent Ness in the transaction.

In the last six months, the kibbutz industry has signed ten significant deals for hundreds of millions of dollars. How and when did the kibbutz industry become so attractive? What happened in the last decade that caused this explosion in the kibbutz industry and is this a temporary phenomenon? A Globes article on the subject features interviews with several experts in the field, including Adv. Micky Barnea.

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.

The demand for directors in publicly traded companies is increasing in light of the growing wave of IPOs on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. An expert on the capital market, Adv. Micky Barnea was interviewed on the subject by Globes. He explained the significance of the director position in companies, as well as the role's related risks and responsibilities.

Adv. Micky Barnea and Adv. Itay Gura represented Danel, a human resources, nursing, and medical services company, in its USD 22 million acquisition of 22% of Aviv Scientific, a leader in improving brain performance and treating the aging process. 

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.

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.

The corporate regime of public companies in Israel has developed around public protection against the controlling shareholder. These protections are not relevant to most high-tech companies, whose holdings are decentralized. Globes has published an op-ed by Adv. Micky Barnea on the subject.

Dun's 100 released yesterday its rankings of leading Israeli law firms. In a Calcalist article covering the launch event, former justice minister Avi Nissenkorn was interviewed. The article also featured an interview with Adv. Micky Barnea.  "We are in the midst of a year of attrition, a feeling shared by law firms, individual Israelis, and the political system. We have become accustomed to the reality of a continuous attack on, and thus erosion and damage to, the justice system."  

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.

Adv. Micky Barnea was invited to be a guest speaker in a webinar held on July 30 presented together with CoWrks Foundry, an India-based accelerator, RIHub, US-based innovation hub, and Brown University. Micky discussed the legal aspects of introducing a startup to the international market.

Many steps go into completing M&A transactions. Now, with the COVID-19 outbreak, companies are taking this time to modify and sometimes even cancel transactions. What is behind the delay in completing transactions, and on whom to take the risk? Globes interviewed M&A expert Micky Barnea on the subject.

The Tel Aviv University Entrepreneurship Center begins today its series of summer lectures. Summer Entrepreneurship is a weekly program that invites four experts to talk about various topics related to entrepreneurship. The opening webinar today will host four experts in the high-tech field in Israel, including Adv. Micky Barnea. Micky will discuss the entrepreneurial relationship and why it is critical to a venture's success.

FIMI Opportunity Funds, a private investment fund, recently acquired control of public company Amiad Water Systems Ltd. Adv. Micky Barnea represented Hachoshlim Fund Cooperative Agricultural Society Ltd., Amiad's largest shareholder, in the acquisition. As part of the deal, FIMI agreed to invest about USD 19 million in Amiad for a share allocation, thereby acquiring 5% more of the company's shares.

M&A expert Adv. Micky Barnea was interviewed by Globes for an in-depth analysis of major deal cancellations amid financial uncertainty. The article explores how large corporations have the financial flexibility that smaller businesses and self-employed professionals can only dream of. According to Micky, “Starting in February, we noticed that time had become elastic. Typically, parties seek to maintain a steady pace, accelerating once they have shaken hands on a deal. Now, fewer people are rushing to complete transactions. They are taking time to see what happens next in the market.”

Adv. Micky Barnea was interviewed by Globes on the coronavirus’ effect on both the corporate and government bond markets.

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.

As experts in the TMT field, our firm was asked to contribute the Israeli law and practice overview for the Chambers Israel TMT guide. In their overview, Adv. Micky Barnea, Adv. Daniel Lorber, and Adv. Anat Even-Chen discuss legal considerations for big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. They also address key data protection principles, the challenges with IT service agreements, and privacy matters. As a whole, the TMT guide offers insights for each jurisdiction.

Join us for a seminar on the new international standards for internal alert mechanisms. The EU whistleblower protection directive that came into force in December 2019 and trends in the US signal a new duty—the obligation to formulate an in-house mechanism that allows employees to report improper or unethical conduct. To date, such mechanisms have largely been the responsibility of large companies subject to heavy regulation, but this reality is about to change. To what extent is your organization ready for such a mechanism? Are there any accepted standards for such mechanisms?

The entry into force of the EU Whistleblower Protection Directive in December 2019 and recent US legislative trends require local companies operating in the international arena to begin preparing accordingly. During the seminar, we will discuss the need to protect whistleblowers, existing regulation, and what the next steps should be.

Globes published an op-ed by Micky Barnea on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange's latest move to attract new investors with a public offering of its shares. According to Micky, "This listing could be a turning point in anticipation of a long-awaited change, bringing a revival of the stock exchange and the domestic capital market."

Our firm represented Azrieli Group in the sale of its holdings in Supergas to Elco Group for ILS 820 million. Azrieli was represented by Adv. Micky Barnea, Adv. Ilan Blumenfeld, Adv. Sagi Gross, and Adv. Daniel Kleinman.

Adv. Micky Barnea was interviewed by the British magazine Legal Business about whether the political situation in Israel has affected its economy. Micky noted that investments, from both overseas companies into Israel and in the local market, remain extremely strong, and expressed future confidence in the Israeli economy.

Our firm hosted today a delegation of senior executives from the Fortune 500 Japanese construction company Daiwa House Group. The executives visited Israel to promote business relationships with Israeli companies.

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.

Our firm represented the private equity group Bridgepoint in the approximately USD 420 million acquisition of the Israeli software testing company Qualitest from Marlin Equity Partners.

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.  

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.

Our firm represented Danel Ltd. in a deal to acquire 51% of Levinger Group. This marks a strategic move by Danel to expand into the private health field.

Adv. Micky Barnea answers TheMarker's questionnaire on the nature of internships at our firm. He stressed that the firm is internationally-oriented and therefore involves work in English covering all aspects of commercial law. He also noted the firm's attentiveness to interns, such as working hours that don't run too late.  

As part of our partnership with the Hebrew University Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Adv. Micky Barnea lectured today to the participants of Israel Lean Launchpad, an innovative acceleration program founded by Hebrew University, Merage Institute, Startup Nation Central, and the Jerusalem Development Authority.

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.

Together with the Association of Corporate Counsels, we are holding on February 6 a seminar on the legal advisor's role when a company is in crisis. The seminar will feature a simulation of a multi-crisis event, with participants focusing on managing the crisis opposite regulators, media, business partners, and employees.

Adv. Micky Barnea was interviewed for an article in Calcalist's Executive Magazine about the superseding power of CEOs over the board of directors in public companies.

Adv. Micky Barnea was featured in a follow-up article in Globes about the Income Tax Authority's new circular that changes the tax policy relating to capital-based compensation dependent on performance. According to Micky, "The new circular stipulates that options allocated under an approved plan, submitted lawfully to the Income Tax Authority, may be discovered on judgment day as not being entitled to reduced capital taxation."

Our firm represented the owner of Sakal Global Duty Free Ltd. in the company's as part of the sale of the entire Sakal Group to businessman Teddy Sagi.

Our firm hosted today a delegation of senior executives from British companies and authorities. The delegation is part of a cooperation between the consulting company Ntegra, the law firm Bird & Bird, and Barnea. As part of the tour, the delegation visited our firm and met several startups for potential investment. Adv. Micky Barnea also provided a case study of the activity of foreign companies in Israel.

Today, Adv. Micky Barnea conducted a legal workshop for The Xcelerator, the new accelerator program created jointly by the Israel Security Agency and Tel Aviv University’s TAU Ventures.

Today, Barnea and ACC Israel hosted a seminar on shareholder activism. Adv. Micky Barnea discussed activism in Israeli companies. Also presenting were Elchanan (Nani) Maoz from Everest Fund and Steve Wolosky from Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP.

We hosted together with Catalonia Trade & Investment a delegation of companies visiting Israel in search of new investment opportunities.

Adv. Micky Barnea, our firm's managing partner, is featured in an extensive interview with TheMarker on the question of what contributes more to the proper management of a company—a dominant controlling shareholder or executive management—and how this affects the work of the board of directors.

Join Barnea and ACC Israel for a seminar on shareholder activism. During the seminar we will examine activism in Israeli companies and the courtroom, while comparing the US and Israeli markets.

Adv. Michael Barnea and Adv. Mayer Winkler co-authored the chapter on foreign investment in Israel in The Legal 500 guide, providing information on the key factors to consider when looking to invest in Israeli companies by way of M&A.

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.

Israel’s top legal experts and in-house counsels participated in the ACC Israel Annual Summit: "The Challenging Role of In-House Counsels in Israel.” At the event, Adv. Micky Barnea took part in a panel discussion on the relationship between corporate counsel and external legal advisors.

An Israeli court has ordered to halt an investment deal in Arcturus Therapeutics, pending clarification of the lawsuit filed by Joseph Payne, the company's founder, regarding the cancellation of his dismissal as CEO. This decision was made despite the fact that the company operates in the United States with US management. Joseph Payne is represented by Adv. Micky Barnea, Adv. Zohar Lande, Adv. Omer Keydar, and Adv. Ron Shuhatovich.

Our firm is representing British private equity firm Ethemba Capital in its ILS 1.7 billion sale of control in Israeli company Avgol Nonwoven Industries Ltd. to Indorama Ventures Spain S.L., a chemical manufacturer whose shares are traded on the Thai stock exchange. 

Adv. Micky Barnea, the firm's managing partner, spoke today at the IBM Alpha Zone Accelerator on the issues facing late-stage startup companies.

Our firm represented International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) in its USD 7.1 billion acquisition of Frutarom, the Israeli flavors and ingredients maker.

A group of Japanese investors are visiting our firm today to meet with startup companies.

Today, Barnea, BDO Israel, and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) are hosting a seminar on the accounting and legal aspects of issuing collective companies on the TASE.

Adv. Micky Barnea, the firm's managing partner, was interviewed by Globes on kibbutz-owned companies' transition from launching IPOs on the stock exchange to seeking investments from private equity funds.

Our firm is representing TAU Ventures, the first venture capital fund established by a university in Israel.

Adv. Micky Barnea, our firm's managing partner, was interviewed by Globes on executive compensation policies in dual-listed Israeli companies.

Adv. Micky Barnea, our firm's managing partner, is hosting the AI panel at the fourth annual Foreign Law Firms Conference.

Adv. Micky Barnea participated in the Dun's 100 2018 Leaders in Law Forum. In attendance were the heads of 24 of Israel's leading law firms.

Today, our firm is hosting, on behalf of the Japanese Embassy, a delegation of large-company CEOs visiting Israel as part of an innovation tour.

Our firm is hosting the Israeli Directors' Union for a seminar on data protection and privacy. We will discuss the new European privacy regulations (GDPR) and directors' exposure in the age of privacy.

We hosted, together with the Association of Corporate Counsel, a seminar on blockchain and digital currencies. We discussed new regulatory challenges, with Adv. Micky Barnea addressing blockchain and smart contracts. Tal Cohen, Compass Blockchain Solutions's CEO, gave a special introductory lecture on bitcoin and digital currencies.

Today, our firm is hosting a student delegation from South Korea's Handong Global University.

Adv. Micky Barnea, our firm's managing partner, was interviewed by Globes on the major events that have taken place in Israel's capital market in the past year: the re-emergence of initial public offerings on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, the Bezeq affair, and ICOs.

Adv. Micky Barnea was interviewed by TheMarker regarding the effects on Israeli corporate tax following the US Senate's approval of tax cuts that would lower the corporate rate to 20% from 35%, a move that has left Israel’s headline rate three percentage points higher.

UK Israel Business is a bilateral chamber of commerce that connects British and Israeli businesses across all sectors. As part of its activity, it invited a delegation of British executives to Israel. The delegation came to explore possible investment avenues in technological projects and visited entities in the technology scene. A final event for the delegation was held in our offices.

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.

Adv. Micky Barnea, the firm's managing partner, will lecture today at the IBM Alpha Zone Accelerator on the challenges of late-stage startups.

Micky Barnea, our firm's managing partner, will lecture today at an Israel Bar Association training seminar on managing a law firm.

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.

In cooperation with the Israeli Directors' Union, Barnea hosted a seminar on the challenges and risks in the functions of a board of directors. Adv. Micky Barnea, the firm's managing partner, discussed the risks in the functions of the board of directors, as well as corporate governance and enforcement programs.

As part of the event, Adv. Micky Barnea was invited to participate as a judge in Unistream's Entrepreneur of the Year Competition. As part of the competition, teens present their startup companies to leading high-tech experts.

Barnea is co-hosting with StarTAU, Tel Aviv University's Entrepreneurship Center, a Swiss corporate delegation visiting Israel for the first time and looking to connect to the Israeli innovation ecosystem.

Barnea, together with the Association of Corporate Counsels (ACC), is hosting an event on privacy. This will be the first event in Israel to address the implications of privacy on organizations. During the event, we will discuss topics including the new EU regulations on the protection of privacy and information, the right to financial privacy in Israel, and the recently published regulations concerning database security for organizations.

Adv. Micky Barnea will lecture today at the Google Campus to entrepreneurs working in the sphere of artificial intelligence (AI). Micky will focus on the potential legal implications of AI technologies and the challenges of entrepreneurs in that field. 

Barnea is co-hosting with the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce a business delegation from Montana for a networking event with companies planning to expand overseas.

Adv. Micky Barnea, the firm's managing partner, served as a judge in the TLV Startup Challenge competition final, held at the starTAU Innovation Conference. Hargol Foodtech, a startup that specializes in the cultivation of grasshoppers for the food industry, won first place in the competition.

Barnea represented a group of investors, led by Viola Credit, in the acquisition of Negev Ceramics from creditor banks. Viola was represented by Adv. Micky Barnea, Adv. Ilan Blumenfeld, and Adv. Sagi Gross.

Barnea, together with the patent firm Ehrlich & Fenster, will host today a seminar geared toward entrepreneurs who are launching an AI startup. Adv. Micky Barnea will lecture on the legal and governance implications of AI.

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 is co-hosting with The Service a seminar on how to manage real estate assets and family companies. Adv. Micky Barnea, the firm's managing partner, will discuss the inter-generational transfer of family businesses. Adv. Liat Keisary will participate in the real estate panel.

A comprehensive survey conducted by Codex, a leading HR company for lawyers in Israel, which was initiated by Barnea, was published in Globes. In the survey, future legal interns were questioned on how they feel in light of the flooding of the profession, how they choose where to intern and more. Adv. Micky Barnea, our managing partner, commented that the initiative came from the recognition that there is a change in the current generation of interns and the need to understand the impact on their internship.

Barnea is today hosting a delegation of Israeli ambassadors who are stationed in Latin America, together with the Latin America division of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Israel-Latin America Chamber of Commerce, and starTAU, the Entrepreneurship Center of Tel Aviv University.

Barnea is hosting today a delegation from Germany visiting Israel for the first time to seek out investment and cooperation opportunities, mainly in the real estate and insurance tech fields.

Barnea is co-hosting with the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce and the BIRD Foundation a roundtable meeting with Kevin Stine, Chief of the Applied Cybersecurity Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an agency of the US Department of Commerce. The roundtable will include senior managers of Israeli venture capital community and cybersecurity startups.  

Barnea hosted this week a delegation from Singapore invited to Israel by starTAU, Tel Aviv University Entrepreneurship Center. The delegation held a series of meetings with leaders from the technological and entrepreneurial environment in Israel.

On Thursday, December 22, we hosted  a networking event for the Air Force Innovation Division in cooperation with starTAU, Tel Aviv University Entrepreneurship Center. The event was attended by representatives of the industry. 

Barnea is co-hosting with ChannelSmart and Syneron-Candela an event on December 22 on the best practices for go-to-market strategy and channel development. Adv. Micky Barnea, our managing partner, will highlight the important information to include in distribution agreements.

Adv. Micky Barnea will participate in a roundtable discussion with other leading law firms on the employment of Arab interns and lawyers. The meeting was initiated by deans from universities' faculties of law.

Adv. Micky Barnea joined the IBM Alpha Zone Accelerator 4th Class as a mentor. The program focuses on post-seed and Round A-funded companies with the aim of creating a long-term technology and business partnership with IBM worldwide.

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.

Adv. Micky Barnea, our managing partners, was interviewed by Globes Dun's 100 on the emerging trend in the United States and England to adopt stricter corporate governance rules for director remuneration.

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.

Adv. Micky Barnea will deliver a lecture on investment agreements to entrepreneurs tonight at TRI/O, a technology entrepreneurship hub in Kfar Quasim. TRI/O is a collaboration between Tsofen, an Arab-Jewish organization promoting the integration of Israel’s Arab citizens into the high-tech industry; the MIT Enterprise Forum; and the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), a US initiative offering assistance, training, and support to groups and individuals working to create positive change in Israeli society.

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.

On May 18 2015, AIM-listed Plus500 announced that the UK Financial Conduct Authority had required a review of its anti-money laundering (AML) and financial sanctions systems and related regulatory controls. Its UK subsidiary, Plus500UK Limited, was required to suspend all transactions for existing customers until additional AML procedures had been implemented. Plus500’s share price subsequently fell sharply. Globes, a leading Israeli financial newspaper, examined the developments in an article featuring interviews with experts on London listings. Adv. Micky Barnea, who advises on IPOs in Israel and London, said the Plus500 case would make it harder for other Israeli companies in the sector to go public, even though AIM remained the most welcoming market for the industry.

Judge Ruth Ronen of the Tel Aviv District Court (Economic Division) recently ruled on a tender offer published by Africa-Israel Industries in 2012 for the purchase of shares of Negev Ceramics. 

Amid an increasingly complex regulatory landscape, growing involvement by legal advisers, and a rising number of claims, directors of public companies may struggle to determine where management ends and oversight begins. Adv. Micky Barnea, a leading authority in the field, was invited to join an expert panel discussing the evolving responsibilities of boards of directors in this new era.

Israel’s strengths have not gone unnoticed by multinational companies. A study by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics shows that international technology companies operating in Israel account for 63% of all investment in the country’s R&D centers.

Foreign companies that have established research centers in Israel, including Facebook, Google, Apple, Microsoft, IBM, Intel, and HP, employ more than 67% of the country’s R&D center workforce. Together, they employ 34,300 R&D staff, a figure that grows by 2% annually.

The presence of these corporate giants in Israel continues to grow as more companies recognize the advantages of establishing R&D centers in a thriving hub of innovation and invention.

Yet this growth has also raised concerns, particularly that foreign companies gain first access to breakthrough technologies developed in Israel.

Science, Technology, and Space Minister Yaakov Peri expressed this concern, saying that “Israel’s economy relies heavily on funding from other countries for research and development…this is a fragile situation…in which the main beneficiaries of Israeli creativity are the multinational companies.”

There is, however, another way to view their role. These centers nurture and train talented professionals, serving as incubators for budding entrepreneurs. Many employees leave multinational companies to launch their own startups, equipped with the skills, knowledge, and experience gained at these R&D centers.

The presence of foreign R&D centers and multinational companies in Israel also helps create jobs, generate new businesses, and contribute to the country’s economic output.

BreezoMeter, the winner of the Israeli competition, was developed to make air pollution visible. Using real-time big data analysis, it provides air quality information at street-level resolution.

BreezoMeter competed against six other companies in the finals and will automatically join the GEW50, a list of the world’s 50 most promising startups.

The final took place in Jerusalem and was attended by Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, investors, entrepreneurs, startups, and high-tech executives.

Adv. Michael Barnea, our managing partner said: “I am delighted that Barnea had the opportunity to take part in this special event. Our experience supporting entrepreneurs through incorporation, fundraising and the launch of technology and life sciences start-ups enabled us to contribute to the evaluation and selection of contestants. In doing so, we helped give the next generation of entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their ideas and gain international exposure.”

Startup Open was launched in 2010 as a Kauffman Foundation initiative and is part of Global Entrepreneurship Week. It is one of the world’s largest competitions for startups, attracting participants from more than 30 countries.

The firm represented AVGOL Industries 1953 Ltd. in its issuance of a new series of debentures (Series C) totaling ILS 502 million. One of the largest financing rounds on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange this year, the issuance is intended to refinance existing debt and fund the company’s ongoing investments and operations. AVGOL is a global technology company and a world leader in the development, manufacture, and marketing of nonwoven fabrics, primarily for use in diapers and hygiene products. Its customers include major companies such as Procter & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark. The company’s shares are listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and included in the Tel Aviv 100 Index. To read more, click here.

There is no doubt that Operation Protective Edge has had a material adverse impact on economic activities in Israel. The rocket attacks on communities in southern and central Israel reduced dramatically the revenues of businesses, hurt the tourism and vacation industries, and forced many companies to cope with absences of employees who were called up for active reserve duty.

Business as usual?

Nevertheless, it appears that the Israeli high-tech industry proceeded more or less with business as usual, as if high-tech is the “steadfast cliff” of the local economy. Even during last month, when the inferno in Gaza was at its worst and Israel found itself subject to venomous criticism throughout the world, the robust international activities in the Israel technological sector continued. International merger and acquisition transactions of Israeli technology companies did not stop and public offerings of Israeli high-tech companies on NASDAQ continued.
One should not misconstrue the continuing global activities by Israeli high-tech companies as a reflection of support of the Israeli government’s policy in Gaza or as recognition of its right to protect itself from the barrage of Hamas rockets. The factor driving this activity is, first and foremost, the robust demand for Israeli technology, a demand that is hardly affected by political considerations.

There are two additional factors that contribute to the Israeli high-tech industry’s imperviousness to the impact of the events of Operation Protective Edge. One factor is the fact that the majority of the commercial activities by Israeli high-tech companies is not in the local market. Though, in many instances, the development is located in Israel, the target markets and the vast majority of the sales are global. Therefore, the drop in the local demands has no material impact on the business activities of Israeli technology companies.

The second factor, which is more complex and fragile, is the sense that the fighting in Gaza is not creating a substantive threat to Israel’s security. As long as it is evident that the threat to personal safety in central Israel is marginal, if not negligible, the technology sector can project a sense of “business as usual.” The operation of the Iron Dome systems reinforces this sense of security.

Nevertheless, one must take into account that this sense of security could be extremely fragile. The temporary halting of flights to Israel by foreign companies, as a result of a rocket falling in Yehud, provided clear evidence as to how quickly the situation could change. There was a good reason for the intensive political efforts to resume flights. Were it not for the decision to resume air travel with Israel within 24 hours, it is doubtful whether the atmosphere of normalcy could have been sustained.

For anyone who needs a reminder of the possible correlation between personal safety and routine activity in the technology sector, one merely needs to recall the period of the Second Intifada. At the beginning of the 2000s, the suicide attacks caused visitors from overseas to stay away from Israel. Even though the technology sector was also suffering from the impact of the technology bubble burst during those same years, one cannot disregard the impact of the security threat on the recession that also hit the Israeli high-tech industry at that time.

In light of this, while we can look with pride and some amazement at the continuing business activity in the Israeli technology sector, we must keep in mind that it is never impervious. The continuation of Operation Protective Edge or an expansion of the military operations into central Israel is liable to have a material adverse impact on the high-tech industry as well.

The author, Adv. Micky Barnea, is the managing partner at Barnea & Co.

The Startup Open competition is underway, and the field has narrowed to seven finalists. Selected from nearly 100 entrants, the finalists will compete in the national final on September 22, 2014, in Jerusalem. Adv. Micky Barnea, our managing partner, said, “As part of our longstanding relationship with Israel’s entrepreneurial community, Barnea is proud to participate in the Startup Open competition. During the semi-final, we identified several promising and innovative ventures, and I look forward to selecting the winning start-up at the final. The wide range of business ideas and industries represented by the finalists reflects the talent and creativity of Israel’s start-up and high-tech sector.”

Israeli companies have rediscovered London’s AIM market. At today’s “Time for London IPO” conference on the London Stock Exchange, participants expressed differing views on the benefits of an AIM listing. Adv. Micky Barnea, managing partner at Barnea and a specialist in London IPOs, explained: “Unlike in Israel, where shareholders have the final say, in London that authority rests with the board of directors. This difference in the balance of power may make the market less suitable for companies with a single controlling shareholder, who would have less scope to intervene in decision-making and less influence over the board’s composition.”

Pilat Media Plc, a UK-incorporated public company, held a unique position: it was the only UK company listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) and the only company fully listed on both AIM and TASE, meeting the regulatory requirements of both jurisdictions. The firm represented Pilat Media from its inception through a demerger from an Israeli public company and advised it on compliance with Israeli regulatory requirements over the years. In April 2014, Pilat Media was sold to Sintec Media, one of its major competitors, for cash consideration exceeding USD 100 million. Barnea & Co. represented Pilat Media and its shareholders on the Israeli aspects of the transaction.

Leading lawyers, including Adv. Michael Barnea, discuss executive compensation and the various ways controlling shareholders can receive profits. Read more here.

Israel takes pride in its water industry, which has developed in response to limited water resources, growing domestic demand, and the global need for water solutions. Israeli water technology companies have earned an international reputation for their expertise. Israel is also known for its technology sector, built on proven capabilities in launching, financing, growing, and ultimately realizing the value of companies across technology and life sciences.