Latest Updates

February 23, 2018

2018: A Turning Point in the Virtual Currencies Market

Dr. Zvi Gabbay, Head of our Capital Markets Department, published an op-ed in Calcalist on the role of the regulator in the virtual currencies market and why 2018 will be a turning point.

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February 21, 2018

Crypto Predictions for 2018

2017 was a significant year for the blockchain industry in general and for cryptocurrencies in particular. 2018 is expected to be an equally interesting year for the cryptocurrencies industry, as new trends take shape and regulation becomes even more refined. Check out some of our digital currencies predictions for the year.

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February 19, 2018

Zvi Gabbay Interviewed by Ynet News on Bezeq Investigation

Dr. Zvi Gabbay, Head of the Capital Markets Department, was interviewed by Ynet News about the recent developments in the investigation against Bezeq.

February 19, 2018

Supervision of Service Providers Engaging in Digital Currencies

While some uncertainty exists with regard to the regulatory regime that applies to public offerings of digital coins (ICOs), in the area of services related to digital currencies, regulations are expected to come into effect on June 1, 2018, within the scope of the Control of Financial Services Law.

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February 8, 2018

Israel Hopes Lower Taxes, Less Regulation Will Spur Trading Boom

Dr. Zvi Gabbay, Head of our Capital Markets Department, and Adv. Harel Perlmutter, Head of our Tax Department, were interviewed by Bloomberg BNA regarding the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange's intention to reduce red tape and ease regulations in order to further continue the growth in the number of new companies being traded on TASE.

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February 4, 2018

Employers, Do You Have a Central Severance Pay Fund? You Should Read This

In 2017, the Israel Tax Authority published a circular addressing the use of accumulated balances in central severance pay funds, and many employers began liquidating these severance pay funds. It is important to note that the liquidation of a central severance pay fund also has implications on labor relations with your employees.

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January 29, 2018

TheMarker Op-Ed: How to Enjoy Blockchain Innovation

Adv. Daniel Israeli, a member of Barnea's Capital Markets Department, wrote an op-ed piece for TheMarker on the need to create an appropriate regulatory framework for the issuance of digital currencies.

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January 28, 2018

Zvi Gabbay Featured in Israeli Blockchain Association Legal Survey

Dr. Zvi Gabbay, the head of our Capital Markets Department, was featured in a legal survey conducted by the Israeli Blockchain Association on current trends in blockchain in Israel.

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January 25, 2018

Israeli Tax Proposals for Blockchain, First Steps to Approval

Adv. Harel Perlmutter, the head of our Tax Department, was interviewed by Bloomberg BNA following the release of the Israel Tax Authority's new draft plan for taxing ICOs.

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January 17, 2018

Barnea & ACC Seminar – Blockchain, Bitcoin, and ICOs

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.

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December 27, 2017

Everything You Need to Know about ICOs

Barnea is hosting an ICOs and digital currencies event today. Dr. Zvi Gabbay will lecture on regulation opportunities and challenges, while Harel Perlmutter will discuss the taxation of cryptographic coins and the Tax Authority's position.

December 26, 2017

Fierce Battle over Banning Binary Options Reaches High Court of Justice

Following a bill promoted by the Israel Securities Authority, and passed by the Knesset, outlawing binary options trading by Israeli companies, Yukom Communications LTD and its controlling shareholder, Yossi Herzog, filed a petition to the High Court of Justice. Overseeing the filing of the petition were Barnea attorneys Zohar Lande, Eyal Nachshon, and Moran Bickel.

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December 26, 2017

Micky Barnea Interviewed by Globes on Israel's Capital Market

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.

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December 21, 2017

Article: Is Israeli Regulators’ Approach toward ICOs Ill-Advised?

Dr. Zvi Gabbay, Head of our Capital Markets Department, has published an article in Financial Magnates. It discusses the Israel Securities Authority's approach to Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) and cryptocurrencies and how this approach compares to other jurisdictions.

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December 13, 2017

Israel Securities Authority Blows Up the Bitcoin Bubble

Dr. Zvi Gabbay, head of our firm's Capital Markets Department, gave several media interviews (in Heb) following the Israel Securities Authority Chairman's remarks that companies whose values are based on bitcoin will not be included in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange's (TASE) indices until a suitable regulatory framework is established. Zvi noted it is important to distinguish between the inclusion of companies engaged in trading and investing in virtual currencies on TASE's indices and the possibility that such companies will actually be traded on TASE.

Financial radio program (starting min' 05:15)

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December 13, 2017

Lawsuit Filed against Founder of Digital CoinDash

Our firm represented Guy Aharonovski in a lawsuit against his former partner in CoinDash, a platform for managing investments in cryptographic currencies. Aharonovski is claiming his former partner disqualified him from his share in the company, founded Queen-Dash behind his back, and issued tokens called CDT that enabled the use of the platform provided by the company.

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November 30, 2017

Glossary for Beginners in the World of Digital Currency

Do you keep hearing people talk about blockchain, bitcoins, and ICOs with no idea what they mean? Here’s a short glossary to help you understand what the fuss is all about.

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November 20, 2017

Precedent Set regarding Class Actions against Dual-Listed Companies in Israel

In a precedent-setting ruling handed down recently in the Tel Aviv District Court a motion to certify an action as a class action, which was filed against Tower Semiconductor Ltd. and its officers, was dismissed in limine based on the rationale that US law applies to the company in relation to the matter of liability, since Tower is also listed for trading in the United States.

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November 16, 2017

Conference: Internal Investigations as an Essential Tool in Corporate Governance

Dr. Zvi Gabbay, Head of the Capital Markets Department, is taking part today in a conference hosted by the Institute of Internal Auditors. He will discuss how internal investigations function as an essential tool in corporate governance.

November 14, 2017

Seminar with the Israel Hedge Fund Association

Barnea is hosting today a seminar with the Israel Hedge Fund Association. Dr. Zvi Gabbay , Head of the Capital Markets Department, will discuss the regulatory challenges when establishing and managing a hedge fund. Also as part of the seminar, a partner from the Harneys law firm, with whom we work on a regular basis, will speak on establishing offshore hedge funds in the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands.

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