The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Herzog Fox & Neeman is a first tier firm,

Alan Sacks heads Herzog Fox & Neeman’s banking and finance department and international practice, which recently welcomed to the team Citi Israel’s former head of legal Irit Roth. Sacks is advising Export-Import Bank of China as lender on the $1.68bn financing of China National Agro Chemical Corporation’s acquisition of a controlling interest in Makhteshim Agan Industries. The department operates in three main areas: debt financing, regulatory banking and derivatives and financial products. Specialist areas of practice are loan transactions, acquisition financing, aviation financing, structured financing and regulatory issues. Ronen Baharav left to found PNB Preis Nave Baharav Law Office.

Within Capital markets, Herzog Fox & Neeman is a first tier firm,

Herzog Fox & Neeman is ‘professional, full service, high quality and very responsive’. It acted as local counsel for Mellanox Technologies in its $218m acquisition of Voltaire, in the largest internal Israeli acquisition of 2010, and advised the Azrieli Group on the $2.5bn IPO of its ordinary shares on TASE. In April 2011, it welcomed former Israel Securities Authority deputy general counsel Tal Even-Zahav to its team. Ilanit Landsman and Udi Sol are recommended for their ‘availability, knowledge and vast experience in the area’.

Within Competition, Herzog Fox & Neeman is a second tier firm,

Herzog Fox & Neeman’s lawyers advise international and local corporations on all types of antitrust and competition issues. It advised the Israeli Tourist and Travel Agents Association in the IAA’s investigation into alleged restrictive arrangements with airlines, and has been acting for Israel Electric Corporation in the gas insulated switchgear cartel.

Within Corporate and M&A, Herzog Fox & Neeman is a first tier firm,

Herzog Fox & Neeman has one of the largest cross-border and M&A practices in Israel, and ‘ample depth in all specialist areas’. Clients include big names such as Apax Partners, Israel Electric Corporation, HSBC Holdings, Microsoft, and General Electric. Ehud Sol and Ilanit Landesman Yogev recently advised Makhteshim Agan Industries in a $1.44bn reverse triangular merger transaction where it sold 60% of its shares to ChemChina. Alan Sacks and Hanan Haviv advised Tyco International on its purchase of Visonic.

Within Dispute resolution, Herzog Fox & Neeman is a second tier firm,

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.

Within Hi-tech, start-ups and venture capital, Herzog Fox & Neeman is a first tier firm,

Herzog Fox & Neeman’s two teams provide corporate and transactional support, from seed investments in start-ups to major cross border private equity and M&A work, and secures and monetises the primary assets of technology companies. The firm recently advised MediWound and Polyheal, pharmaceuticals portfolio companies of Clal Biotechnology Industries, in a complex strategic triangular biotech transaction with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. Gilad Majerowicz recently joined the team, having previously worked in New York for several years at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and as in-house counsel for a New York based telecommunications company.

Within Intellectual property, Herzog Fox & Neeman is a second tier firm,

Herzog Fox & Neeman lost Neil Wilkof as its practice head after he joined Dr. Eyal Bressler & Co, but he continues to work with the firm in the capacity of special IP counsel. The firm attracted new clients including Honda, Buffalo Wild Wings and famous individuals including Jennifer Aniston and Donald Trump. It also advised a client on all IP aspects of a recent financing round.

Within Legal market overview ,

There were also several significant developments regarding law firms, including Goldfarb, Levy, Eran, Meiri, Tzafrir & Co. and M. Seligman & Co. merging to create Goldfarb Seligman & Co.. Also, Agmon & Co merged with Rosenberg, Hacohen, Goddard & Ephrat to form Agmon & Co., Rosenberg, Hacohen & Co. The highly respected Ori Rosen wound up his hi-tech and venture capital firm, and Neil Wilkof left his position as head of IP at Herzog Fox & Neeman to team up with Eyal Bressler of Dr. Eyal Bressler & Co, although Wilkof continues to work with his old firm in the capacity of special counsel.

Within Projects and energy, Herzog Fox & Neeman is a first tier firm,

Herzog Fox & Neeman’s project finance department is led by Adam Eytan and Mark Phillips. It is involved in several energy and natural resources projects, including solar energy projects, wind farms, gas transmission and independent power plants, as well as desalinisation plants. Most recently the department advised the lender consortium on the Dorad Energy power plant financing, Israel’s largest IPP. Other clients include Deutsche Bank, ATP Oil & Gas, and Israel Electric Company.

Within Real estate, Herzog Fox & Neeman is a first tier firm,

Yaakov Brandt leads the team at Herzog Fox & Neeman, which continues to advise leading domestic and international clients on significant real estate projects in Israel and abroad. The department specialises in financing, transactional legal support, planning and regulatory issues. It is advising Reality Investment Fund on a number of transactions including the ILS19.5m purchase of a tower in south Tel Aviv, the ILS45m purchase of real estate from Bezeq, and the ILS56m purchase of property from the state of Israel.

Within Tax, Herzog Fox & Neeman is a first tier firm,

Herzog Fox & Neeman’s managing partner Meir Linzen heads one of the largest tax departments in Israel, which fields five teams specialising in corporate taxation; high-net-worth individuals; employee equity benefits plans; private equity and investment fund formation; and indirect taxes and international trade, customs and purchase taxes. The firm recently acted as local counsel to DG Fastchannel on its $517m acquisition of MediaMind Technologies. Meir Linzen and Eldar Ben-Ruby are recommended. Fund formation expert Tal Dror Schwimmer was made up to partner, and Yuval Navot joined from the New York office of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.

Within Telecoms and media, Herzog Fox & Neeman is a first tier firm,

Herzog Fox & Neeman was recently involved three huge telecoms transactions: advising 012 Smile on regulatory aspects of its $1.71bn purchase of controlling shares in Bezeq; advising Hutchinson on the sale of controlling shares in Partner Communications; and acting for Ampal on its $316m purchase of 012 Smile’s telecommunications activities and assets.