The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Israel > Real estate: urban renewal

Agmon & Co. Rosenberg Hacohen & Co. is 'one of the most client-friendly teams in Israel', according to one source, and its 'professionalism and dedication have proved invaluable to getting a deal closed'. Acting for landowners and entrepreneurs, practice head Ishai Itsikovich is singled out for his 'remarkable attentiveness' and his ability to 'come to grips with the client's goals'. On the apartment owner side, Itsikovich is involved in a number of TAMA 38 and evacuate-rebuild projects totalling over 3,000 residential units. Conversely, Itsikovich is advising real estate developer clients on over 30 urban renewal projects for the construction of nearly 4,500 new residential units in cities across Israel. Also of note, the firm has complementary expertise in planning and zoning, which is led by Avi Porten. In one matter, Porten and Itsikovich are advising New Hope Neve Eliyahu on an evacuate-rebuild project for the demolition of 250 residential units and the subsequent construction of 1,400 new residential units. The team has also advised the Israel Builders Association on regulatory changes affecting the urban renewal market, particularly with regards to the promotion of apartment owners' rights. Other key developer clients include ETOS - Urban Planning & Environmental Services, Amidar, and Cnaan Group.

Gindi-Caspi, Advocates and Notary advises property entrepreneurs on the development of tens of thousands of residential units in TAMA 38 and evacuate-rebuild projects throughout Israel. The team is led by Ziv Caspi, who is advising Almog Demolish and Build on projects in multiple cities totalling roughly 8,000 residential units. Caspi is also acting for Israel Land Development Company - International in a project for the construction of 3,500 housing units, and is also advising the client on a TAMA project in Tel Aviv. Similarly, Adam Tsesvan is acting for Tidhar in relation to the evacuation of over 1,000 residential units and subsequent construction of over 4,000 residential units in Tel Aviv. Other key clients include Afik HaYarden, Dunitz Brothers, and Africa Israel Investments.

Goldfarb Seligman & Co. has 'extensive experience in all practice areas relevant to urban renewal projects' and has 'a deep understanding of the positions and goals of each party in a project negotiation'. A key figure in the team is Avi Arad, 'an exceptional lawyer with a wealth of experience in closing difficult deals'. Arad is acting for Neve Gad and NSA Renewal and Construction in relation to the tenant and planning approvals for the construction of 800 housing units in Rishon LeZion; he is also acting for the apartment owners in relation to a NIS8bn evacuate-rebuild project in Tel Aviv. Arad jointly heads the department with Levy Amitay; the duo is advising the developers on the planning and tenant approval process for the construction of 1,500 residential units in a large-scale evacuate-rebuild project in Tel Aviv. Also recommended is Gabi Drucker, who is acting for Gabay Group in relation to a 770-unit evacuate-rebuild project in Bat Yam.

Hamburger Evron & Co. Law Offices & Notaries is most active in complex TAMA 38 projects and acts for a number of prominent real estate entrepreneurs and tenant associations. A key figure in the team is Itay Chelouche, who is advising developers such as Rotem Shani, Shikun & Binui Real Estate Development and Kardan Real Estate on dozens of TAMA projects comprising thousands of residential units; he is also advising various groups of tenants on TAMA projects in cities across Israel, including Herzliya, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Givatayim and Hod HaSharon. Additionally, Chelouche is advising Netanel Group on a 500-unit urban renewal project in Bat Yam and also on a 300-unit project in Givatayim. Also recommended are Dor Shacham, who is advising Oranim Projects on a large-scale urban renewal project in Ramat HaSharon, and Ronen Yardeni, who is acting for Metropolis (PAE) 2011 Urban Enterprises in relation to a 1,000-unit project in Tel Aviv.

Herzog Fox & Neeman is most active as tenant-side counsel, where it is regularly involved in high-value evacuate-rebuild projects. Moshe Hardi and Amir Peres are advising 460 private landowners on a NIS1bn project in Holon, and are advising 200 landowners on an urban renewal in Rishon LeZion. Similarly, Ariel Flavian is acting for 200 landowners in relation to a 1,000-unit evacuate-rebuild project in Kiryat Bialik. The team is also engaged on the entrepreneur side, where it is involved in dozens of TAMA 38 and evacuate-rebuild projects for clients including Sufrin Group and Efgad Engineering and Construction Works.

Given the firm's 'broad expertise and market recognition', Tadmor Levy & Co. is 'able to provide critical assistance at all stages' of large-scale evacuate-rebuild projects. Led by Sigal Shapira, the team is consistently involved in some of the market's very largest urban renewals. In a standout matter, Shapira is acting for a development joint venture comprising New Israel Land Development and YH Dimri Construction and Development in relation to the Neve David project in Haifa, which will involve the construction of 2,500 residential units. Shapira is also advising YH Dimri Construction and Development on an evacuate-rebuild project in Kfar Saba for the construction of 1,200 new housing units. The team has also acted for tenant committees, including recently advising the rights holders in a NIS2bn project in Givatayim for the construction of 600 new units.

Yigal Arnon & Co has expertise in real estate development, land taxation, planning, finance and litigation, which it brings together to advise Israel's most active real estate developers on large-scale evacuate-rebuild and TAMA 38 projects. Amalia Meshi and Naftali Nir are advising Azorim Construction on a number of urban renewal projects, including a 680-unit development in Netanya and a 400-unit project in Giv'at Shmuel. Similarly, Hagit Bavly and Asaf Eylon are assisting Afikei Smadar with the development process of an urban renewal in Kiryat Gat, which will deliver 438 new apartments in four residential towers. Another key contact is Adam Spruch, who is acting for a private equity fund in relation to the development of over 30 urban renewal projects in central Israel. The team is also acting for Acro Real Estate in an urban renewal in Tel Aviv, involving the demolition of 72 apartments and subsequent construction of 162 units and a large underground parking structure.

Acting for major real estate developers, Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary is involved in a variety of urban renewal projects accounting for thousands of residential units across Israel. The department is jointly led by Shalom Simon and Ofra Cohen, the latter of whom is acting for Grofit Lugat in relation to an evacuate-rebuild project involving the demolition of 176 housing units and the subsequent construction of 679 units as well as 1,300 sqm of public space. Additionally, Simon is acting for new client Zvi Sarfati & Sons Building & Construction in relation to a large-scale evacuate-rebuild project in Bat Yam, which is planned for the construction of five new residential towers, a large commercial and office tower and the regeneration of the commercial front of a street. The team is also involved in several major evacuate-rebuild projects, acting for developers including Aura Israel - Entrepreneurship and Investments, Tidhar Urban Development, Acro Real Estate Entrepreneurship, and Tsabarim Development and Investments.

Avraham Lalum & Co. Law Offices has a track record of successful transactions in the urban renewal space, where it acts for real estate entrepreneurs and apartment owners. Name partner Avraham Lalum is acting for Yuvalim Group in relation to an urban renewal project in Tel Aviv for the construction of 550 new units. Additionally, Lalum is assisting a development group with the completion of the tenant agreements for a 120-unit urban renewal project in Tel Aviv. On the owner side, Lalum is acting for the apartment owners in relation to an urban renewal project for the construction of 425 residential units in Herzliya. Other key clients include Netanel Group, Tel Dan, and Almog 38.

With strengths across the spectrum of complex real estate mandates, Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co is well known in the market for its work in urban renewals, where it acts for range of market participants and is most active in TAMA 38 projects. The key figure in the team is Amir Chen, who is acting for Yigal Almi & Co, a development company specialising in the construction of high-end residences, on the execution of over a dozen TAMA 38 projects in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Chen is also assisting ZF Construction Company with TAMA 38 projects in Ramat HaSharon, Ramat Gan and Tel Aviv. Omri Shilo is another contact in the department, which also acts for apartment owners and promoters.

Goldman, Erlich, Edelstein, Avigad & Co. has an enviable client base of contractors and real estate developers, which the team advises on TAMA 38 and evacuate-rebuild projects throughout Israel, including some in particularly high-profile locations. Indeed, the firm is currently involved in approximately 120 urban renewal projects. A key figure in the team is Ori Avigad, who is acting for Tal Bar Construction and Supervision in relation to over 30 TAMA 38 projects primarily in Ramat Gan and Givatayim. Avigad is also engaged by clients such as Rimon Group, Ampa Israel, and Gabay Group. Additionally, managing partner Amitai Erlich is advising the Boulevard Fund on over ten urban renewal projects in Tel Aviv.

Acting for entrepreneurs and apartment owners, Shibolet & Co. with Raved, Magriso, Benkel & Co. is involved in several large-scale evacuate-rebuild projects as well as a litany of TAMA 38 projects in Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Herzliya and elsewhere. Key figures in the team include Eran Balint and Yair Salomon, who are advising a prominent real estate company on a project in Jerusalem for the demolition of 138 residential units and the subsequent construction of roughly 500 new units. The duo is also acting for the apartment owners in relation to a project for the construction of 435 housing units is Ramat HaSharon. Additionally, the team has experience acting for purchasing groups, including recent advice to Rozio Group regarding the construction of 60 housing units in a prestigious area of Jaffa. Other notable developer clients include Gurkan Real Estate and Kedar Mivnim.

Steinmetz, Haring, Gurman & Co. is regularly involved in evacuate-rebuild and TAMA 38 projects across Israel, where it is engaged by real estate entrepreneurs and apartment owners. In a standout matter, Oren Erdman is advising Shlomo Sixt Group on a large-scale evacuate-rebuild project in Givatayim, which involves the evacuation of 26 buildings and the subsequent construction of over 1,000 housing units as well as adjacent commercial space. Erdman is also acting for a real estate developer in relation to a NIS220m project in Kiryat Ono, which is one of the largest TAMA 38 projects currently under construction. Acting for the apartment owners, Erdman is involved in a 120-unit evacuate-rebuild project in Tel Aviv, which is being developed by Gabay Group. Other key clients include Shikun & Binui, Urban Renewal Initiation & Real Estate, and Meshulam Levinstein Engineering & Contracting.

The team at AYR – Amar Reiter Jeanne Shochatovitch & Co advises many of Israel's most active real estate developers in large-scale urban renewal projects throughout Israel. The real estate department is led by Omer Gadish, who is acting for Erco Holdings in relation to an urban renewal project by the beach line in Bat Yam; the project is planned for construction of 410 apartments as well as an expansive commercial space. Gadish is also advising Shapir Housing and Building on the development of an urban renewal project in Jerusalem, which will deliver over 700 residential units. Another key contact is Amir Amar, who is advising Gindi Enterprise and Development on a project for the development of 500 residential units in Givatayim, and is also acting for a developer in relation to a 522-unit urban renewal project in Ramat HaSharon. Ohad Duvdevany heads the urban renewal practice group.

Eshel, Ashlagi, Rozent - Law Offices has an impressive record of success in large and small urban renewal projects, where it is engaged by real estate developers and apartment owners. On the developer side, Eli Eshel has been involved in a number of large-scale evacuate-rebuild and TAMA 38 projects for Cnaan Group Entrepreneurship and Urban Renewal; this recently included a 320-unit evacuate-rebuild project in Kiryat Ono and multiple TAMA 38 projects in Ramat Gan. Other developer clients include Maribu and Paz Contractors Harav Maimon 6. Further, Eshel is advising a group of apartment owners on an urban renewal project in Tel Aviv for the construction of 350 new residential units.

Acting for a number of Israel's most active real estate investors, Lipa Meir & Co is involved in billions of shekels-worth of evacuate-rebuild projects, including one of the largest urban renewal projects in the country. Amit Sela is acting for the Prashkovsky Group in relation to an evacuate-rebuild project in Holon involving the evacuation of 400 residential units and the subsequent construction of over 1,800 new units; Sela is also assisting the client with large-scale evacuate-rebuild projects in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Rishon LeZion. Other significant developer clients include Sufrin Group, Israel Land Development Company, and Nofim Projects. Sela and Yariv Shalom also have experience acting for apartment owners.

Miller & Co. Law Office is a boutique real estate firm with expertise in planning, real estate taxation and development, real estate litigation, and urban renewals. Headed by Yossi Miller, the team is acting for a prominent developer in relation to a NIS1bn evacuate-rebuild project in Haifa, and is also enagaged by real estate entrepreneurs such as Bar and Sons Construction & Development, Kohav Construction, and Gaiger Assets and Investments. In the contentious space, Miller represented 288 tenants in a Supreme Court appeal concerning the number of tenants required to leave a contract with an entrepreneur. Also of note, Miller provides ongoing advice to Haifa Economic Corporation in relation to the initiation of urban renewal projects in Haifa.