The Legal 500

The ‘expert and knowledgeable’ Zvi Agmon at Agmon & Co is highly regarded and has extensive connections. He took part in cross-examination in The State of Israel v Mogdal Inc, a case concerning anti-competitive and price-fixing charges brought by Israel Antitrust Authority (IAA) against defendants in the steel pipe connecting industry.

Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co’s ‘absolutely top-notch competition group’ is representing Israel Discount Bank in a case concerning alleged restrictive arrangements relating to Israel’s largest banks exchanging fee information. Other clients include ABB, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, and Hot and Sonol. Reuven Behar and Tal Eyal-Boger are recommended.

‘One of the best competition firms in Israel,’ Levy, Meidan & Co provides ‘good and dependable advice in a timely manner’. It succeeded in having Mendel Goldberg acquitted of all charges, and Mogdal Inc and Eylon Ben Herzl each acquitted of five of seven charges, in the IAA’s case against steel pipe connector manufacturers. The firm represented Visa International in proceedings regarding card interchange fees, and acted for Bezeq in appealing against abuse of monopoly charges. It also advises extensively on competition aspects of M&A. Joseph Levy is ‘particularly good, providing valuable insight and representation on all competition matters’.

S. Horowitz & Co’s ‘excellent’ team is acting for Bank Leumi in the fee information case, and persuaded the IAA to declare Yedioth Aharonot no longer a monopoly. The group advised Readymix on competition aspects of its acquisition of Lime and Stone Industries, and acted for Teva and Ynet on various buyouts. The ‘very professional’ Hagai Doron is recommended.

David Tadmor at Tadmor & Co is the highly rated former head of the IAA. The firm is representing FIBI on bank information exchange issues, while other clients include El Al, Partner Communications, Paz Oil, Pfizer and Zim. Shai Bakal is also recommended.

A small firm with a ‘strong antitrust team’, Weinstock-Zecler & Co represents large telecoms and industrial corporations in merger clearance, litigation and restrictive practice arrangements. It is advising Supergas in seeking IAA permission for a restrictive arrangement, and acted for Strauss Group in dispute with Carmit Candy. Niv Zecler ‘knows antitrust law but is also an expert litigator who knows how to appear in court’.

‘Among the top firms,’ Epstein, Chomsky, Osnat & Co.’s ‘very good’ competition practice is ‘very well accepted with Israeli government bodies’. The firm has a longstanding relationship with MasterCard International, while other clients include Laufer Aviation, Merck Sharp & Dohme (Israel) and Nestlé. The ‘thorough, fast, pragmatic and knowledgeable’ Tamar Dolev-Green and Eytan Epstein co-head the practice and are ‘excellent, very professional and have hands-on experience’.

Erdinast, Ben Nathan & Co offers ‘excellent and high-level service’. The firm represented Maman Group in antitrust approval for a service agreement with El Al, and has been representing Mashav in a deal to acquire Hanson (Israel). Giora Erdinast is ‘very quick on his feet, and often sees issues and lines of argument that others do not’.

Herzog Fox & Neeman’s competition practice provides ‘excellent business acumen, knowledge and advice’. It is acting for the Israeli Tourist and Travel Agents Association in an IAA investigation into alleged restrictive arrangements with certain airlines, and is advising Israel Electric Corporation on the gas insulated switchgear cartel. It advised Oracle on its acquisition of Sun Microsystems; Hutchison Whampoa on the divestiture of Partner Communications; and HeidelbergCement on the proposed sale of Hanson (Israel) to Mashav. Gal Rozent is arguably ‘the most knowledgeable attorney in Israel in this field; he has an excellent work ethic’.

M. Firon & Co Advocates and Notaries advises clients on antitrust issues including merger clearance, representing Elbit Systems on acquiring 20% of Mikal and Ampal American Israel on buying out the activities of 012 Smile. Niv Sever heads the practice.

Meitar Liquornik Geva & Leshem Brandwein’s competition practice head Michal Halperin is a former general counsel of IAA. Its core expertise lies in merger clearance, market entry and antidumping issues. It represented eBay and Silverlake in the latter’s $2.75bn acquisition of Skype and advised El Al on the opening up the Israeli airline industry.

‘Highly responsive and very professional,’ Shibolet & Co advises on day-to-day competition law and merger clearance issues. Clients include Eurocom Group, Siemens and Wrigley Inc. Gil Rosenberg provides ‘fast, pragmatic and useful advice’, while ‘his vast and comprehensive legal knowledge provides him with a holistic point of view’.

Yigal Arnon & Co’s team is ‘highly practical and has a good overview of other jurisdictions’ legislation, particularly US and EU antitrust law’. It focuses on advising large clients on merger clearance and restrictive trade practice. It helped Unilever Israel to waive certain merger conditions as a preface to acquiring an additional 39% of Glidat Strauss. Practice head Ronit Amir-Yaniv is ‘an extremely good lawyer’ and David Osborne is also recommended.

Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co Advocates and Notary is advising Wissotsky Tea Company against a proclamation of monopoly, and advises several defence industry clients on antitrust matters. Practice head Eldad Koresh is ‘a distinguished expert on Israeli antitrust law’.

Competition law is a strength of AYR – Amar Reiter Jeanne Sage Cohen & Co, which was formed in January 2010 by lawyers who left Ron Gazit, Rotenberg & Co. Eyal Roy Sage heads the practice.

Gornitzky & Co advises clients on M&A-related issues. Clients include Melisron and L’Oréal Israel. Chairman Pinhas Rubin is highly rated.

Ron Gazit, Rotenberg & Co has a strong M&A practice that frequently advises on antitrust issues, such as advising Partner Communications on its change of ownership. Shirin Herzog is valued for her ‘intelligence, common sense, and development of practical solutions’.

Shavit Bar-On Gal-On Tzin Yagur, Law Offices handles competition-related class actions and merger clearance. Tzahi Yagur is recommended.