S. Horowitz & Co > Tel Aviv, Israel > Firm Profile

S. Horowitz & Co > The Legal 500 Rankings

Israel > Banking and finance Tier 1

S. Horowitz & Co’s banking and finance litigation team is known for handling high-profile contentious cases for an array of domestic and international banks and financial institutions, while also advising hedge funds, insurance companies, and credit card companies on both transactional and regulatory matters. Anthony Bloch’s broad practice spans acquisition and project financings and M&A transactions, while Clifford Davis is noted for his expertise in export credit financings and leveraged financings, often with a cross-border element. Michelle Liberman has recently handled several highly complex acquisition finance projects.

Israel > Competition/antitrust Tier 1

S. Horowitz & Co‘s competition and antitrust practice spans civil and criminal investigations pertaining to cartels and abuse of dominant power, including before the Israel Competition Authority, competition disputes, and competition law compliance. A deep roster of blue chip multinationals and financial institutions routinely engages the team, which is led by department head Hagai Doron, who notably handles both contentious and non-contentious issues, and includes litigation specialist Gitit Levin-Grinberg, who is recognised for his expertise in antitrust regulatory clearance matters.

Dispute resolution > Dispute resolution: class actions (including derivative actions) Tier 1

The team at S. Horowitz & Co stands out for its ability to plug into one of the market’s most comprehensive dispute resolution practices and one source attests, ‘very few firms, if any, can match the depth and experience of litigation that can be found at S. Horowitz’. The class actions practice serves as a key pillar of its wider contentious offering, with the group routinely supporting major international and domestic corporations, financial institutions and public authorities in high-stakes cases. Hagai Doron chairs the competition practice and brings his regulatory expertise to bear in complex class actions. Other key contacts are Uriel Prinz, who specialises in class actions; dispute resolution head Alex Hertman; and Gitit Levin-Grinberg.

Dispute resolution > Dispute resolution: local litigation and arbitration Tier 1

A destination practice for dispute resolution, S. Horowitz & Co stands out for the breadth of its offering, with the ability to draw on specialists in commercial litigation, construction disputes, administrative law cases, energy matters, IP litigation and arbitration, among other areas. Names to note include high-profile joint practice heads Alex Hertman, who ‘stands out for his impeccable reputation’, and Yehoshua Horesh, who ‘may be the top litigator in Israel’. Other recommended practitioners are Ehud Arzi, who enjoys particularly strong relationships with banks and financial services companies; Eliya Zunz Koller, who specialises in administrative law cases; Benjamin Sheffer, who is highly regarded for contentious infrastructure matters; IP litigator Avi Ordo; and Noam Zamir, who possesses a ‘brilliant legal mind’.

Israel > Employment Tier 1

A deep roster of major international and local corporations, pension funds and provident funds routinely turn to S. Horowitz & Co for its expertise in employment-related matters, where the team adeptly handles termination and retirement issues, collective bargaining agreements, discrimination and unfair labour practices. Further core workflows include representing clients in complex litigation proceedings before all instances of Israeli labour courts, arbitration tribunals and mediation boards. The team is jointly led by Asher Heled, who consistently assists with intricate arbitration and mediation proceedings, and labour law specialist Elisha Shor, recognised for his knowledge of pension funds and social security matters. With expertise in both non-contentious and contentious employment matters, Ofir Pozner further enhances the team’s capabilities and brings additional strength as a commercial litigator.

Israel > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 1

Co-led by Tal Band, Dovev Apel, and Ran Vogel, the team at S. Horowitz & Co exhibits deep expertise in the full spectrum of issues concerning product liability cases, IP, and sector specific regulation. The team is noted for handling the patent aspects of corporate transactions, particularly in relation to the financing of innovation focused companies and patent licences. Band is well-versed in the full range of IP issues, including patent, trade mark, and copyright disputes, regularly appearing before the Israeli Patents and Trademarks Office. Apel is particularly adept at handling regulatory issues concerning medical devices, e-health, and pharma, with emphasis on class actions and cases concerning the advertising and distribution of medical products, areas in which Yair Ziv also has a great deal of expertise.

Israel > Infrastructure Tier 1

Among S. Horowitz & Co’s infrastructure strong suits, it excels in project finance, where it can leverage the wider firm’s top-tier banking and finance offering. The team also represents construction companies and project sponsors on project development, operational matters and litigation. Commercial head Aharon Bloch spearheads a multidisciplinary group that additionally draws on the expertise of contentious infrastructure expert Benjamin Sheffer. Other names to note include transactional partner Michelle Liberman; Eran Bezalel, who focuses on energy and natural resources and infrastructure work; Lior Mimon, who has an emphasis on tenders and administrative law; commercial litigator Ohad Ben-Yehuda; and corporate partner Shlomi Delgo.

Israel > Insurance Tier 1

S. Horowitz & Co’s signature dispute resolution offering underpins its insurance work, with the group routinely engaged by insurers and insured entities to advise on major, high-value coverage disputes and subrogation claims. The team also handles non-contentious mandates, including regulatory matters and insurance-related M&A and restructurings. The multidisciplinary practice is co-led by 30-year litigation veteran Avi Ordo, who has strong expertise in contentious insurance, including class actions; seasoned dispute resolution chair Alex Hertman; and Ehud Arzi, who is highly regarded for his experience in financial services-related disputes, and insurance. The group also draws on Moran Katz, whose focus spans IP, insurance and regulatory litigation.

Intellectual property > Intellectual property: disputes Tier 1

S. Horowitz & Co has an impressive client base active across the pharmaceutical, defence, high-tech and entertainment industries, where the team regularly handles complex patent, trademark and copyright litigation. Department head Tal Band‘s broad practice spans patent, trade secret, trademark and copyright litigation, while Ran Vogel is a go-to choice for a range of Fortune 500 companies and research-based pharmaceutical companies. Avi Ordo notably focuses on IP and technology-related dispute resolution, and Noam Blei concentrates his capabilities on patent and design disputes. Other key contacts include Dovev Apel and Moran Katz.

Intellectual property > Intellectual property: filing/prosecution Tier 1

S. Horowitz & Co‘s IP team displays significant expertise in the prosecution and protection of trademarks and designs, where it manages the portfolios and handles the filing of trademark applications on behalf of a litany of domestic and international clients from the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and telecoms sectors. Names to note include Dovev Apel, trademarks prosecution specialist Avi Ordo and litigation expert Tal Band.

Israel > Telecoms and media Tier 1

Housing a dedicated media and entertainment group, S. Horowitz & Co is valued by industry clients for providing ‘comprehensive legal services covering many different fields’, including broadcasting rights, privacy and data security, regulatory issues and competition, among others. The team’s expertise is routinely called upon by a broad range of stakeholders, including telecoms companies, mobile phone operators, cable licensees, internet content providers, and newspapers, with Google, Hot and Yedioth Ahronoth all representative names. Hagai Doron spearheads the department and leverages a strong record in representing telecoms and media companies in regulatory matters and in tenders issued by the Ministry of Communications. Cybersecurity and privacy head Tomer Scheuerman is also noted.

Israel > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

A litany of multinational corporations, investment funds, and clients from the bio-med, hi-tech, telecoms, and life sciences sectors routinely turn to S. Horowitz & Co for its team’s M&A expertise. The department is also notably active in representing international clients from the USA, Europe, China, and Japan in their complex M&A and corporate operations. Practice co-head Clifford Davis is the key contact for both international and domestic companies and financial institutions, while fellow co-head Amit Steinman's broad practice spans joint ventures, equity investments, and cross-border corporate transactions. The team also includes Aharon Anthony Bloch, who focuses on the technology and banking industries.

Dispute resolution > Dispute resolution: mediation and international arbitration Tier 2

S. Horowitz & Co acts for domestic and multinational corporations, financial institutions and high-net-worth individuals in international arbitration cases, spanning ICC, LCIA and ad-hoc arbitrations, with additional experience in mediation proceedings. Alex Hertman leads the team and maintains a strong track record in multi-jurisdictional commercial and finance cases, including international arbitrations, while Uriel Prinz has experience across the construction, engineering, energy and infrastructure sectors. Other key contacts in the group include Noam Zamir and Marina Roizer.

Dispute resolution > Dispute resolution: white-collar crime, investigation and fraud Tier 2

S. Horowitz & Co houses a full-service white-collar crime practice, which defends Israeli and international corporations, government entities, financial institutions and high-ranking officials in regulatory and criminal proceedings. With experience in cases concerning competition, tax, securities law, corruption and planning violations, the group covers the full gamut of cases. Pnina Sheffer-Emmanuel ‘gets right to the point every time’ and co-heads the department together with newly appointed Chairman of the Israeli Bar Association, Amit Becher, who is a former division head at the Tel Aviv District Attorney’s Office.

Israel > Energy Tier 2

Among its recent highlights, S. Horowitz & Co has been particularly busy on behalf of The Israel Electric Corporation of late, where it has represented the state-owned energy company on the sale of the Eshkol power plant, alongside other regulatory and contentious issues. The multidisciplinary energy practice is co-led by dispute resolution specialist Benjamin Sheffer, who has a focus on construction and infrastructure, together with Aharon Anthony Bloch, who heads the commercial department. Litigators Yehoshua Horesh and Eran Bezale are also noted.

Intellectual property > Intellectual property: commercial/transactions Tier 2

S. Horowitz & Co displays notable strength in the life sciences sector, where it advises major companies on a range of commercial transactions, commercialisation agreements, IP rights and licensing. The department is led by technology transfer agreements specialist Aharon Anthony Bloch, who brings over 30 years of experience in the field.

Israel > Planning and zoning Tier 2

Particularly well-positioned to handle contentious work, S. Horowitz & Co’s signature litigation offering marks it as a key contender for complex planning, zoning and construction disputes. Among its key clients in this sphere, the team represents Paz Oil company in various petitions and claims, as well as Lime & Stone Production Company and Readymix Industries (Israel). On the non-contentious front, the group advises on an array of planning approvals, licensing and other regulatory matters. The department is led jointly by litigators Amir Caspari and Asaf Rentsler.

Israel > Tax Tier 2

Real estate taxation specialist Leor Nouman, who is experienced in both domestic and international tax planning, leads the team at S. Horowitz & Co. M&A-related tax matters, wealth management, taxation of charities, and issues around the withholding of tax are among the various matters covered by the tax group, which is engaged for such work by both public and privately trading companies. Indirect taxation and customs expert Ophir Kaplan is a further key name in the team, as is certified accountant and experienced litigator Moti Saban. The firm is particularly noted for its disputes capability, demonstrating a strong record in litigating novel and contentious sector-specific tax points, including with regards to the energy industry.

Israel > Transport Tier 2

S. Horowitz & Co’s top-tier dispute resolution offering comes to the fore in its transport work, with the team a popular choice to handle industry-shaping litigation, including class actions. The group, which has an emphasis on the aviation sector, also handles transactional and regulatory work. Of counsel Hugh Kowarsky contributes significant regulatory expertise and co-chairs the practice together with Eyal Doron, who demonstrates ‘deep technical knowledge’. Associate Ron Libson provides support.

Israel > Capital markets Tier 3

With a focus on the real estate sector, S. Horowitz & Co‘s capital markets team routinely handles securities offerings, complex bond issuance transactions, and IPOs. With an emphasis on public and private offerings of debt and equity, practice co-head Amir Assali is praised by clients for his expertise in corporate governance and securities law, areas in which fellow-co head Guy Firer is also well versed.

Israel > Hi-tech and start-ups Tier 3

Sources highlight S. Horowitz & Co’s team as being ‘committed to understanding the unique challenges and opportunities that start-ups face’. Alongside its work for start-ups, which spans the full range of corporate, finance and commercial matters, it also frequently represents venture funds. Mordehay Malca heads the group and brings to bear a 20-year record in advising technology companies on corporate and commercial work. Miriam Zaltsman is also a key figure in the practice and has an emphasis on financing rounds and M&A.

Israel > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 3

Commercial banks and other financial institutions are among the clients of S. Horowitz & Co, which is well placed to leverage the expertise of the firm’s banking and finance and disputes departments to handle restructurings, workouts and insolvencies. Ehud Arzi leads the team and advises on contentious banking mandates, with additional experience in representing creditors in rehabilitation proceedings. Ran Feldman is a key contact for liquidations, bankruptcies and receiverships.

Israel > Real estate and construction Tier 4

Over the past year, S. Horowitz & Co kept busy advising on a range of real estate transactions, new development projects and urban renewal work. The firm’s signature litigation expertise also lends itself well to planning and zoning disputes. Avigail Kastiel ‘is a master in negotiation’ and co-heads the team alongside Leor Nouman.