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June 1, 2016
Property Contractors May Be Breaching Privacy Laws
Apartment buyers in Afula were surprised to receive calls from a mortgage advisory company despite not having consented to the contractor sharing their personal information with it. The Ministry of Construction and Housing responded that, “if necessary, we will clarify the guidelines.” The Privacy Protection Act regulates the use of personal information held in databases, and sharing such information with third parties without the individual’s consent may violate the Act.
June 1, 2016
4 Things to Know About the Sharing Economy
It is possible to believe the innovations of the Sharing Economy are due to a collective and empowering business model that places the emphasis on the individual and that this is a revolutionary outgrowth of information accessibility. However, one would be dismissing the very economic fundamentals that are the foundation for future growth and prosperity of the larger global economy. There are four important things to know about the Sharing Economy.
May 31, 2016
Tel Aviv University MBA Hackathon
Adv. Yuval Lazi and Adv. Itay Gura delivered a lecture at Tel Aviv University on key legal and commercial considerations when starting a business. The audience comprised participants in the university’s MBA programs in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, who also took part in a hackathon on May 30.
May 31, 2016
TAU Innovation Conference 2016
Barnea invites you to the TAU Innovation Conference 2016, the largest international innovation conference in the Middle East. Bringing together more than 6,000 attendees from around the world, the conference features educational sessions and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, industry leaders, diplomats and investors, alongside distinguished keynote speakers. As Barnea is participating in the event, our clients receive a 35% discount using the code TAUBarnea2016. Adv. Micky Barnea will join the IPO and exits panel, and Adv. Yuval Lazi will join the fundraising panel. Adv. Yuval Lazi and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss will also serve as judges in the Tel Aviv StartUp Challenge competition.
May 30, 2016
Israeli Securities Authority: Binary Options are Un-Licensable
In the last year, the Israeli Securities Authority (ISA) has been reviewing license applications submitted for obtaining an online own-account financial trading license. As part of this licensing process, the ISA is intermittently issuing press releases clarifying various issues relating to the scope of the licensing legislation.
May 29, 2016
Barnea Represents Hanan Mor Group
Barnea represents the publicly traded Hanan Mor Group and other companies within the group in a lawsuit brought by a contractor concerning several real estate projects. The contractor sought damages and an order preventing the bank guarantees from being called. The court rejected the contractor’s request for an order, fully accepting Barnea’s arguments. It also criticized the contractor’s conduct, noting that its account “raises questions,” and awarded Hanan Mor Group ILS 12,000 in legal fees and costs. Hanan Mor Group is represented by Adv. Zohar Lande, Adv. Itay Wigoda, and Adv. Shachar Parnes of our Litigation Department.
May 24, 2016
Top 10 Mistakes Founders Make
Engaging in any business startup can be risky, and even more so when you are attempting to initiate a startup in the technology sector. Available risks cross both B2C and B2B vectors, and while the risk percentage can fluctuate between said vectors, it clearly illustrates the wide array of risks present for your technology startup. When these risks are combined with potential missteps by the founders of the technology startup, a perfect storm can be created that only terminates with the complete failure of the endeavor.
May 19, 2016
Minister Haim Katz Questioned over Insider Trading Allegations
Following suspicions that Likud minister Haim Katz used insider information for financial gain, we were interviewed by the Reshet B radio station; At London Kirshenbaum, a current affairs news show on Channel 10; and Globes.
May 18, 2016
Tel Aviv University Receives USD 50 Million Donation
Adv. Simon Jaffa and Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss represented the Jeremy Coller Foundation in connection with its donation of up to USD 50 million to Tel Aviv University’s School of Management.
May 17, 2016
Adv. Micky Barnea Lectures on Investment Agreements
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.
May 17, 2016
Tax treaty between Israel and Germany
On 21 August 2014 a new tax treaty between Israel and Germany was signed. The new treaty, which is based mainly on the model tax treaty of the OECD, introduces a number of favorable amendments (for the taxpayer) and improvements.
May 16, 2016
K.I.S.S
Entrepreneurs, you are creative and innovative, but when raising financing it is ok to follow the norm. There is no need to try and reinvent the wheel. Standard also works. I would even argue that from an investment perspective it is superior.
May 11, 2016
China-Israel Relations: What You Need to Know
China has a long-held reputation in the international community for being closed off from outsiders — a reputation that it cultivated for thousands of years. In recent decades, however, this past custom has rapidly been changing and China has become a world leader in manufacturing and production, leveraging a large population and an immense technological skill base. Today China is pushing for more growth, looking to drive innovation to launch its economy into the future. This has led to a trend of opening up to the world, and in keeping with that trend, China has begun to reach out to Israel.
May 10, 2016
Google Campus Startup School
Adv. Yuval Lazi will speak to entrepreneurs at the Google Campus Startup School on May 16, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. His lecture will cover “10 Annoying Legal Mistakes Early-Stage Startups Make” and the benefits of founders’ agreements. Google Campus is part of a global network that includes Campus Tel Aviv and Campus London.
May 8, 2016
What to Know About Stock Options
Stock options can help startups recruit, motivate and retain talented employees. In an article recently published on the IDC Legal Clinic for Startups website, we explore the basics of stock options, the process of adopting a stock option plan and the various implementation routes available to companies.
May 3, 2016
5 Myths About Renewable Energy
Sources of renewable energy include, among others, wind energy, solar energy, and hydroelectric energy. With different groups fighting to maintain or increase their relevance on the world energy stage, many myths about these energy sources pervade our understanding of how, and how well, they work. Five myths in particular emerge consistently, and should be overcome for you to better understand how the world is powered.
May 3, 2016
Barnea Represents Azrieli Group
Barnea represented Azrieli Group in its ILS 70 million acquisition of the e-commerce platform and operations of Buy 2 Networks Inc., a company listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. The platform enables consumers to purchase a wide range of products. Adv. Micky Barnea represented Azrieli in the transaction.
May 2, 2016
ISA Staff Position: Trading Fraud – Has the Ship Sailed?
Our recently published article critiques the Israel Securities Authority's staff position outlining conduct that may be deemed trading fraud. It includes a brief comparative review showing that the staff position is problematic and does not provide clear guidance to market participants. The article further notes that similar position papers issued in other jurisdictions tend to set out general guiding principles rather than a detailed and specific list of acts said to constitute fraudulent trading.
April 26, 2016
Initiative to Limit Executive Salaries Could Drive Away Israeli High-Tech Companies
The high-tech sector is concerned about proposed legislation that would further restrict executive pay in the financial sector. Industry concerns center on the possibility that these restrictions could be extended to all listed companies, including Israeli high-tech companies listed on venture capital markets abroad. Adv. Micky Barnea, an experienced high-tech lawyer, was interviewed by TheMarker on the issue.
April 25, 2016
Barnea Represents East and West Stores Ltd
Barnea represented East and West Stores Ltd., a leading importer of food products from the Far East into Israel, in a dispute over the use of the “East and West” trade name and its trademarks. Following an appeal filed by our Litigation Department, the Supreme Court overturned the District Court’s ruling prohibiting the company from using the trade name in certain markets. Our firm was not involved in the District Court proceedings. The Supreme Court also overturned the contempt of court ruling against the company. East and West Stores Ltd. was represented by Adv. Zohar Lande and Adv. Itay Wigoda, with Adv. Ilan Blumenfeld assisting on the commercial aspects of the dispute.