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August 12, 2021
Indictments Filed in US for Fraudulent Receipt of Federal Financial Assistance from CARES Act
With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The volume of assistance, totalling USD 2.8 trillion, provided financial aid to individuals and organizations facing economic hardship and access to loans with convenient terms for the purpose of paying salaries and other specific expenses under a program called the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Many Israeli companies operating in the United States also submitted applications for grants and loans under the PPP.
The initiative, while commendable, also opened the door for those seeking to exploit the government assistance to commit fraud and deceit.
August 11, 2021
Webinar with IBM — Growth Tools for Infant Startups
Barnea is hosting today in collaboration with IBM a webinar on the technological and business challenges that startups in their infancy stages should pay attention to.
As part of the webinar, firm partner Yuval Lazi will discuss the business and legal aspects that exist along the way. He will provide participants with tools on how to get their startups on the right path to success.
August 11, 2021
Calcalist Interview – Reason for Years-Long Drop in Establishment of New Tech Ventures
According to data from the Israel Innovation Authority, since 2014, when 1,404 new startups were formed, there has been a steady decline in the establishment of new startups. For instance, in 2020, only 520 startups were formed.
Firm partner Yuval Lazi, an expert in the high-tech field, addresses the phenomenon and analyzes the data in an interview with Calcalist on the subject.
August 9, 2021
Workplace Delta Variant Preparedness: New Guidelines on Quarantine Payments for Employees
Due to the recent increase in incidences of COVID-19, there has been an update to the guidelines on quarantine payments to employees. Here are the main points of the update, for your convenience.
August 8, 2021
Amendment to Israeli Competition Rules – RPM Arrangements
The block exemption for non-horizontal arrangements recently underwent a significant change. Beyond changing the name of the block exemption to “Rules of Economic Competition,” a significant amendment was introduced relating to the issue of price restraints in vertical arrangements.
August 4, 2021
Tax Facts on Renting Out Apartments in Israel and Abroad – Podcast with Firm Partner Harel Perlmutter on Calcalist Website
Are you renting out an apartment? It is important to be aware of the existing rental income tax tracks, if there is a difference between the taxation of short-term rental apartments and long-term rental apartments, and the rules on renting out apartments abroad.
Adv. Harel Perlmutter, partner and head of our firm's Tax Department, addresses all these questions in a comprehensive podcast on the taxation of renting out apartments in Israel and abroad.
August 2, 2021
Class Actions Against Israeli Public Companies for Failing to Meet Mandatory Accessibility Requirements
Dozens of motions were filed in recent weeks to certify class actions against some of the most well-known and leading publicly traded companies and reporting corporations in Israel. These motions to certify class actions are similar in nature (apart from the different defendants) and most were filed by the same plaintiffs-petitioners and through the same attorneys.
July 29, 2021
Comments and Insights on the Capital Structure of Startup Companies
In the regular corporate world, the capital structure of a company usually means the ratio between the company’s equity (money the company’s owners invested in it) and debt capital (external funding injected into the company by banks and other loans).
For technology companies, however, the term “capital structure” usually refers to the division of the company’s ownership among the entrepreneurs and investors subsequent to the investment rounds in the company.
Thus, holding 50 shares of a regular company that has 1,000 issued shares represents ownership of 5% of the company’s shares and entitlement to receive 5% of its distributable profits.
However, if you hold 50 shares of a tech startup company that has 1,000 issued shares, this does not necessarily mean you are entitled to receive 5% of the proceeds in the event of an “exit” and the startup’s sale to a third party. Over the years, investors and entrepreneurs in startup companies have developed ownership structures that bear no resemblance to the ownership formula used in “regular” companies.
July 26, 2021
Zvi Gabbay Interviewed by Calcalist as Expert on White-Collar Crime
Zvi Gabbay, the head of our firm's Capital Markets Department, was interviewed by Calcalist along with several other of Israel's leading lawyers in the field of white-collar crime and criminal law.
Zvi addressed the core issues of the field and the impact of COVID-19, and provided his forecast for several ongoing major cases.
July 21, 2021
Representing Azrieli Group in NIS 2.8 Billion Acquisition of Norwegian Data Center Company
Our firm represented Azrieli Group, the largest income-producing real estate company in Israel, in a share purchase transaction of the Norwegian company 'Green Mountain' for NIS 2.8 billion. The Norwegian company operates three server farms in Norway and holds contracts with a total volume of 24 megawatts.
July 20, 2021
Representing Azrieli Group in Franchise Agreement with AllSaints
Our firm represented Azrieli Group in the acquisition of the franchise for leading British fashion brand AllSaints. Firm partner Ariella Dreyfuss represented the client in the franchise agreement. The first store will be launched in August 2021.
July 19, 2021
The Demand for Directors in Publicly Traded Companies
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.
July 18, 2021
Expert Panel: Challenges of Entering the US Market
Firm partner Daniel Lorber, who specializes in high-tech and startups, will participate in an expert panel on the challenges of entering the US market. This subject is particularly relevant for young startups who have found such a move difficult.
July 17, 2021
Israeli-UAE Tax Treaty
On May 31, 2021, Israel and the United Arab Emirates signed a tax treaty. This is the first tax treaty between the states. It is expected to go into effect on January 1, 2022, after passing the necessary ratification processes in the Knesset and the government.
July 13, 2021
Real Estate Transactions Using Digital Currencies – Regulatory Challenges
The volume of real estate transactions incorporating digital currencies is expected to grow in the coming years, especially among young, wealthy, tech-savvy professionals. Zvi Gabbay, the head of our firm's Capital Markets Department and a former head of enforcement at the Israel Securities Authority, was interviewed by Globes on the trend. Zvi noted the regulatory challenges that exist in these types of transactions.
July 13, 2021
Implications of European Whistleblower Protection Directive on Israeli Companies
By October, companies in the European Union employing at least 50 employees will be required to operate an internal reporting system for reporting misconduct that may indicate compliance violations. Furthermore, all companies in the EU, regardless of size, will be required to ensure the protection of whistleblowers from all types of retaliation.
The EU Whistleblower Protection Directive originally came into force in October 2019. It gave EU member states two years to prepare to incorporate the directive into their national legislation. Prior to the enactment of the directive, no uniform binding legislation applied to all EU member states and only 10 member states had enacted national legislation in this regard. The upcoming inception of national whistleblower protection laws throughout the EU will naturally trigger a ripple effect.
July 13, 2021
Webinar: Responsibility of Compliance Officers in Organization
The Compliance Forum of the Association of Corporate Counsel in Israel hosted a webinar this morning on the responsibilities of compliance officers in organizations.
As part of the webinar, Dr. Zvi Gabbay discussed new trends and developments, as well as the normative basis for imposing personal responsibility on compliance officers in organizations.
July 8, 2021
Israel Securities Authority: Guidelines for Discussions with Investors Prior to Publication of a Prospectus
A wave of IPOs continues to flood the market, prompting the Israel Securities Authority to publish a new staff position paper discussing three key topics.
July 6, 2021
Warning, Border Ahead? Expanding Israeli Courts’ Jurisdiction over Foreign Defendants
In early June 2021, the Tel Aviv-Yafo District Court handed down an important precedential ruling. The ruling expands the identity of an authorized agent, i.e., the entity to whom a statement of claim may be served and that thus subjects a foreign defendant to the jurisdiction of the Israeli court.
July 5, 2021
Shapir Group Acquires Engineering Company Lipsker for NIS 32 Million
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.