The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Yigal Arnon & Co is a second tier firm,

Yigal Arnon & Co impresses with ‘out-of-the-box thinking and meticulous attention to detail’, as well as its ‘high level of service and personal attention’. The firm covers all aspects of banking and finance, including notable expertise in banking litigation and project finance. In 2012, it represented a consortium of 11 Israeli and foreign banks in a $900m permanent financing transaction with the Tamar Project Partnership. The ‘business-oriented’ Shiri Shaham and ‘deal-maker’ David Schapiro jointly head the department.

Within Capital markets, Yigal Arnon & Co is a second tier firm,

Gil Oren and Shiri Shaham jointly lead Yigal Arnon & Co’s ‘professional and responsive’ group, which is adept at handling public offerings of debt and equity securities in the US and Europe, but also has expertise in dual listings and regulatory compliance. Clients include HOT Communications Systems, EL AL and Bezeq.

Within Competition, Yigal Arnon & Co is a third tier firm,

Yigal Arnon & Co’s ‘dedicated, experienced and professional’ team recently advised eBay on methods of avoiding restrictive arrangements in its acquisition of Israeli start-up, The Gifts Project. Other clients include EL AL, Azrieli Group and John Deere & Co. Ronit Amir Yaniv heads the practice.

Within Corporate and M&A, Yigal Arnon & Co is a first tier firm,

Yigal Arnon & Co’s ‘super-responsive and professional’ lawyers have ‘very deep industry knowledge’. Barry Levenfeld and David Schapiro co-head the department, which acts for clients such as Nike Israel, Google and eBay. In 2012, the team advised Shlomo Eliyahu Group on its acquisition of a controlling stake in Migdal Insurance and Financial Holdings, which was one of Israel’s largest M&A transactions in recent years.

Within Dispute resolution, Yigal Arnon & Co is a second tier firm,

Yigal Arnon & Co provides ‘excellent service’ in litigation, and is ‘one of the leading class action firms in Israel’. Recent work for the practice includes several cases for Google, EL AL and Israel Discount Bank. Barak Tal has a fantastic reputation, and Dror Vigdor and Amnon Lorch are also recommended. Hanital Belinson Navon was promoted to the partnership in 2012.

Within Hi-tech, start-ups and venture capital, Yigal Arnon & Co is a first tier firm,

Yigal Arnon & Co provides ‘the highest level of service, the fastest response times and very deep industry knowledge’. The firm represents some of the world’s leading technology and software companies, such as IBM, Siemens and Google, but it also has extensive experience in handling biotech and life sciences matters for clients including GE Healthcare, Boston Scientific Corporation and Abbott Technologies. Barry Levenfeld and Barak Platt co-head the department.

Within Insurance, Yigal Arnon & Co is a third tier firm,

Yigal Arnon & Co is renowned for its expertise in insurance class actions, and Barak Tal is hailed as ‘one of the best lawyers in class actions litigation in Israel’. Clients include Phoenix Insurance and Clal Insurance.

Within Intellectual property, Yigal Arnon & Co is a second tier firm,

Yigal Arnon & Co provides ‘excellent value for money and a boutique-quality service’. Barry Levenfeld leads the IP team, which handles contentious and non-contentious matters. Daniel Green was promoted to the partnership in 2012.

Within Projects and energy, Yigal Arnon & Co is a second tier firm,

Yigal Arnon & Co’s ‘highly motivated lawyers take their job very seriously and really want to give the best service they can’. The team represented Shapir Civil & Marine Engineering as one of the bidders, selected by the state, for the second stage of a BOT tender for a new army training base in southern Israel. David Schapiro is ‘a very good lawyer, who understands his client’s business’, and who co-heads the department with Doron Tamir.

Within Real estate and construction, Yigal Arnon & Co is a first tier firm,

Yigal Arnon & Co’s Hagit Bavly recently advised Azrieli Group on its acquisition of One Plaza Shopping Center in Be’er Sheva from Mashar Shopping Centres Recreation and Leisure, and the team also continues to advise various international religious organisations on their real estate activities in Israel.

Within Tax, Yigal Arnon & Co is a second tier firm,

‘It is difficult to find a team as professional, business-oriented and responsive’ as Yigal Arnon & Co, which advises numerous Fortune 500 companies such as Pfizer and AT&T on a range of tax issues, and also handles tax litigation. Practice head Harry Kirsh is ‘at the top of his league’. The team was reinforced when Ofir Levy joined from M. Seligman & Co in 2011.

Within Telecoms and media, Yigal Arnon & Co is a second tier firm,

Yigal Arnon & Co’s clients ‘recommend the firm to anyone seeking a top-level service’, and its ‘highly professional lawyers’ are adept as handling transactions and litigation. The team has represented Cellcom in more than 50 class actions. Department co-heads Gil Oren and Barry Levenfeld are recommended, as is Barak Tal for media and telecoms class actions.