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Latest Updates / Banking & Finance
September 7, 2025
Our New Podcast Is Now Live on Spotify – Barnea on Business!
We are excited to launch our new podcast, where we translate complex legal issues into practical tools you can apply in the real world. In each episode, our firm’s partners analyze current and key topics in the business world, including corporate law, MA, regulation and ESG, labor law, real estate, taxation, capital markets, and more, demonstrate how to put legal tools into action. This podcast is designed for anyone operating at the intersection of law and business and seeking hands-on knowledge and practical insights.
August 25, 2025
BITs: Why They Matter for Israeli Companies Operating Abroad
Imagine an Israeli startup expanding into Latin America, only to have its assets suddenly seized due to unexpected regulatory changes. Such scenarios highlight the risks of global operations amid legal and political uncertainty. Bilateral investment treaties (BITs) are critical tools that provide businesses with a protective framework to navigate these challenges. Understanding their importance and the protections they afford is essential for companies aiming to thrive in international markets.
August 11, 2025
Israel’s Latest Attempt to Increase Competition in the Banking Sector
On August 6, 2025, the interministerial team to increase competition in the retail banking sector (established by Israel’s Minister of Finance in collaboration with the Governor of the Bank of Israel) published its recommendations on the measures needed to increase competition in banking services.
July 16, 2025
Who Bears the Risk of Violating Personal Sanctions?
When US President Donald Trump took office, it seemed the question of personal sanctions against extremist right-wingers in Israel was off the table. Indeed, in one of his first decisions, Trump lifted the sanctions imposed on a small number of Jewish settlers whom the United States had accused of committing violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, as well as on several extremist right-wing organizations.
July 13, 2025
Israel Competition Authority Intensifies Enforcement Measures and Indicts Schestowitz VP for a Suspected Cartel in the Food Sector
The Israel Competition Authority (ICA) conducted a thorough investigation of the S. Schestowitz Group, an Israeli company in the food and consumer goods sector, due to suspicions the company operated a cartel in the food industry in violation of the Economic Competition Law and the Law for the Promotion of Competition in the Food and Pharmacy Industries.
July 13, 2025
US Stablecoin Market Hits Milestone: Regulation and IPO
Two key developments in the US mark a step toward stablecoin market institutionalization. the US Senate approved new legislation regulating activities in the market for the first time, and Circle - the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, launched an IPO on the NASDAQ.
June 30, 2025
Stay of Proceedings Filed in Insolvency Case Involving Debt of ILS 1.75 Billion
Landa Corporation Limited, a company engaged in the development and manufacturing of digital printing technologies, recently filed a request for a stay of proceedings in order to formulate a debt arrangement outside of formal insolvency proceedings. According to the filing, the company's total debt amounts to approximately ILS 1.75 billion, including around ILS 1.4 billion owed to secured creditors and an additional ILS 300 million to suppliers and other unsecured creditors. Adv. Idan Miller of Barnea Jaffa Lande represents WINDER PTE, one of the principal creditors in the case.
April 20, 2025
Israel Securities Authority Regulates Use of Chatbots on Financial Platforms
The AI revolution in the Israeli capital market: The Israel Securities Authority allows financial institutions to use chatbots on their financial analyses platforms, but imposes clear rules and important restrictions on their use.
March 11, 2025
Webinar: Impact of Unexpected Events on Construction Projects
In Israel in 2025, there is no moment of relief. Unexpected events have become a routine part of life here. But what happens when these events directly impact the construction market and projects?
Our firm, in collaboration with GCs for GCs, is hosting a practical webinar on this very topic. Adv. Shai Avnieli, a partner and head of the Projects and Infrastructure Department, will share his insights on navigating these events in Israel’s ever-evolving and dynamic market, one that never ceases to surprise. The webinar will be held on March 26, 2025, at 11:00.
March 1, 2025
Fintech Tel Aviv 2025 Annual Summit: Dr. Zvi Gabbay on Expert Panel
Dr. Zvi Gabbay, head of our firm's Regulation Department, has been invited to join an expert panel on "Best Practices for Fintech Implementation and Operations" at the Fintech Tel Aviv 2025 Annual Summit. Startups, investors, and companies are invited to this unique fintech event.
July 15, 2023
Representing Aviv Group in ILS 1.1 Billion Financing Agreement
Terry Almozlino Arnon, Alon Wolner, and Nadav Shoshan represented Aviv Group in a financing agreement for the purchase of land for the construction of 733 housing units in Herzliya. The scope of the financing agreement is over NIS 1.1 billion.
May 28, 2023
Israel: Regulating Payment Services and Payment Initiation
New provisions set out the licensing framework for the provision of payment services, designed to encourage new players to enter the Israeli market and offer payment services while providing broad protection to consumers. The law will apply to companies providing payment services, credit service providers, acquirers, and more.
February 21, 2023
Advantage to Israeli Banks When Self-Exercising a Deposited Pledge
Collateral in the form of a deposited pledge is an easy and inexpensive way to secure credit. However, Israeli law does not allow foreign banks to benefit from an efficient and effective mechanism enabling debt recovery by way of the self-exercise of collateral. There is no real justification for this and it harms competition in the credit market.
June 16, 2022
Doral Renewable Energy Signs USD 390 Million Financing Agreement for Mammoth North Energy Project
Funding for the project in Indiana, which is expected to produce about 1,600 megawatts of clean energy, is being put forward by a consortium led by Deutsche Bank. Advs. Roy Engel and Samuel Henry Samuel represented Doral in the transaction, alongside McDermott Will Emery.
June 13, 2022
Bank of Israel Continues to Regulate Use of Cryptocurrencies
The risk of money laundering is one of the main risks involved in using and trading cryptocurrencies. This amendment to Proper Conduct of Banking Business Directive 411 addresses how banks should manage money laundering and terror financing risks.
April 13, 2022
Boards of Directors and Geopolitical Risks – Niv Polani Op-Ed in Calcalist
Global economic strength is adversely affected by geopolitical risks. Corporations have a duty to be prepared. Click to read Niv Polani’s Calcalist op-ed.
June 13, 2021
Bank of Israel: Environmental Considerations and Risks Should Be Part of Banking Corporations’ Risk Management
The Bank of Israel published its latest annual review at the end of May. The review includes an announcement by Supervisor of Banks Yair Avidan that he is promoting the formulation of updated comprehensive regulations on environmental risk management, considering the considerable importance he attributes to the subject of the environment.
November 9, 2020
Our Firm Represented CAF in Funding for Jerusalem Light Rail Project
After a year of negotiations, Jerusalem Light Rail concessionaire Shapir Engineering and its Spanish partner CAF announced the closure of a financial agreement for the construction and operation of a network of light rail lines in Jerusalem. The project's initial financing, amounting to nearly NIS 4 billion, will be led by Bank Hapoalim, with the participation of First International Bank of Israel, investment house Altshuler Shaham, and insurance company Migdal. Our firm's Simon Jaffa and Samuel Henry Samuel represented CAF in the transaction. This is CAF's first project in Israel.
August 17, 2020
Adv. Niv Polani, Retired Bank Hapoalim Executive, Joins Barnea Jaffa Lande
Adv. Niv Polani has more than thirty years of experience in the legal and banking worlds. He held several senior positions at Bank Hapoalim, one of Israel's largest banks, including Vice General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, Vice President, and Head of Corporate Development. Niv also served as the General Counsel and Head of Regulatory Affairs of one of Israel’s leading credit card companies. Niv joins Barnea Jaffa Lande as an of counsel and will focus on developing and strengthening the firm's activities in the banking and payments fields.
July 19, 2020
NIS 600 Million Financial Closure at Etgal Power Plant
We represented a group of institutional lenders, including Psagot and Amitim, in a deal to finance Shikun Binui Group's construction and operation of a power plant in Ashdod, for approx. NIS 600 million.
Amitim and Psagot were represented by Advs. Simon Jaffa, Samuel Henri Samuel, and Rotem Orbach.