The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg & Co is a second tier firm,

Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg & Co acted for Psagot Investment House and York Capital on the $600m sale of the controlling interest of Psagot to Apax, one of the largest financial sector transactions during 2010. In May 2011, the firm handled the ILS200m purchase of 75% of Highway 431. It advises foreign banks such as Deutsche Bank and UBS on their Israel activities, and is principal legal adviser to FIBI Bank and FIBI Holdings, Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, and Dexia Israel Bank. Natalie Jacobs, Rona Bergman, and Gil Mizrahi are recommended.

Within Capital markets, Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg & Co is a first tier firm,

Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg & Co handles the full gamut of capital markets work for domestic and international clients, but specialises in advising dual listed companies in Israel and the US. The firm acted for Elbit Defense Systems on its 2010 shelf prospectus and $284m offering of Series A notes, and acted for other clients on ILS570m and ILS243m public offerings on TASE. The firm provides ‘excellent service in all respects’. Aya Yoffe is recommended.

Within Corporate and M&A, Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg & Co is a first tier firm,

Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg & Co has a dedicated corporate governance team, which specialises in US SEC enforcement proceedings, white-collar securities defence, and internal investigations; it advises clients on the duties of officers and directors of public and privately owned companies, accounting and auditing issues, and disclosure responsibilities. It also advises clients in white-collar criminal prosecution relating to money laundering, tax fraud, and securities law violations (including in connection with SEC and PCAOB enforcement actions) and on international extradition laws and has acted for the SEC in Israel. The firm acted for York Global on its sale of a 76% interest in Psagot Investment to Apax Partners, and for ChemChina on its $1.44bn acquisition of a 60% interest in Makhteshim Agan. Other clients include Yahoo!, Scailex, Elbit Systems, and Syneron. David Hodack and Esther Koren are recommended.

Within Hi-tech, start-ups and venture capital, Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg & Co is a first tier firm,

Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg & Co’s technology practice is one of the largest in Israel, with over 50 lawyers in the department, of which more than 20 are also licensed in the US. The team recently acted for YMax Corporation in the $245m reverse triangular merger involving VocalTec, and served as Israeli counsel to CSR on transactions totalling $500m. Other clients include Bessemer, Harmonic, Yahoo!, and Kaltura. Amir Halevy serves on the board of directors at Israel’s High Tech Industry Association and heads its standards and ethics committee. The firm also provides pro bono legal services to Tmura, the Israeli public service venture fund.

Within Tax, Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg & 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.