The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Israel > Intellectual property: commercial/transactions

Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co advises major multinationals and market-leading Israeli corporates on cross-border licensing transactions, strategic collaboration agreements and joint ventures, IP-driven M&A, and a variety of other complex IP commercialisation and monetisation projects. The team is renowned for its strength in fintech, privacy and data protection, and cyber, and also has a growing presence in the area of media and production. Headed by Amit Dat, the practice group has recently handled complex strategic technology projects for clients such as Google Israel and Israel Discount Bank. Another key area of strength is advising Israeli start-ups and growth companies on the development and commercialisation of their IP assets. Omri Rachum-Twaig is an active associate in the practice group.

Meitar Law Offices' technology, licensing and transactional IP group has consistently shown itself to be among the leading performers in complex cross-border commercial IP projects and IP-driven corporate transactions in a huge variety of tech-related sectors. The practice group handles a raft of IP and privacy issues for multinationals, but is especially standout for its ability to successfully negotiate complex multi-jurisdictional commercial agreements for Israeli tech companies. The department is led by David Mirchin, a leading figure in the areas of software transactions and licensing, open source, and privacy. Other names to note are Boaz Mizrahi, who specialises in advising start-ups and hi-tech companies on commercial and corporate transactions, and Yael Kalman, who has expertise in the areas of hardware, software and open-source.

Yigal Arnon & Co has a dedicated technology transactional IP practice that is organised into several key areas of expertise and plays an integral role in the firm's top-ranked hi-tech practice. Broken down into specialist sub-groups including medical devices, cyber, IoT, and tech transfer offices, the department is involved in nearly every key industry sector in the market, and is particularly well known for its expertise in software and open source. Noted by his peers as a market leader, practice head Daniel Green has expertise in the negotiation of complex commercial agreements in the biotech, e-commerce, IT, medical devices and pharmaceuticals sectors. Also recommended is Yoheved Novogroder-Shoshan, who handles cross-border commercial IP deals and is particularly active in the life sciences sector, and Eli Greenbaum, who specialises in open source and software technologies. Barry Levenfeld is a recommended hi-tech partner, who leads many of the firm's largest IP-heavy corporate transactions.

Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary is a top performer in the Israeli hi-tech space, and handles a range of IP commercialisation matters for start-ups and growth companies, TTOs and research organisations, and larger technology companies. In addition to its transactional work, the team also provides comprehensive advice on privacy and data protection matters. Of particular note in 2018-2019, the team won the tender to provide the Israel Innovation Authority with legal services in all of its English-language dealings. Ian Rostowsky heads the intellectual property and internet law practice, and is a key contact for cross-border licensing transactions and a litany of other commercialisation mandates. Special counsel Gal Omer focuses on privacy, data protection and GDPR, and also advises on various other commercial issues in the IT and software sectors.

The IP team at Herzog Fox & Neeman acts for domestic and international clients in IP-driven corporate transactions and commercial agreements. In particular, the practice group has developed specific expertise in the areas of online gaming, fintech and e-commerce, and ag-tech and breeders' rights. The IP department is headed by Karen Elburg, who specialises in commercial IP transactions and the protection trade mark and domain name rights. Other key figures include Dan Sharot, who focuses on tech transactions in the e-commerce and life sciences sectors, and hi-tech partners Gal Eschet and Ronen Hausirer, both of whom have experience of cross-border commercial transactions and hi-tech M&A.

A well-known name in the Israeli IP market, Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer Baratz provides comprehensive IP legal support to clients in the areas of biotech, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, software, and autonomous driving. Headed by highly rated senior partner Yael Baratz, the firm's corporate and licensing group is one of Israel's largest dedicated transactional IP teams. The practice group has noted expertise in cross-border commercial agreements, which it handles as part of its wider strategic IP service including portfolio development and patent prosecution. Mark Cohen heads the life sciences practice, and Hili Rashkovan handles commercial transactions for clients in a variety of sectors including software, IT, medical devices and clean-tech.

S. Horowitz & Co has strengths across the spectrum of IP work including litigation, trade mark portfolio management and development, and commercial licensing and transactional matters. The team advises major rights holders such as Teva on various trade mark licensing deals, and has particular specialism in acting for academic commercialisation bodies and research and development institutions. Practice head Aharon Bloch handles a litany of licensing matters for the commercialisation arm of the Weizmann Institute of Science, and Keith Shaw also has expertise in acting for TTOs and academic institutions. Also recommended are Avi Ordo and Dovev Apel, who advise on a range of contentious and non-contentious IP matters.

Shibolet & Co. is particularly strong in the Israeli tech sector, and with wider experience in cross-border corporate, commercial and financing deals, the firm is well placed to handle complex commercial IP transactions for innovative growth companies and hi-tech investors. Jointly headed by Tamir Afori and tech transactional specialist Tal Karplus, the IP team acts for domestic corporates and multinationals, including one of the world's leading technology and telecoms companies, in relation to in-license agreements with Israel's leading research and development centres. The wider tech practice has expertise in areas including clean-tech and fintech, and has also become involved in budding sectors such as medical cannabis, where the IP team recently advised Israel's largest medical cannabis company on several matters for the commercialisation and development of its IP.

AYR – Amar Reiter Jeanne Shochatovitch & Co's IP group is particularly strong in royalties disputes, and IP matters in the broadcast, media and entertainment sector. Headed by Eyal Roy Sage, the team had an especially standout 2019: the IP practice was awarded a tender to provide IP legal services to the Israel Public Broadcast Corporation, which it advised on various IP matters related to the Eurovision 2019 international song and performance contest, which was held in Tel Aviv. Partner Communications and HOT Telecommunications (the country's largest multichannel TV service provider) are also among the team's key clients.

Goldfarb Seligman & Co. has a strong reputation for hi-tech work and IP-heavy corporate and commercial transactions. The team is instructed by international corporates and Israeli growth companies, which it advises on cross-border licensing agreement and negotiations with the Israel Innovation Authority. In particular, the practice group has expertise in licensing transactions in the life sciences sector, and is also active in the music production and distribution industry. Moreover, the team also provides a range of legal support on privacy and data protection regulations. Sharon Aloni heads the firm's IP department, while Sharon Gazit is a highly regarded corporate and commercial lawyer in the Israeli hi-tech market.

Gornitzky & Co.'s IP practice is headed by Ziv Rotenberg, who joined the firm in 2018 having previously founded and served as managing director of a Hong Kong-based IP consulting firm. Leveraging Rotenberg's background working in East Asia, the IP team has recently advised a number of Israeli start-ups and domestic brands on IP licensing transactions and franchising deals involving Chinese parties. The team is also becoming increasingly active in patent licensing transactions involving academic institutions in Israel and the US.

The IP and privacy team at Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg, Shenhav & Co. advises on the IP aspects of high-value IP-driven M&A, and regularly handles commercial licensing and development agreements for Israeli tech companies. The practice group is led by Ella Tevet, who has experience negotiating commercial agreements and tech transactions across a variety of tech sub-sectors, including software, internet and social media, e-commerce, mobile apps and cyber. Also recommended is Hili Cohen, who specialises in tech transactions in the life sciences sector.

Tony Greenman, Law Offices has niche expertise in copyright law in the field of media and entertainment, where the firm acts for a variety of clients including film and TV production studios and industry associations. The firm is led by name partner Tony Greenman, who acts for major Hollywood studios as well as Israeli production companies, and also advises on fair use matters and copyright royalties issues; he also has a strong track record in copyright litigation. In addition to his copyright work, Greenman also handles trade mark maintenance, registration and disputes.