The Legal 500

S. Horowitz & Co’s talented team is the pre-eminent practice in the field, and also the largest. It is is ‘proactive and always alert’, ‘gets to the point quickly and thereby saves time and money’. Clients are particularly impressed by its ability to grasp all aspects of a case, not only the legal, but also business, technical, and economic aspects so that the firm ‘manages to find solutions which will be good commercially as well as legally’. The firm is representing Israel Electric Corporation in several multimillion-dollar claims, including a $1bn class action filed against the company for over-charging, and a matter concerning the influence on contractual agreements of the global rise in steel prices. It represents industry leaders as claimants and respondents and has argued many of the high-profile, precedent-setting commercial cases of the past year. Its practice includes patent litigation – it handles all of Teva’s work – and trade mark litigation, passing off, and product liability. In securities and capital markets litigation, it recently acted for Xpert Financial in a $500m class action; in professional negligence, it successfully defended KPMG against a negligence claim; in property litigation, it handled various claims against Paz; and in competition litigation, it recently represented British Airways and Bank Leumi. Construction and general commercial disputes are also part of the workload. Alex Hertman and Joshua Horesh are recommended. The firm also conducts arbitrations and Hertman successfully represented the Hilton Group in arbitration with Alfred Akirov, notable for its unprecedented costs award.

Name partner Ram Caspi of Caspi & Co is ‘unique’ and ‘an excellent litigator’. Well known for his connections and highly regarded among colleagues, he is particularly in demand in cases that fall under a media spotlight. The firm is also a prized option for class actions and Supreme Court cases, and has been involved in the class action defence of Phillip Morris USA, as well as representing Alma Lasers in a trade secrets case brought by Lumenis.

Erdinast, Ben Nathan & Co has acted for plaintiffs in class actions against companies such as Bank Hapoalim, Teva, Elbit, Efar, Reichert, Bulus, and certain television networks. It also represented MTS consortium (comprising leading Israeli and international companies such as Danya Cebus, Siemens, Egged, and others) in a case relating to the Tel Aviv Light Rail project tender.

Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co has one of the largest commercial litigation practices in Israel, and clients include Veolia, Assa Abloy AB, Groupon, Clal Insurance, Migdal, Psagot and Mekorot. The firm recently represented Koor Industries in a $100m class action filed following a multibillion-dollar international transaction for the sale of a subsidiary, Makhteshim Agan, to a Chinese company. The Economic Affairs Court handed down a precedent-setting decision in this class action and confirmed a $45m settlement, what was then the largest ever approved by an Israeli court in a class action. Practice heads Reuven Behar and Gil Orion are recommended.

Gornitzky & Co. acts in disputes concerning general commercial issues, employment law pertaining to senior managers, insurance class actions and derivative suits, restrictive trade practices, banking, and consumer actions. It has also developed a white-collar crime practice. The firm recently acted for a group of companies in proceedings regarding the recommendations of the Sheshinski Committee. The firm ‘provides creative solutions to complex problems’.

Herzog Fox & Neeman recently represented Heinz-Remedia and Humana in the biggest mass tort case in Israel, involving numerous claims arising from a vitamin-deficient baby food. It also represented Israel Electric Corporation in an arbitration brought against it by EG Taas GIS regarding a €30m electrical equipment agreement. The firm successfully represented British American Tobacco in a ILS7.6bn claim, at the time the largest monetary claim ever to be filed, brought against it by Clalit Health Services to cover costs incurred for providing treatment to its members who suffered from various smoking-related illnesses. Other clients include British Gas, HSBC Holdings, Merck Serono, VeriFone Systems, and Bank Leumi. Shai Kagan was made up to the partnership. Tuvia Erlich is recommended.

Meitar Liquornik Geva & Leshem Brandwein is ‘sharp and strategic’, ‘in tune with business issues and very pragmatic’. The firm has specialist expertise in consumer class actions and breach of personal autonomy claims. It recently represented baby food importer Heinz-Remedia and its former CEO in criminal proceedings involving charges of involuntary manslaughter and severe injuries to consumers of tainted baby formula. The firm also won a swift victory for Apple and the three largest cellular companies in Israel in 2011, successfully arguing to dismiss four major class action claims filed by consumer groups.

Naschitz, Brandes & Co. specialises in product liability, mass torts, professional malpractice, aviation and maritime law cases, and regularly defends clients in class actions. Peter Gad Naschitz heads the team, which represents clients such as the Israel Airport Authority, Oil Refineries, Tyco International, Dubek, Cellcom Israel, Strauss Group, Tnuva, and Harel Insurance. Naschitz and Ofer Motola led the team that recently won an important case in the Supreme Court regarding sovereign immunity, which determined the US does not enjoy immunity from claims before Israeli courts.

Practice heads Dror Vigdor, Barak Tal, Rami Kook ad Amnon Lorch spearhead a 40-strong team at Yigal Arnon & Co, which acts for banks, insurers, manufacturers, and service providers in class actions and other disputes. The firm recently succeeded in having dismissed a ILS5.5bn breach of privacy class action against Google, and is representing the Pension Fund of Eged Members in a ILS2bn class action filed by one of the members. Other clients include Clal Bank, Medtronic Minimed, El Al, Cellcom, and Nike.

Yechiel Kasher heads Yuval Levy & Co’s litigation department, and was recently appointed by the District Court of Tel Aviv to be a trustee in a creditors’ arrangement regarding Engel General Developers and Engel Resources and Development, a publicly traded company that is one of Israel’s largest contractors and also operates in Eastern Europe. The firm represents several multinationals and recently acted for Veolia in litigation. Its class action casefile continues to expand.

Litigation boutique Dr A. Klagsbald & Co. Law Office is headed by Avigdor Klagsbald, who is highly sought to lead corporate and antitrust cases. The firm also handles civil disputes, white-collar crime, administrative and constitutional law, and Commissions of Inquiry.

Goldfarb Seligman & Co.’s commercial and white-collar crime litigation department recently secured the acquittal of Shachwitz and its director in criminal proceedings regarding restrictive arrangements in the gas industry. The corporate and international litigation department represented a group of large-scale employers in a multimillion-shekel claim against the National Insurance Institute concerning financial incentives for new employees.

Kantor, Elhanani, Tal & Co represents many large national and international companies in court proceedings, as well as in alternative dispute resolution proceedings including mediation and arbitration. The firm is acting for Bank Leumi in a lawsuit agains Lehman Brothers to enforce a $102m decree for payment, and is representing Kraft Foods in a ILS12m suit filed against Sides & Son, a former distributor of Kraft in Israel, in connection with terminated distribution agreements; it is also acting in the counterclaim. Alon Yoeli is an ‘an expert in class action litigation’. Practice head Yaron Elhanani is also recommended.

M. Firon & Co Advocates and Notaries acted for Elbit Systems Holdings in a ILS120m commercial arbitration against Mikal, has been representing the State Comptroller, Judge Micha Lindenstrauss, in certain matters. Name Partner Zvi Firon ‘combines very aggressive tactics with in-depth business understanding and brilliant negotiation skills’. Practice head Renato Jarach is a former head of Israel’s High Court of Justice Litigation Department at the Ministry of Justice.

Litigation boutique Nir Cohen, Leshem & Co has particular strength in commercial disputes and class actions. The firm recently represented Israel Discount Bank in an appeal against the Israel Antitrust Authority’s decision regarding an alleged illegal information exchange between leading Israeli banks, and was instructed to represent the same bank in related class actions.

Yehuda Raveh & Co. appears before courts and tribunals at all levels. It is representing one of the largest mortgage banks in a $250m class action, and advising the Hotel Organization in a ILS500m lawsuit against the Palestinian Authority.

Zellermayer Pelossof Rosovsky Tsafrir Toledano & Co.’s dispute resolution and litigation team ‘fights tirelessly for its clients’. The firm recently represented Apax Partners in a claim brought by Mivtach Shamir concerning disclosure of financial statements belonging to Tnuva in which Apax is a minority shareholder. Practice head Eyal Rosovsky is recommended, and ‘never ceases to amaze in court’.

Agmon & Co., Rosenberg, Hacohen & Co’s Zvi Agmon has a strong reputation in class actions and antitrust cases.

Israel-based English law litigation boutique Asserson Law Offices’ senior partner Trevor Asserson is ‘a brilliant litigator’ and also conducts international arbitrations. New clients include Paz Oil, Dexcel Pharmaceuticals and RCI Israel.

Berkman Wechsler Bloom & Co’s highlights include handling proceedings in amounts totalling over $100m relating to the international liquidation proceedings of Lehman Brothers, and acting for new client Ernst & Young.

Chaim Zelichov at Chaim Zelichov & Co., Advocates and Notaries has a strong reputation in insurance and medical malpractice disputes.

Dr. J. Weinroth & Co. specialises in white-collar crime, representing clients such as elected representatives, public servants, and company directors.

Raved, Magriso, Benkel & Co handles commercial litigation and arbitration, in particular for real estate and construction companies.

Shibolet & Co represents Migdal and Bezeq and recently acted in a breach of contract claim against Orckit Communications. Ofer Shapira is recommended.

David Gideoni heads the litigation team at Tadmor & Co., which recently represented MTS in a ILS11bn dispute with the state of Israel before an arbitration panel.

Aaronsohn Sher Aboulafia Amoday & Co Law Offices is highly regarded for financial litigation and plaintiff actions against professionals.

Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co Advocates and Notary conducts litigation and class actions, arbitration and mediation, and handles strategic aspects of cross-border litigation. The firm has a niche in environmental disputes following Arie Neiger’s arrival after merging his firm into the team.

The majority of Barnea & Co’s cases relate to projects. Recent high-profile arbitration and litigation instructions include for Israel Electrochemical and for clients involved in the Jerusalem Light Railway BOT. Zohar Lande heads the team.

Yoav Kook heads the team at Charcon, Ben Ami, Rozenboum, Asher & Co. Law Offices, which handles commercial disputes and torts and has developed a niche in real estate and infrastructure cases. The firm continues to represent the Israel National Roads Company in a ILS50m claim against the Dead Sea Works for damages alleged to have been caused to bridges along Highway 90 by potash scattered from the company’s trucks.

Eitan, Mehulal & Sadot and Co., Advocates, Patent Attorneys acts for Israeli and foreign clients in commercial and business disputes in the courts and in arbitration, and also undertakes white-collar criminal defence.

Eli Schulman Law Offices is the office of sole practitioner Eli Schulman, who is qualified in Israel and the US, and specialises in international commercial and criminal litigation. Schulman recently succeeded on appeal for InSyst against Applied Materials in connection with fraud and related claims pertaining to InSyst’s software IP rights.

GSCB Glusman Shem-Tov Chowers Broid is acting for Afcon Group in a ILS10m arbitration against Ashtrom Group regarding infrastructure work on the islands of Anguilla and St Helena. The firm also recently handled actions for employers of foreign workers in the agricultural and construction sectors against whom the Israeli Tax Authorities claimed billions of shekels in contributions.

Gideon Koren heads the dispute resolution practice at Gideon Koren & Co. Law Offices & Notary, which conducts public appeals, administrative, constitutional and corporate law litigation. The team represented Telad in the Supreme Court and in debates before the parliamentary Finance Committee, with regard to amendments of the Israeli Second Authority for Television and Radio Law.

Gross, Orad, Schlimoff & Co.’s extensive insurance and reinsurance practice has a focus on representing foreign clients in Israel, including in disputes. Sigal Schlimoff is recommended.

Ron Gazit, Rotenberg & Co’s class action litigation defence practice, led by Moti Arad, has extensive experience, especially in consumer protection and antitrust cases. The firm’s commercial litigation team, led by Yigal Kava, represents government entities and private companies.

Shenhav, Konforti, Shavit & Co. successfully represented Galilee Poultry in a ILS2.5bn class action filed against several manufacturers alleging the use of arsenic in their products, and represented Maadaney Mizra and Kibbuty Mizra in a highly controversial matter relating to pork slaughterhouses.

Yossifoff, Cohen, Koren, Grodberg & Co Law Office represents foreign and domestic clients, and is acting for Globrands in the $8.7m Trident Splash chewing gum class action.