Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary > Tel Aviv, Israel > Firm Profile

Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary > The Legal 500 Rankings

Intellectual property > Intellectual property: commercial/transactions Tier 1

Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary’s department displays significant strength in the food, technology and life sciences sectors, where the team is mandated by clients to handle a range of licensing agreements and M&A transactions. Omer Carmel is the go-to lawyer for high-tech operators seeking advice on intellectual property rights, enforcement and infringement. Ian Rostowsky is a seasoned expert in intellectual property issues; he leads the practice, which includes high-tech partner Sahar Peled, who is also well versed in licensing and commercialisation of IP agreements.

Israel > Investment and venture capital funds Tier 1

Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary‘s private fund formation and transaction practice maintains a leading position in the market, representing half of the technology incubators and innovation labs in Israel, as well as a number of real estate and infrastructure clients. The team is led by Maya Issacharov, whose broad practice spans fund formation, fundraising and representation, while co-head of the high-tech and venture capital department Ian Rostowsky is a key contact for venture capital work. Firm president Yonatan Altman stands out for having over 25 years of experience in the technology sector, and Stephen Barak Rozen focuses on the formation of technology incubator funds to invest in start-ups. Highly praised by clients, Tal Tsarfati-Doron is also noted.

Israel > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 1

Counting leading domestic banks and financial institutions among its key roster of clients, Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary acts as trustee or receiver in insolvency proceedings, bankruptcies and receivership cases, in addition to acting as liquidator in high-profile mandates. Erez Haver leads the team and has considerable experience in matters concerning insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation and receiverships, as well as credit and debt settlements. Other key contacts in the group include Moran Mordechay, who acts for clients forced into insolvency proceedings, and counsels Tzipi Kolp Frieder and Limor Segman.

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

Enjoying a prominent position in class actions involving financial services-related issues, Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary is currently handling approximately 95 class actions on behalf of major Israeli banks, including Bank Hapoalim and Bank Leumi. The team’s recent experience also spans TMT, tax and corporate cases. Department head Sharon Lubezky-Hess is commended by sources as ‘one of the best lawyers in in class actions representing financial institutions’. Shahar Haron also focuses on derivative actions, banking law and class actions.

Israel > Hi-tech and start-ups Tier 2

Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary houses a robust hi-tech practice that counts more than 400 hi-tech companies on its books. It also acts for around half of all tech incubators and innovation labs in Israel, providing it with enviable access to emerging companies. The group is led jointly by Ian Rostowsky, who handled financing rounds and M&A transactions for several tech companies over the past year; and managing partner Yoav Etzyon. Stephen Barak Rozen, who chairs the food-tech and ag-tech sub-practices, and Efrat Shpizaizen are also noted.

Israel > Planning and zoning Tier 2

The planning and zoning department at Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary is structured into five sub-groups covering real estate and construction; real estate planning and zoning; municipalities and local authorities; environmental law; and urban renewal. In this way, the practice spans the full range of related matters, with a notable focus on contentious work. Team head Yuval Gal-On additionally steers the administrative law department and is noted for his extensive experience in planning proceedings. Dan Or specialises in planning, building, zoning, and environmental protection.

Israel > Real estate and construction Tier 2

Equipped to handle the full range of real estate matters, Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary is particularly noted for its strength in real estate finance and investment transactions. The team has also been active in project development, planning and zoning, and urban renewal-related matters of late, while it additionally fields complementary strength in municipal tax and litigation. Department head Amitai Erlich is highly sought after by developers and investors, while Ori Avigad specialises in urban renewal transactions. Liora Manzury and Yuval Gal-On are also noted.

Israel > Banking and finance Tier 3

With expertise in banking and finance litigation, including banking class actions, Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary’s broad practice also includes providing transactional and regulatory advice to real estate companies, project developers and investors. Head of the urban renewal department Ori Avigad is noted for handling real estate, energy and infrastructure projects, while Yoav Etzyon is an expert in public and private debt financings, and Sharon Lubezky Hess notably focuses on class action litigation.

Israel > Capital markets Tier 3

Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary‘s team is equipped to provide comprehensive advice to issuers, underwriters and lead managers on a range of debt and equity capital markets transactions, both in Israel and abroad. The team is jointly led by corporate and securities law specialist Daniel Marcovici and hi-tech and venture capital expert Ian Rostowsky, who is noted for his focus on the regulatory aspects of capital markets law.

Israel > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 3

Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary is regularly engaged by clients from the technology, real estate, energy, and retail sectors as a result of the team’s expertise in handling complex M&A transactions, investments, and commercial agreements. The team is jointly led by investment fund formation expert Ian Rostowsky, who notably focuses on the technology sector, and venture capital investments and private equity transactions specialist Yoav Etzyon.  Stephen Barak Rozen is also recommended as a member of the high-tech and venture capital practice.

Israel > Competition/antitrust Tier 3

Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary‘s competition and antitrust practice spans merger notifications and filings, restrictive arrangements, and regulatory and compliance advice. The team is led by Dana Tirangel-Lipka, who notably represents clients from the food retail industry and hi-tech sector, while Or Tsur Elkayam is also praised by clients for her expertise in merger approval applications and exemptions from restrictive arrangements.

Israel > Employment Tier 3

‘Unparalleled advocate' Shani Ashkenasi helms the employment team at Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary. Ashkenasi, noted by clients for her dedication ‘to understanding our unique needs’, offers expertise on an extensive range of employment matters including crisis management, workforce reduction proceedings and sexual harassment inquiries for an innovative client base of hi-tech and biosciences start-ups. Also notable is associate Eran Buvilski, who has considerable employment litigation experience.

Israel > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 3

The team at Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary regularly assists with equity investments and data privacy compliance mandates. Practice co-head Ian Rostowsky is particularly adept at handling fund formation and M&A-related issues within the sector, while co-head Yoav Etzyon primarily acts for start-ups and emerging companies within the healthcare and life sciences arena. Assaf Baruch’s main areas of focus are commercial transactions within the tech sector, having advised a number of clients on a variety of commercial transactions, and Stephen Barak Rozen is well-versed in the formation of tech incubators.

Intellectual property > Intellectual property: disputes Tier 3

Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary‘s IP litigation team handles a mix of trademark, copyright and patent litigation, with a focus on high-tech and sports tech trademark infringement cases. Spearheaded by IP expert Ian Rostowsky, the department includes IP litigator Omer Carmel, noted for his expertise in IP enforcement and infringement proceedings, while also handling patent and trademark opposition proceedings before the IPTO.

Intellectual property > Intellectual property: filing/prosecution Tier 3

Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary‘s IP practice is recognised for handling a mix of Israeli and international trademark filing and prosecution, with a strong focus on the AI and technology sectors, with high-tech specialist Ian Rostowsky leading the team. Experienced IP litigator Omer Carmel and Sahar Peled, whose broad practice spans patents, trademarks and copyright issues, have recently handled several trademark prosecution cases, most notably in the tech sector.

Israel > Tax Tier 3

Led by experienced property and land tax specialist Doron Levy and trusts expert Racheli Guz-Lavi, the tax team at Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary is well placed to advise on both high-net-worth individual and urban renewal or real estate transactional mandates. In particular, the group is a popular choice for Israeli infrastructure and energy companies. Yifat Weiss, who previously worked in the legal department of the Israeli Tax Authority and brings this perspective to the team is also central.

Dispute resolution > Dispute resolution: local litigation and arbitration Tier 4

Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary maintains a robust record in contentious bankruptcy issues, where it can leverage its dominant restructuring and insolvency practice. Other key areas of focus include financial services, real estate and technology. Boaz Edelstein, Erez Haver, Sharon Lubezky-Hess and Ephraim Ofek Aharon are the names to note.

Israel > Telecoms and media