The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Israel > Banking and finance

The banking and finance practice at Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co is a popular choice for event-driven deals, such as acquisition and project financings, with an impressive record in pathfinder transactions. Significantly, the team’s recent work for the State of Israel on the privatisation of Bank Leumi represented the end of bank nationalisation in Israel — group head Miri Kimhi led the advice. The group continues to cement its reputation as a favourite with local and international lenders, with recent mandates for J.P. Morgan, Bank Hapoalim and Israel Discount Bank. In addition, it consistently secures roles from prominent corporate borrowers, including private equity funds. Other key names include Gilad Winkler, who heads the project finance practice, and up-and-coming partner Dikla Lavy-Fischer, who has a ‘profound understanding of the law’.

Gornitzky & Co.’s well-rounded group handles a balance of regulatory and transactional work, with robust experience in cross-border matters. The team’s capability in complex financings is evidenced through its recent deal list, which spans mezzanine loans, acquisition finance and factoring transactions. Best known for its lender-side practice, it acts for an impressive roster of financial institutions and alternative lenders, including Bank Hapoalim, TPG and First International Bank. It is also routinely engaged by sophisticated corporate borrowers. Department head Eli Elya and the ‘experienced and smart’ Elite Elkon are noted for their combination of lender-side expertise and regulatory experience. Dubi Gross is noted for his ‘strong expertise for international clients’. Idan Baki and associate Alon Peled are also name.

Herzog Fox & Neeman’s banking and finance practice houses distinct offerings in corporate lending, where it primarily acts for banks, market regulation and payment methods. Alan Sacks is a high-profile name and specialises in cross-border transactions, including recent work for Credit Suisse, Singapore Branch and Fortress Investment Group. Natalie Jacobs is highly regarded for her expertise in structured finance and derivatives — for both Israeli and international banks — as well as institutional investors. Roy Nachimzon’s broad practice spans both banking and finance and corporate law, and he is routinely engaged by foreign and domestic banks, institutional investors and private equity funds to advise on finance deals, with a particular focus on acquisition finance. Ben Kanter is also noted.

The impressively broad practice at Meitar law offices  covers the waterfront on banking and finance matters, from licensing and corporate governance issues through to major lending transactions and debt capital markets. Best known for its weight on the regulatory front, the team provides day-to-day advice to the Association of Banks in relation to new legislation and its ongoing discussions with regulators. The firm also consistently advises local and international banks, insurance companies and fintech start-ups on lending, bank M&A and cross-border transactions. Eyal Dotan, who is ‘highly familiar with regulatory requirements’, and Assaf Oz jointly head a sizeable team that also includes experienced specialists Judith Gal-Or and Gal Feingold.

S. Horowitz & Co has close relationships with major local and foreign financial institutions, including banks, insurance companies and credit card companies. The breadth of its client roster is matched by the depth of its practice, which spans syndicated lending, export finance, structured finance and regulatory work — it also continues to grow its profile in the developing area of factoring transactions. On the borrower side, the firm is a top choice for seasoned acquirers in leveraged finance deals, including recent work for Pathfinder Strategic Fund and Francisco Partners. Anthony Bloch chairs the group and is sought after for his senior experience in the area. Other key names are Clifford Davis, who had a busy year on the export financing and LBO fronts, and Michelle Liberman.

A ‘real delight’ to work with, Agmon & Co. Rosenberg Hacohen & Co. impresses with its ‘great service’. The group is well versed across a mix of commercial loans, project finance, regulatory matters and securities, with strong expertise in advising traditional and alternative lenders. On the borrower side, the firm leverages its formidable energy practice to specialise in advising energy companies on lending transactions. Yona Goshen-Gottstein heads the team and is valued for her ‘unusual business and operational understanding’, following former in-house stints at various banks, including the Bank of Jerusalem. Uri Rosenberg heads the securities and capital markets department.

Goldfarb Seligman & Co. leverages its formidable corporate practice to shine in bank M&A, with its recent advice to Warburg Pincus on its NIS2.5bn acquisition of Leumi Card a stand-out highlight in that area. It also houses a solid lender-side practice, which has recently secured mandates from major domestic and global financial institutions and alternative lenders, such as Morgan Stanley, Bank Otsar HaHayal and Amitim Pension Funds. Group head Ariel Rosenberg has a focus on advising lenders and borrowers on financings in the energy, infrastructure and real estate spheres. Rami Sofer and Dubi Zoltak are also noted.

Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg, Shenhav & Co. is a heavyweight on the regulatory side, with a strong recent run in advising on bank decentralisations for clients including Dexia Credit Local and Arison Holdings. The firm also has broad experience in corporate lending, fintech, bank M&A and capital markets. Ofer Hanoh leads the banking, insurance and financial regulation department and counts Israeli and foreign banks, holding bank corporations and public companies among his clients. Ehud (Udi) Alfassi, who leads the insurance, pension and long-term savings funds practice, is a ‘one-of-a-kind lawyer’. Yigal Binyamini is also noted.

Weksler, Bregman & Co., Advocates’s practice is well weighted between regulatory matters and transactions, with its skill sets in the latter spanning bank M&A, corporate lending and capital markets. On the compliance side, the firm provides ongoing advice to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, and both Israeli clearing houses, and it is also routinely engaged by several of Israel’s most prominent banks. Group head Ora Dvir, who previously served as deputy general counsel of the Bank of Israel, is widely recognised as a leader in the regulatory field. Ofer Yankovich, who handles a mix of borrower and lender-side transactions, is also a key contact.

Yigal Arnon & Co’s diverse practice brings together expertise in project finance, payments and fintech, which complement its core offerings in corporate borrowing and market regulation. Notably, the group continues to assist the facility agent and security trustee with ongoing amendments to the landmark $1.7bn term loan facility used to finance the development of the Leviathan gas field — Shiri Shaham and Simon Weintraub led that work. The department also draws on the experience of Yuval Shalheveth, who is highly regarded for fintech and regulatory matters, and restructuring co-head Gil Oren.

Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary acts for an array of traditional and alternative lenders on corporate loans, project finance, M&A and real estate finance. The group is particularly prolific for insurance companies and it counts four out of the five largest Israeli insurance companies among its clients, including Clal and Harel. It also acts for major domestic banks, including Bank Hapoalim and Mizrahi-Tefahot Bank. The department is led by Orit Israeli, who is routinely engaged by financial institutions, funds and corporate borrowers.

‘A small practice of high-quality lawyers’, Epstein Rosenblum Maoz (ERM) fields ‘a talented, business-minded and commercial’ team. The group is best known for its marked international focus, with many lawyers hailing from London and New York firms, and it regularly acts for major global banks on multi-jurisdictional lending transactions, including BNP Paribas, Société Générale and Lloyds Bank. The firm also acts for a growing share of Israeli banks and institutional lenders on regulatory and transactional matters. Group head Amnon Epstein has strong international expertise.

Erdinast, Ben Nathan, Toledano & Co. houses a robust borrower-side practice, which has close relationships with borrowers including Netafim and Livnat Group. The team also continues to increase its market share of big-ticket lender mandates, with recent work for banks, insurance companies and private equity funds. The group boosted its lender-side practice further in 2019, with the hire of Roy Gross, who joins as partner from Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary. Doni Toledano and Dan Sella are other key names.

Hamburger Evron & Co. Law Offices & Notaries’ team is distinguished by its ability to lean on the wider firm’s market-leading urban renewal practice and it has notable strength in the financing of real estate projects. On the lender side, the firm acts for major Israeli banks such as Bank Hapoalim and Leumi, while borrower clients include prominent real estate companies. The group’s strong banking litigation offering is also of note. Assaf Englard, who handles a varied mix of financing transactions, bank claims, insolvency issues and litigation cases, and litigator Gabriel Moyal-Maor are the practice heads.

The diverse practice at Lipa Meir & Co blends experience in traditional lending matters with niche strength in developing finance areas, including true sale opinions and factoring transactions. The team also sets itself apart through its frequent representation of non-bank financial institutions in lending deals, including Bereshit, Israel’s largest leveraging fund, and Cogito Capital Fund. Group co-head Ronen Baharav acts for borrowers and lenders, but is best known for his relationships with alternative lenders, including institutional investors and leverage funds, and banks. Yariv Shalom, managing partner for the finance and real estate department, is also noted.

Barnea Jaffa Lande & Co. is recognised for its focus on project finance, particularly in the energy and infrastructure spheres, where it is consistently engaged by lenders and borrowers. The firm’s robust regulatory practice is another significant differentiator and the team is a popular choice for foreign banks looking for local regulatory counsel. Zvi Gabbay is sought after for his international experience and enjoys strong relationships with Switzerland-based clients, including Julius Baer Group. Simon Jaffa is also noted for his strong cross-border practice.

Highlighted for fielding ‘leaders in real estate and finance’, M. Firon & Co Advocates and Notaries leverages its top-tier urban development offering to specialise in real estate finance. Best known for its borrower-side practice, the group also regularly advises financial institutions on lending transactions, banking litigation and regulatory matters. Tamar Firon-Smorodinsky, who leads the projects and real estate groups, has a strong record in real estate finance. Udi Efron, who spearheads the capital markets, corporate and securities department, is another name to note.

On the lender side, Yehuda Raveh & Co. primarily advises on project finance matters, with its recent experience spanning large-scale infrastructure and energy projects. The firm also houses a robust regulatory department, which advises the Bank of Jerusalem on day-to-day matters, among other financial institutions. Department head Lisa Tross counts local and international lenders and borrowers among her clients. Ron Vered specialises in project finance.