Lipa Meir & Co > Tel Aviv, Israel > Firm Profile

Lipa Meir & Co > The Legal 500 Rankings

Israel > Energy Tier 1

Among Lipa Meir & Co’s practice strong suits, it is distinguished by its niche expertise in representing Kibbutzim in energy-related matters. Notably, the group advised Mishkey Hakibbutzim Group, the central financial organisation of Kibbutzim in Israel, on the acquisition of a 40% stake in Mei-Ram Electricity. The team also represents energy companies and public sector clients on tenders, project development and transactional work. Key contacts include Uzi Mor, who is active in energy transactions; Zuriel Lavie, who is noted for project finance; David Weinstein, who lends his experience as the key contact for the firm’s multidisciplinary Kibbutzim practice; and infrastructure head Michal Schwartz.

Israel > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 1

Lipa Meir & Co maintains its market-leading reputation for advising cannabis start-ups, whilst handling the full range of contentious and non-contentious issues across the sector. The team regularly acts in class actions and advises on IP licensing issues, fund raisings, and the secondary use of healthcare data. Practice head Gary Copelovitz assists domestic and global healthcare clients with a wide variety of corporate issues and M&A, whilst Meir Elbaum is known for advising public and private hospitals and clinics on healthcare insurance programmes, tenders, and their agreements with importers and suppliers. Dispute resolution expert Isaac Anidjer represents entrepreneurs in procedural matters concerning the acquisition of licenses, and negotiations with healthcare service providers. Anidjer is also noted for his broad knowledge of the operation of geriatric medical centres.

Israel > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 1

The team at Lipa Meir & Co stands out for its track record in high-stakes domestic and cross-border restructurings, with experience in insolvency litigation, including before the Supreme Court. Founding partner Lipa Meir jointly leads the team alongside Zuriel Lavie, who specialises in corporate rehabilitation and reorganisations, creditor’s arrangements, receiverships and liquidations. Shirley Ifrach-Azor rounds out the leadership trio and is frequently engaged by creditors in insolvency and restructurings proceedings. Key sectors of expertise include education, retail, transport, engineering and financial services.

Israel > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Noted for navigating complex M&A and corporate transactions across a wide range of sectors, including kibbutzim, real estate, energy, and healthcare, Lipa Meir & Co's recent highlights include the acquisition by Union Energy & Systems Operations Malta Ltd. of 11% of the shares of the Tamar reservoir for approximately $500m, in which practice co-head Ziv Preis played a leading role. Fellow co-head Gary Copelovitz is highly regarded for his international law expertise, while Uzi Mor focuses on advising cooperative societies on their M&A transactions.

Dispute resolution > Dispute resolution: class actions (including derivative actions) Tier 2

Lipa Meir & Co’s dominant healthcare offering is reflected in its class actions practice, where it acts for leading healthcare providers in major suits; notably, it is handling over 20 class actions on behalf of Clalit Health Services. Environmental law is another area of strength, with Israel Shipyards standing as a key client in that space. Alon Pomeranc steers the overarching litigation department and is the key contact for the Clalit work. Shay Tamar also maintains an active class actions practice.

Israel > Infrastructure Tier 2

With an emphasis on public sector-side mandates, Lipa Meir & Co frequently appears on behalf of various state ministries and government-owned entities in infrastructure projects. The group is particularly well-versed in the water sector, where it represents the Israeli Water Desalination Administration on major desalination plant projects. Key names include Zuriel Lavie, whose broad focus encompasses kibbutzim, tenders and infrastructure; David Weinstein, who specialises in agriculture and rural settlement systems; Michal Schwartz, who leads the infrastructure and BOT practice; and corporate head Uzi Mor.

Israel > Insurance Tier 2

Lipa Meir & Co houses a diverse insurance offering that shines in several niche areas, including cooperative societies, where it acts for Kibbutzim-owned Bituach Haklai; healthcare, where it enjoys a close relationship with Clalit Health Services, the second largest healthcare provider globally; and credit insurance. Corporate partner Gad Azor co-heads the practice alongside real estate and finance head Yariv Shalom. Transactional specialist Gary Copelovitz is also a key contact.

Israel > Banking and finance Tier 3

With unique expertise in credit insurance, Lipa Meir & Co is recognised for advising lenders, borrowers, and insurance companies on credit facility work and real estate financings. Practice chair Yariv Shalom focuses on real estate, financing, and credit insurance work, while Yoni Shtinmatz‘s experience spans investments, syndication issues, and banking regulations.

Israel > Capital markets Tier 3

Lipa Meir & Co‘s team provides regular counsel to a range of start-ups, companies and high-net-worth individuals on both debt and equity transactions. Securities litigation expert Eitan Shmueli leads the department, and notably advises both public and private companies on their capital markets operations in Israel and abroad. Gregory Irgo is a specialist in regulatory obligations.

Israel > Competition/antitrust Tier 3

Alongside its expertise in the agriculture, healthcare, and life sciences sectors, where it routinely advises on a range of contentious and non-contentious matters spanning abuse of dominant power, restrictive arrangements, and internal compliance, Lipa Meir & Co‘s competition and antitrust department is also noted for advising government ministries and authorities with regard to tenders and commercial issues. The team is led by ‘first-class antitrust professional’ Yariv Ilan.

Dispute resolution > Dispute resolution: local litigation and arbitration Tier 3

Lipa Meir & Co’s broad public sector client base, together with its dominant healthcare practice, ensure that it is well-positioned to handle administrative law litigation. However, the team is also active in commercial matters, with a focus on financial services litigation, contentious insolvency cases, real estate litigation, and shareholder disputes. Alon Pomeranc is a 30-year litigation veteran and leads a team that also draws on Erez Dar Lulu and Omer Meiri.

Israel > Employment Tier 3

Alongside its specialism in collective bargaining agreements, Lipa Meir & Co's team also displays significant expertise in handling high-profile union work and insolvency labour issues, an area in which Ayelet Ram is particularly active. With longstanding experience in disputes before labour courts and in arbitration and mediation procedures, team head Shabtai (Shabi) Michaeli’s broad practice covers preparations of collective agreements, negotiations and M&A, while newly promoted partner and labour union expert Tal Asulin Menahemov is also recommended.

Israel > Hi-tech and start-ups Tier 3

Lipa Meir & Co has worked hard to scale up its hi-tech practice over recent years, including adding transactional boutique Preis, Baharav & Co in 2018, followed one year later by the hires of Eyal Khayat and Amir Zolty from Khayat Zolty, Neiger & Co. The growing group covers all key spheres of the hi-tech industry, with a focus on food tech, agri-tech, and healthcare. The department is co-led by Ziv Preis, who represents hi-tech companies and investors on an array of corporate and commercial matters; Gary Copelovitz, who has a strong record in the healthcare sector; as well as Zolty and Khayat.

Israel > Investment and venture capital funds Tier 3

Lipa Meir & Co‘s investment funds department represents high-tech companies, investment institutions and a range of funds, including venture capital and private equity funds, in their formation, structuring and management. Private equity specialist Ziv Preis leads the corporate, technology and M&A department jointly with Gary Copelovitz, whose advice spans fund formation, investment documentation and due diligence across the food, tech, healthcare and life sciences sectors.

Israel > Real estate and construction Tier 3

The growing real estate practice at Lipa Meir & Co added a raft of new clients over the past two years. The group stands out for its activity in urban renewal and hotel-related work, as well as in niche areas such as kibbutzim, where it leans into the firm’s expertise in co-operative societies, and agriculture. Erez Tik, Roy Aiz, and Yariv Shalom co-lead a department that also includes next-generation partner — and ‘deal-maker’ — Dor Avinery.