The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co is a third tier firm,

Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co advises the Ministry of the Treasury and Bank of Israel on privatisation of state-owned banks, as well as on drafting statutes to regulate control of the banks. Avraham Well and Miri Kimhi recently represented the Eurocom Group in obtaining a ILS4.6bn financing agreement with a consortium of lenders.

Within Capital markets, Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co is a second tier firm,

Avraham Well leads the department at Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co, which represents corporate clients vis-à-vis matters pertaining to trustees, underwriters, rating agencies, the Israeli Securities Authority and TASE. The firm recently acted for REIT1, Property and Building Corporation, Harel Insurance and Internet Zahav. It also serves as legal adviser to the Israeli EFT association.

Within Competition, Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co is a first tier firm,

Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co has one of the largest competition practices in Israel, led by Reuven Behar, Tal Eyal-Boger and Talya Solomon. Local clients include Israel Discount Bank, Clal Insurance, Tnuva and Azrieli Group, while foreign clients include ABB, Intel, Monsanto and Johnson & Johnson. It recently advised Colmobil, Israel’s leading automobile importer, on diverse antitrust matters including proceedings vis-à-vis the Antritrust Authority and litigation.

Within Corporate and M&A, Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co is a second tier firm,

Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co represents major privately held and public companies in Israel, and also advises boards of directors on corporate governance and ongoing commercial activities. The firm also provides corporate and capital markets support to clients, particularly those in the hi-tech and biotechnology sectors. It recently acted for US-based Great Hill Partners private equity fund on the $115m acquisition of Plimus, its first investment in Israel, via a reverse triangular merger transaction. The firm also acted for Kibbutz Hatzerim in a $850m transaction in which Permira purchased control of Netafim. Other clients include the Israeli government, Eurocom, Bezeq, and Ness Technologies.

Within Dispute resolution, Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co is a second tier firm,

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.

Within Hi-tech, start-ups and venture capital, Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co is a second tier firm,

Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co’s practice spans hi-tech, technology and life sciences, with clients including start-ups, mature companies, angel investors and venture capital funds. It acts on investment transactions, M&A and asset transactions, private placements and public offerings on securities exchanges in Israel and abroad.

Within Insurance, Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co is a second tier firm,

Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co acts for Israeli insurance companies including Migdal, Clal, and Menorah, particularly in litigation.

Within Intellectual property, Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co is a third tier firm,

Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co advises clients including HOT Cable Communication Systems, Channel 10, Netafim, Polysach Plastic Industries and Chartis Insurance in copyright royalty and patent disputes.

Within Projects and energy, Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co is a second tier firm,

Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co has special expertise in photovoltaic energy, having been involved in the industry since its inception. It recently advised Abengoa Solar on a BOT tender for the construction of two ILS1bn power plants.

Within Real estate, Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co is a first tier firm,

Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co has been very active in the development of large-scale office projects in which purchase groups played a leading role. Managing partner Amir Chen heads the department, with close assistance from Michal Faktor. The practice fields specific teams on income-producing property, development transactions, office purchase groups, and luxury apartment purchase groups. Faktor recently represented Sorat and Novolog in a ILS93m sale-and-leaseback transaction for income-producing property.

Within Tax, Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co is a second tier firm,

Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co has recently been very involved in significant M&A, providing tax advice to foreign entities considering the acquisition of Israeli companies. Recent highlights include acting for Great Hill Partners on its 100% share buyout of Plimus, and for CIM Group on its proposed acquisition of Delek Real Estate. Anat Shavit heads the department. Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg & Co advises on tax aspects of corporate structuring and restructuring, international commercial transactions, project finance, technology transfers, securities, private placements and debt finance. It also advises individuals on tax planning, often in a multi-jurisdictional context.

Within Telecoms and media, Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co is a third tier firm,

Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co advises on regulatory matters and transactions. Clients include fixed-line telephony companies Bezek and HOT; commercial television provider Channel 10; the Israel Hayon newspaper; and Eurocom Group, which it represented recently in its buyout of the minority shareholders of Yes Satellite Broadcasting.