Insights & News / Michael Barnea

In an interview with Globes, 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. 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, Micky Barnea, our firm’s managing partner, was interviewed by TheMarker on the matter.

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, Micky Barnea and 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. Micky Barnea, our firm’s managing partner, was invited to share his insights. To read the full article and Micky’s interview, please 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 the Israeli high-tech employment market and included diverse lectures on such topics as non-competition clauses in employment agreements, the workforce as a critical element in the workplace, and more.

Among the speakers at the conference were Micky Barnea, our firm’s managing partner; Nani Maoz, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Everest; and firm lawyers Harel Perlmutter, Netta Bromberg, Inbar Gorelick, and Amos E. Rosenzweig.

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, 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 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, 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, 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 Micky Barnea, Ariella Dreyfuss, and Roy Engel advised on the NIS 1 billion investment.

Advs. Micky Barnea, Ilan Blumenfeld, and 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 a NIS 100 million valuation.

The phenomenon of mergers between law firms gained momentum in 2021 and its results are changing the face of the industry. Micky Barnea was interviewed by Calcalist on the subject and noted that: "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."

Recent years have seen several takeover attempts of companies listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Already in early 2022 was there a control struggle over Norstar Holdings Inc. As an expert lawyer in the field of corporate takeovers, Micky Barnea was interviewed by TheMarker for an article on the subject.

In the interview, Micky 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, 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, 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. Advs. Micky Barnea, Yuval Lazi, Mayer Winkler, and 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 Micky Barnea.

We advised Reef Technology, one of the largest operators of mobility, logistics hubs, and neighborhood kitchens in the United States, on its acquisition of the Israeli logistics startup Bond, which was initially founded as Shookit, a direct-to-consumer grocery startup that delivered fresh produce to clients in the city within hours. The deal was led by Advs. Michael Barnea, Ariella Dreyfuss, and Tal Freilich. Netta Bromberg advised on the employment side. Harel Perlmutter and Hanna Daher advised on the tax side. Anat Even-Chen advised on data privacy and security 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, 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.

Micky Barnea, Ilan Blumenfeld, and Daniel Kleinman represented Lipsker, an Israeli company that specializes in performing geotechnical work, in its sale to Shapir Engineering and Industry, Israel's leading company in the construction, development, and infrastructure fields. Our legal services include antitrust aspects.

The value of the transaction is approximately NIS 32 million.

Our firm’s Micky Barnea and Itay Gura represented Danel, a human resources, nursing, and medical services company, in its acquisition of 22% of Aviv Scientific, a leader in improving brain performance and treating the aging process. The transaction’s value is USD 22 million.

The fintech company Sunbit, which has developed an AI-based technology that enables personalized payment options, raised USD 130 million in a series D financing round led by Group 11, Zeev Ventures, and Migdal Insurance.

Our firm's Micky Barnea and 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 Micky Barnea, Ariella Dreyfuss, and 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 article by Micky Barnea on this 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 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. Advs. Micky Barnea and Ariella Dreyfuss advised the client throughout the deal.

Our firm represented Danel in the acquisition of 51% of Manor Medical, an egg donation and surrogacy company.

Advs. Micky Barnea, and Ilan Blumenfeld represented Danel in the acquisition with a value of up to NIS 140 million.

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 Micky Barnea. Micky will discuss the entrepreneurial relationship and why it is critical to a venture's success.

The recent dividend distribution by TASE-traded company Fox-Wizel Ltd. after receiving emergency funding from the Israeli government not only raised moral questions but also underscored the complexity facing many companies at this time. Globes published an op-ed by Micky Barnea in response to the backlash following the company's actions. Micky noted that a key challenge faced by companies is how to balance between dealing with the difficulties and uncertainties of the COVID-19 era, on the one hand, and the desire and responsibility to continue operations as commercial enterprises, on the other.

Our firm serves as counsel for Cardiac Sense, a startup that developed a medical watch for remote patient vital signs monitoring and detection of fever and chronic diseases. We represent the startup in all legal matters. Recently, we assisted the company in an over USD 30 million agreement to supply medical watches for use in hospitals in India.

FIMI Opportunity Funds, a private investment fund, recently completed the acquisition of control of public company Amiad Water Systems Ltd. Micky Barnea represented Hachoshlim Fund Cooperative Agricultural Society Ltd., Amiad's largest shareholder, in the deal. 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.

Lytx Inc., an American fleet management software developer, has acquired the video division of the Israel-based company Surf Communications, to serve as its Israeli R&D center. Surf, founded in 1996, develops multimedia digital signal processing technologies for telecommunication infrastructures. Firm partners Micky Barnea and Ariella Dreyfuss represented Surf in the deal valued at between $20-30 million.

An M&A expert, Micky Barnea was interviewed by the leading newspaper Globes as part of an extensive analysis on the long list of major deals that are being canceled and the financial uncertainty in this period. The article highlights how huge corporations are able to afford what little companies and the self-employed can only dream of. According to Micky, "Starting in February, we noticed a phenomenon in which time has become elastic. Usually people strive to keep deals at a steady pace, and once the handshake is made, they want to move faster. Now, less people are hurrying to complete a deal. They are taking time to see what will happen next in the market.”

The Israel-based global leader in the development of non-implant catheter-based solutions for treating heart valve calcification has raised $27 million in funding. The investment round was led by our client, the European life sciences venture capital firm Sofinnova Partners, with the participation of Pi-Cardia chairman Prof. Jacques Séguin and previous investors. Advs. Micky Barnea and Ariella Dreyfuss represented the client.

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

Lee Wenliang was the first person to identify the coronavirus. He sought to warn the public about the virus and paid a personal price for doing so.

Individuals like Wenliang are referred to in Hebrew as “information leakers,” at best, and snitches, at worst. The apparent distinction between an "information leaker" and a snitch is in many cases a question of the party involved—one person's "information leaker" is another person's snitch.

In an article published by TheMarker, Micky deals with the terminology surrounding the leaking of information and the need for organizations to stress appropriate language so such actions are seen as a positive. Employers should also encourage internal reporting mechanisms.

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, Micky Barnea, Daniel Lorber, and 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, privacy matters, and more. 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 NIS 820 million. Azrieli was represented by Advs. Micky Barnea, Ilan Blumenfeld, Sagi Gross and Daniel Kleinman.

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 acquisition of control in the Israeli software testing company Qualitest from Marlin Equity Partners for approx. USD 420 million.

Our firm represented JJDC in its follow on investment in the Israeli medtech company DayTwo, as part of a $31 million series B round.  

Micky Barnea, Ariella Dreyfuss, Itay Gura and Mayer Winkler represented Johnson & Johnson Innovation 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.

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, 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.

Advs. Micky Barnea and 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 6th 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 Barnea, "The new circular stipulates that options allocated under an approved plan, submitted lawfully to the 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 sale of the company 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 with the consulting company Ntegra, Bird and Bird law firm and Barnea. As part of the tour, the delegation visited our firm and met several startups for potential investment. Micky Barnea also provided a case study of the activity of foreign companies in Israel.

Micky Barnea and Adv. Steve Wolosky are featured in a TheMarker profile about being the representatives of the American investment fund Starboard Value during its investment in Mellanox.

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

Barnea and ACC hosted today a seminar on shareholder activism. 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 that arrived in 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 for a seminar on shareholder activism. During the seminar we will examine activism in Israeli companies and the courtroom, while comparing the American and Israeli markets.

Advs. Michael Barnea and 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.

Our firm represented the US pharmaceutical and medical devices company Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation (JJDC) in a USD 3 million lead investment round in OrthoSpin Ltd. OrthoSpin is an Israeli-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, Micky Barnea took part in the 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 American management. Joseph Payne is represented by Advs. Micky Barnea, Zohar Lande, Omer Keydar, and Ron Shuhatovich.

Our firm is representing British private equity firm Ethemba Capital in its 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. The price of the sale is valued at NIS 1.7 billion.

Managing Partner Micky Barnea is speaking 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 acquisition of Frutarom, the Israeli flavors and ingredients maker, for USD 7.1 billion.

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

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

Micky Barnea, our 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 Managing Partner, was interviewed by Globes on the topic of executive compensation policy in dual-listed Israeli companies.

Adv. Micky Barnea, our Managing Partner, is hosting today the AI panel at the 4^th Annual Foreign Law Firms Conference.

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.

Our firm is hosting today, on behalf of the Japanese Embassy, a delegation of large-company CEOs who came to Israel as part of an innovation tour.

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

We are hosting today together with the Association of Corporate Counsel a seminar on blockchain and digital currencies. Dr. Zvi Gabbay will discuss new regulatory challenges, while Micky Barnea will address blockchain and smart contracts. Tal Cohen, Compass Blockchain Solutions's CEO, will give a special introductory lecture on bitcoin and digital currencies.

Our firm is hosting today a student delegation from Handong Global University. The students are visiting Israel from South Korea.

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.

Micky Barnea was interviewed by TheMarker regarding the effects on Israeli corporate tax following the U.S. 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.

Barnea is hosting today together with barneaXcrossing and ESOP Excellence, a morning workshop on equity-based plans for entrepreneurs and technological startups. Micky Barnea, Managing Partner, will discuss options plans for partners and employees.

As part of the control struggle over the A.D.O Group, our firm was chosen to represent Jacob Luxembourg, the controlling shareholder in Lapidoth. With the assistance of Adv. Micky Barnea, Mr. Luxembourg sent a letter of warning to all the directors of A.D.O Group, claiming the company's joint control agreement, signed between Shikun and Binui, the Apollo Fund, and the Dayan family, is damaging it.

Barnea hosted today a delegation of Mexican investors who came to Israel to find investment opportunities. Adv. Micky Barnea, the firm's Managing Partner, met with the delegation and spoke about the Israeli ecosystem.

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.

Micky Barnea, the firm's managing partner,published an article on the regulatory challenges facing Fintech companies, in TheMarker's FinTech Magazine. Micky notes that entry barriers to this field are not only the development stage, but also the strength of the regulatory solution. Therefore, acquired knowledge can become a real intellectual property and carry enormous potential.

Adv. Micky Barnea, Managing Partner, will lecture today at the IBM Alpha Zone Accelerator on the challenges of late-stage startups.

The acquisition of control by US company ADM of Israeli company Industries Centers EOD—which imports and markets animal feed, processes seeds, and stores emergency inventory for the state—has been completed. The company was represented by Advs. Micky Barnea, Yuval Lazi, Ilan Blumenfeld, Sagi Gross, and Daniel Kleinman.

Michael Barnea, our Managing Partner, is participating today in a panel discussion on investment opportunities in Israel. The event is being held in London under the auspices of FDI Magazine, which is published by the Financial Times.

Micky Barnea, our Managing Partner, will lecture today at a Training Seminar of the Israel Bar Association on the management of a law firm.

Barnea represented Johnson & Johnson in respect of its investment of USD 12 million in the startup, DayTwo, which provides personalized nutrition recommendations based on mapping and analyzing the composition of intestinal bacteria.

Barnea, in cooperation with the Israel Director Union, is hosting a seminar on the challenges and risks in the functions of a Board of Directors. Micky Barnea, our Managing Partner, will discuss the risks in the functions of the board of directors. Dr. Zvi Gabbay, Partner and Head of the Capital Markets Department, will deal with 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. In the competition teens will present their startup companies to leading high- tech experts.

Barnea, together with Startau, Tel Aviv University's Entrepreneurship Center, are hosting a Swiss corporate delegation, who are visiting Israel for the first time and looking to connect to the Israeli innovation ecosystem.

Barnea, together with the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), is hosting today an event on privacy. This is the first event in Israel discussing the implications of privacy on organizations. During the event, we will cover such topics as the new EU regulations on the protection of privacy and information and the right to financial privacy in Israel. In addition, we will discuss the recently published regulation on organizations’ database security.

Micky Barnea will lecture today 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. The lecture will be held at Google Campus.

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

Micky Barnea, the Managing Partner at Barnea, judged in the TLV Startup Challenge competition final, held at the Startau Innovation Conference. The start-up "Hargol Foodtech", which specializes in the cultivation of grasshoppers for the food industry, won first place in the competition.

For the second year, Barnea is taking part in the Tel Aviv University Innovation Conference. In the framework of the conference, Micky Barnea, will lecture on the subject of the legal challenges entailed in late staged startups and will judge in the competition final with other mentors from Shazam, Prezi, Capsula, Strauss Group and IAI.Adv. Yuval Lazi and Ariella Dreyfuss, will judge in the start-up competition in the Fintech, Gaming and IoT sectors. Yuval Lazi will also participate in a panel discussion on funding a start-up, together with a representative of the Office of the Chief Scientist, Tau Ventures' CEO and the CEO of "Cockpit", El-Al's start-up support program.

Barnea represented Avgol Industries 1953 Ltd in connection with the issuance of a new series of bonds in the amount of NIS 197 Million. Avgol is one of the biggest manufacturers in the world of non-woven fabrics for the hygiene market. Its securities are traded in the leading indices on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

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

Barnea, together with the patent firm, Ehrlich & Fenster, will host today a seminar geared towards 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 an investment of USD 50 million in Similar Web, a leading digital market intelligence platform that provides insights for websites and applications.

Barnea, together with The Service, will host today a seminar on how to manage real estate assets and family companies. Adv. Micky Barnea, our Managing Partner, will discuss the inter-generational transfer of family businesses. Liat Keisary will participate in 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, Managing Partner at Barnea, 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.

The Accelerator connects Startups with Financial Institutions. Barnea & Co is the firm which will provide legal services in Israel to the startups attending the Program in Frankfurt. On 12th February we will be holding an introductory event at which the Accelerator will describe the nature and aims of the Program and Micky Barnea will discuss the challenges for startups heading abroad. The event will be take place at Barclay's Techstars Accelerator. 

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

Barnea will host today, together with Israel-America Chamber of Commerce and the BIRD Foundation,  a roundtable meeting with Mr. Kevin Stine, Chief of Applied Cybersecurity Division at NIST (The National Institute of Standards and Technology), an agency of the US Department of Commerce. The roundtable will include senior managers of Israeli VC’s community and Cyber Security startups.  

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

Barnea is hosting today a business and research delegation from South Carolina, comprised of business leaders, researchers and business developers at hospitals and research Institutions and economic development officials. They have come to Israel to promote collaboration with Israeli companies in Biomed, Cyber and Tech Automotive. Micky Barnea, our Managing Partner, will give a lecture on the legal aspects of doing business in Israel.

Micky Barnea, our Managing Partner, was interviewed by Globes regarding executive pay in the finance sector. He also interviewed on concessions granted by the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and the Israel Securities Authority. Micky commented that the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and the Israel Securities Authority have granted a set of concessions to encourage more companies to go public. However, according to Micky, as regards the issue of regulation, the exemptions should be more significant.

Adv. Micky Barnea, our Managing Partner, will give a lecture today to MBA students in the course "From Idea to Start-up" at the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Department at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The lecture will focus on legal and intellectual property issues necessary for entrepreneurs.

On Thursday, December 22^nd we hosted at our office a networking event of the Air Force Innovation Division in cooperation with Startau, Tel Aviv University Entrepreneurship Center. The event was attended by representatives of the industry. The Air Force Innovation Course with Tel Aviv University was launched.

Barnea together with ChannelSmart and Syneron-Candela will host an event on December 22nd on 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 round-table meeting with other leading law firms regarding the employment of Arab interns and lawyers. The meeting was initiated by the Deans of the Universities' Faculty of Law.

Micky Barnea joined IBM Alpha Zone Accelerator 4th Class as a mentor. The program focuses on post Seed and Round A funded companies with the aim to create a long term Technology and Business partnership with IBM worldwide.

Barnea is hosting today a seminar for students from the IDC Legal Clinic for Start-Ups on various issues including founding agreement, labor law and tax issues, privacy policy, entrepreneurship and more. The cooperation is part of the firm's pro bono activities.

Barnea, hosted today a delegation of 50 community and entrepreneurial organizations from Barcelona and mayors from the region of Catalonia, which were invited to Israel by Startau, Tel Aviv University Entrepreneurship Center. The event was held as part of a series of meetings of the delegation with leaders of the technological and entrepreneurial environment in Israel.

Barnea represented Israel Growth Partners (IGP)  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, Managing Partner at Barnea, was interviewed by Globes Dun's 100 on the emerging trend in the United States and England to adopt stricter corporate governance rules pertaining to director remuneration.

IBM, Barnea and Marketing Envy will host a Round Table for CEO’s of start-ups which have raised over 1 million USD. As part of the program, Micky Barnea will discuss the challenges to be faced during second round capital raising.

The event will take place at Barnea’s offices. 

TheMarker business monthly magazine for June, dealt with wealth and disclosed ”the secrets of 500 richest people in Israel”.

As an expert in  the area of family wealth, Micky Barnea was interviewed on how to transfer your wealth to the 2^nd generation in the best way.

Barnea invites you to the TAU Innovation Conference 2016. The conference is the largest international innovation conference in the Middle East, with over 6,000 attendees from across the world. This includes entrepreneurs, industry leaders, diplomats, investors, and highly respected keynote speakers at educational and networking events. As Barnea is a participant in the event, our clients enjoy a 35% discount (Password:  TAUBarnea2016)

As part of the event, Micky Barnea will participate in the IPO and exits panel, Yuval Lazi will participate in the fundraising panel and Yuval Lazi and Ariella Dreyfuss will be judges at the Tel Aviv StartUp Challenge competition.

Micky Barnea will deliver a lecture to entrepreneurs tonight at TRI/O (Tech Entrepreneurship Hub) at Kfar Quasim, on investment agreements. TRI/O is a collaboration of three entities:  Tsofen, an Arab-Jewish organization promoting the integration of Israel’s Arab citizens into the hi-tech industry, MIT Enterprise Forum and MEPI - Middle East Partnership Initiative , a USA fund that offers assistance, training, and support to groups and individuals striving to create positive change in Israeli society.

Barnea represented Azrieli Group in its acquisition of the eCommerce platform and activities of Buy 2 Networks Inc., a public company traded on the TASE. The acquired platform and activities  provide an eCommerce platform for consumers to purchase a wide range of products.

The acquisition price is NIS 70 million. Azrieli was represented by Micky Barnea.

The high-tech sector is concerned about the impending passing of legislation which would effectively further restrict the salaries payable to executives in the financial sector. The concern is that this legislation could be extended to apply all types of listed companies , including Israeli high-tech companies listed on venture capital markets abroad. Micky Barnea, as an experienced lawyer in the high-tech field, was interviewed by TheMarker

Dr. Zvi Gabbay, who was previously head of administrative enforcement at the Israel Securities Authority, will be joining our firm with five lawyers from his team. Micky Barnea commented to Globes regarding this expansion "together we create integrated capabilities that can handle a variety of challenges that the world of public companies and financial regulation present".

Yesterday, the signing ceremony of the Share Purchase Agreement for the sale of Ahava Dead Sea Laboratories Ltd. to Fosun (China), for approximately NIS 290 million, was held in Jerusalem. Micky Barnea, Ariella Dreyfuss and Itay Gura from our firm represented Kibbutz Mitzpe Shalem, one of the selling shareholders.

Barnea represented Continuity Software in a transaction for the sale of the company to Kedma Capital for an amount of NIS 160 million. Continuity Software is the leading provider of service availability risk management solutions.

Representing Continuity Software- Adv. Micky Barnea and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss.
Adv. Yuval Lazi represented Kedma Capital.

As an expert in the technology field, Micky Barnea was invited to lecture at a unique course for entrepreneurs organized by the BDO Academy, in association with the Technion’s Division of Continuing Education. Micky discussed founders agreements and investment agreements.

Azrieli College Of Engineering Jerusalem and AtoBe Start Up Accelerator will host an event on "How Share Options Help To Grow Your Start Up", in a partnership with Barnea and Excellence, on March 16, 2016. Micky Barnea will lecture at the event on Options for start-ups’ partners & employees.

As part of our cooperation with MIT Enterprise Forum of Israel, our office will take part in an Angel's Investor workshop consisting of 6 meetings. Adv. Micky Barnea, Adv. Yuval Lazi and Adv Ariella Dreyfuss will lecture at the workshop.

Barnea continues its expansion and has recruited a further 12 Attorneys in the past few weeks. Micky Barnea commented to TheMarker regarding such expansion: Yuval Lazi joining with his team is a result of the firm’s growth and allows us to continue providing top legal service.

As an expert in Capital Markets, Micky Barnea was interviewed exclusively by Globes regarding the TASE "poor year" in 2015. In the interview, Micky describes the reasons for the situation: stifling regulation, low turnover, high costs, and describes what he thinks TASE should do in order to attract new companies to TASE.  

As part of our cooperation with Unistream, our office hosted the Organization's investment committee.

At the meeting, the participants presented a business venture developed during the program.

Adv. Micky Barnea and  Adv. Ronit Offir were chosen to be members of the jury, which also comprised CEO's and industry executives (eg. Microsoft), investment managers and directors of venture capital funds. 

Micky Barnea was interviewed for an article in Globes, regarding the Herzikovitch family dispute. Micky is an expert in the area of family wealth and in the article, Micky described how families can, as far as possible, avoid such conflicts.

V-Wave, a privately held company with offices in Israel and the U.S., completed a Series B financing round in the sum of $28m.

The round was led by Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JJDC Inc. (represented by Barnea). Other participants were TriVentures, Pura Vida and BioStar Ventures. Eli and Nir Barkat's BRM fund, Pontifax and Edwards Lifesciences, which were already shareholders in V-Wave, also participated.

Micky Barnea was one of nine experts from around the world who participated in the "Corporate Livewire" virtual round table. The subject of the event was Technology, Media & Telecommunications 2015. 

Micky discussed recent regulatory changes, key trends and Intellectual Property in the Media Industry.

On July 29, 2015 the Knesset passed an Amendment to the Encouragement of R&D in the Industry Law.

Micky Barnea, who specializes in advising companies of all sizes and from all industries: venture capital funds, entrepreneurs, and Israeli and international investors in technology and life sciences, refers  in "Globes" on the benefits of the new R & D Law.

The winner of the  "Start up Open" competition is "Lishtot" an Israeli startup which has developed technology that indicates in 2 seconds if water is polluted, thereby reducing the risks of drinking polluted water. The event was held at Hansen House in Jerusalem.

Barnea was involved with the competition from inception for the second year, together with the Jerusalem Development Authority, JNext, the Jerusalem Municipality, the Prime Minister's Office, MIT Enterprise Forum of Israel and others. 

Controlling shareholders and company managers complain about the stifling regulation, low turnover, high costs, the intervention in determining wages, and a negative image following the social protests. The leading newspaper, TheMarker, interviewed stock exchange experts, amongst them, Micky Barnea, to discuss why it happened, and how to stop the flight.

The Israeli corporate governance rules discourage technology companies from listing on the TASE. However, with some simple steps this all can be changed.
Israel's position as the Startup Nation is reflected in the fact that multiple local technology companies are listed on the US and London Stock Exchanges. However, the TASE has never managed to make itself an attractive  target for Israeli high-tech companies. Thus, while many technology companies today prefer the purchase option of an initial public offering, such companies seeking to issue shares do not regard the TASE as an attractive or even relevant option. They prefer to turn to international exchanges.

Israeli startup Blender announced today that it had raised $5 million from Blumberg Capital. The company has raised $3.5 million since it was founded, not including the current round. 

Tadiran Holdings Ltd., controlled by Moshe Mamrod, is acquiring the gas distributor, Supergas, from Granite Hacarmel, a unit of Azrieli Group Ltd., for NIS 250 million. Micky Barnea and Ilan Blumenfeld represent Granite Hacarmel. 

Senior industry figures from a host of FX companies met top venture capital investors in Tel Aviv, Israel today at the conference hosted by Barnea and the IVC. To read more, please click here

Micky Barnea, managing partner of Barnea, and Koby Simana, CEO of IVC Online, in a joint interview focused on the area of financial trading platforms. In the interview Micky discusses the effects of the new Israeli regulations pertaining to the activities of trading platforms. These regulations will come into effect on May 26, 2015.

The Legal Business magazine has dedicated its April edition to Israel, with a focus on current topics and trends in the country. Michael Barnea and Simon Jaffa were interviewed regarding Chinese interest in doing business in Israel. "In some respects because of the geopolitical  limitation, there is less competition for certain deals. Investors may not face as much competition as businesses in the US and UK," says Barnea.  

Recently, Judge Ruth Ronen of the Economic Department of the Tel-Aviv District Court handed down a ruling on the matter of a tender offer published by Africa-Israel Industries in 2012 for the purchase of shares of Negev Ceramics. 

Due to the many regulations, legal advisors and statements of claims, the directors of public companies do not know if it's their job to manage or supervise. Micky Barnea, a renowned figure in this field, was invited to be a member of a panel of experts to discuss the responsibility of the Board of Directors in the new era.

There is no doubt that Israel has a thriving high-tech industry. Israel has developed a high-tech eco-system that encompasses companies at various stages of development. It has also built up an extensive community of investors and development centers of international companies. The high-tech industry in the start-up nation has attracted and is attracting corporate giants from around the world to operate their development centers in Israel. This is done via the acquisition of Israeli companies or as part of a business strategy of creating a presence in Israel.

As an expert in the technology field, Micky Barnea was invited to lead the high-tech panel at the Israel’s 2nd Foreign Law Firms Conference. The panel: Start-Up Nation Vs. Exit Nation will deal with the effect of startup nation on the Israeli legal scene, the current trends in high-tech exit transactions, IPO's and the interface between Israeli and foreign law firms in high-tech legal work.

This has not gone unnoticed by foreign multinational companies. A study by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics shows that 63% of all investments in R&D centers in Israel come from international technology companies operating in Israel.
More than 67% of all employees in R&D centers in Israel are employed by foreign companies who have established research centers, such as Facebook, Google, Apple, Microsoft, IBM, Intel, HP and more. Such companies employ no less than 34.3 thousand employees in R&D, with an annual increase of 2%.

The presence of these corporate giants in Israel is growing, as many more companies understand the benefits and success they could have by placing their R&D centers in the hotbed of innovation and invention.

These outstanding figures are irritating to some, as the growth in the R&D centers gives the foreign companies firstbid at breakthrough technologies.

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

But there’s another way to look at it. These centers are effectively nurturing the best and the brightest, training them and serving as incubators for budding entrepreneurs. Many of these employees leave the multinational companies ready to start their own start-ups, armed with the considerable skillset, knowledge, and experience acquired at these R&D centers.

Furthermore, having foreign R&D centers and multinationals in Israel has proven to be a source for creating jobs, spawning new business and contributing to economic output.

In recent years many kibbutz enterprises have grown from small manufacturers to international corporations. Echad Ha'am  magazine, by Globes, held a roundtable with six experts to discuss the latest changes and developments in the kibbutz sector. (attached, p.21)

This year’s summary of Maariv puts the spotlight on key legal developments in Israel, covering the following topics: Capital Markets (by Micky Barnea); Anti-Trust (by Zohar Lande); Constitutional Law; Criminal Law nfrastructure ; Tax and Money laudering

The Israeli winner of the competition, BreezoMeter, was invented to make air pollution visible. Using real time big data analysis BreezoMeter presents air quality information at street level resolution. (Picture)

BreezoMeter ran in the finals in front of six other companies, and will automatically enter the list of the World's Top 50 Most Promising Startups, known as the GEW50.

The final competition was held in Jerusalem, in the presence of Jerusalem MayorNir Barkat, investment entities, entrepreneurs, startups, high-tech executives.
Michael Barnea, Managing Partner from Barnea & Co, said, "I am delighted at the opportunity Barnea has had to take part in this special event. With our experience in working with entrepreneurs in all phases of incorporation, raising capital and launching technology and life science startups, we were able to contribute is considering and selecting the contestants in the competition. Thus we were able to allow the next generation of entrepreneurs theopportunity to present their ideas and receive international exposure".

StartUp Open was originally launched as part of the Kauffman Foundation in 2010 and is part of Global Entrepreneurship Week. It is the world's largest competitions for startup companies, boosting participation from over 30 countries.

Corporate Live wire held a roundtable with seven experts from around the world to discuss the latest changes and developments in capital markets in each expert's respective jurisdiction. To read more, please click here

The firm represented AVGOL Industries 1953 Ltd. in their issuance of a new series of debentures (Series C) in the amount of NIS 502 million. This is one of the largest financing rounds made this year on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and its aims are to replace existing financial debt, and to finance ongoing investment activities and operations of the Company. AVGOL Industries is a global technology company, a world leader in the development, manufacture, and marketing of nonwoven fabrics, especially diapers and hygiene products, and its customers include large companies such as Procter & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark. The Company's shares are traded on the Tel Aviv 100 index. To read more, please click here

StartUp Open competition for start-ups is underway and companies are narrowing down. From near to hundred companies, which entered the competition, the judges have selected seven finalists to move forward and partake in the final event of the national competition that will take place on September 22nd , 2014 in Jerusalem.

Michael Barnea, Managing Partner from Barnea & Co, said, "As part of our long standing relationship with the Israeli entrepreneurial community, Barnea is proud to be a part of this  StartUp Open competition.  At the semi-final we identified a number of promising and innovative ventures and I am looking forward to pick out the winning start up at the finals. The wide spectrum of business ideas and industries represented by the final candidates are the talented and creative Israel start-up and hi-tech industry."

Micky Barnea was interviewed by Globes, an online newspaper, regarding the firms recent activity and achievements.

Israeli companies have rediscovered the AIM in London; in a conference titled, "Time for London IPO" held today, regarding the London Stock Exchange there were differing views concerning how beneficial the AIM is in reality. Micky Barnea, managing partner at Barnea, whose specialty is in London IPO's, claims that "unlike in Israel, in London it is the Board of Directors that has the last say as opposed to the shareholders as they do in Israel. Therefore the deriving power in the market is different and as such may not be suitable for companies with a single controlling shareholder, who would have less ability to intervene in decision-making and would lack influence over the structure of the Board of Directors." 

Pilat Media Plc is a unique UK incorporated public company, as 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 has represented Pilat since its inception, through a spin-off (demerger) from an Israeli public company, and has assisted it with compliance with Israeli regulatory requirements through the years. In April 2014 Pilat Media was sold to Sintec Media, one of its major competitors for a cash consideration of more than $100 million.

Barnea & Co represented Pilat Media and its shareholders in Israeli aspects of the transaction.

After the Law for the Encouragement of Competition and the Reduction of Concentration was enacted, Calcalist convened a panel of experts, including Michael Barnea, in order to discuss the powers of the Antitrust Commissioner.

The business world is desperate for certainty, especially in the industries where investments of billions of dollars are required in order to build infrastructure such as the gas production - by  Micky Barnea, TheMarker.

TheMarker annual edition entitled "The world is changing. And you?" dealt with the new "business world".  Adv. Michael Barnea discusses his career and the decisions that he has had to make during his career.

Barnea represented Ethemba Capital (an offshore private equity investment fund) in the purchase of 46% (constituting control) of the issued share capital of Avgol Industries 1953 Ltd (a public company traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in Israel) for a purchase price of approximately USD 107 million.

Leading lawyers, among them Adv. Michael Barnea, are discussing the subject of executives’ salaries and the different ways controlling shareholders could collect profits. Further reading here.

We represented Zaki Rakib in the context of the purchase of Brazilian company that holds a licence to render Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Services in the interior of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, with a total bandwidth of 70 MHz. The firm further represented Zaki Rakib when a company controlled by George Soros joined the venture and provided a convertible loan of US$ 20 million.

Israel is proud of its water industry. It is an Industry that is based on limited resources and growing needs of the domestic water market, the global thirst for water solutions in all areas and the global reputation of companies that deal with Israeli water technology. Israel is also known for its technological industries. The local industry was based upon proven capabilities for initiating, financing, growth and realization of the companies in all areas of technology and life sciences. 

Micky Barnea speaks at the 2011 Annual M&A Convention, presenting "from handshake to closing - 50 ways not to lose a transaction".