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

Agmon & Co. Rosenberg Hacohen & Co.'s team acts for private companies, local municipalities and property owners, among others, throughout the course of evacuation-reconstruction projects and other government initiatives for affordable and safe housing. It also handles regulatory matters and contentious issues before the various committees and the Court of Administrative Affairs. The team has also developed a strong foothold advising investment companies seeking to support urban renewal projects. 'Attentive and professional' Ishai Itsikovich acts for clients on all types of contemporary urban renewal plans, including on the lifecycle of Pinui Binui and Tama 38 projects. Eyal Mamo is another key name. Associate Eliyahu Dahan provides support on all forms of urban renewal projects.

Gindi-Caspi, Advocates and Notary's large team acts for clients including large corporations, municipalities and landowners on demolition and reconstruction projects across Israel comprising residential and commercial units. The group advises on funding, regulatory approvals, tax liabilities and the various other aspects of such projects. Ziv Caspi, who sits as head of the Urban Renewal Committee of the Israel Bar Association, is advising Almog Demolish and Build on several demolition-reconstruction projects in various regions of the country totaling 8,000 residential units. Associate Chicco Avram is involved in a significant number of the firm's Tama 38 and evacuation and construction projects.

Goldfarb Seligman & Co. handles a high volume of NOP 38 and evacuation-construction projects in Israel, where it acts for all parties, including apartment owners and contractors. Practice co-head Avi Arad is frequently instructed to oversee large-scale evacuation-construction projects; in one such ongoing matter, he is representing Neve Gad in obtaining the approval of tenants required to commence a major project for the construction of a luxury residential building comprising 1,500 housing units (compared to the current 471 units) with an estimated value of NIS3bn. Fellow co-head Levy Amitay is also noted.

Goldman, Erlich, Edelstein, Avigad & Co. advises developers and tenants on NOP 38 and evacuation-reconstruction projects from the planning stage through to the sale of units. Additionally, the practice leverages the firm's banking and finance department to advise clients on the capital required to support their urban renewal initiatives in Israel. Ori Avigad, who is an expert in the field of urban renewal, is acting alongside Amitai Erlich in advising Azorim on four evacuation-reconstruction projects comprising 2,100 housing units in Ramat Gan and Tel Aviv.

Hamburger Evron & Co. Law Offices & Notaries has particular expertise in NOP 38 projects and also advises on evacuation-construction projects across Israel, where it acts for all parties, including developers, tenants and private associations. Dor Shacham is experienced in all stages of urban renewal projects, from planning and zoning through to registration of land rights and development, whereas Itay Chelouche specialises in NOP 38 and evacuation-reconstruction projects. Chelouche is advising Kardan Real Estate on several NOP 38 projects for the development of over 1,000 housing units in various regions of the country, including a project in Haifa comprising 400 housing units. Ronen Yardeni is also noted.

Herzog Fox & Neeman's dedicated urban renewal team is particularly active in demolition-reconstruction projects in Israel, where it predominantly acts for property owners. It advises on planning, negotiations and contractual agreements and regulatory matters before planning committees regarding approvals of zoning plans and building permits. Ariel Flavian is frequently instructed in urban renewal projects, due to his broad expertise in construction, real estate and planning disputes and his knowledge of the regulatory process informing Tama 38 projects. Moshe Hardi, noted for his 'impressive analytical skills', advises entrepreneurs on the development and marketing of projects, displaying particular expertise in evacuation-construction initiatives.

M. Firon & Co Advocates and Notaries 'dynamic and thorough' team handles a consistent stream of very large-scale urban renewal projects primarily for developers but also for residents. The firm's advice on evacuation-construction and NOP 38 projects covers due diligence, negotiations with land owners, assisting with agreements with contractors, as well as representation in registration proceedings and during planning and zoning proceedings. Practice head Dana Biran is an expert in the field; she acts for all stakeholders engaged in urban renewal projects, including Ashdar and Azorim. Barak Keinan and Shay Huberman are other names to note.

Yigal Arnon & Co's team has a strong track record in transaction planning, representation before the planning authorities and tax authorities. It handles a broad range of urban renewal projects, including evacuation-construction initiatives. Adam Spruch takes on a significant volume of the firm's projects in this field, including advising Bait ve Gag Fund on over 30 urban renewal projects in central Israel that will culminate in the establishment of over 1,000 new residential units. Asaf Eylon has considerable expertise in evacuation-construction projects. Lee Maor advises clients on land registration, construction agreements and real estate financing, among other areas. Other key names include Amalia Meshi, Naftali Nir and Hagit Bavly.

Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary is frequently instructed in large-scale evacuation-reconstruction and, to a lesser extent, NOP 38 projects, where it acts exclusively for developers. The firm is also known for advising banks on financing urban renewal projects. Ofra Cohen specialises in handling high-value projects involving the construction of thousands of housing units, and has exceptional knowledge of the regulatory landscape in this field through her engagement with the government on legislative proposals that stand to affect urban renewal developments. Shalom Simon is the other key name.

Avraham Lalum & Co. Law Offices's urban renewal practice handles a high volume of Tama 38 demolition and reconstruction projects, where it acts for developers throughout the planning and building process. The firm also has expertise advising US companies on acquisitions of properties in Israel though the purchase of limited liability companies. Avraham Lalum is frequently involved in the legislative developments underpinning urban renewal projects, drawing upon his long track record in the field and his academic credentials as a lecturer in urban renewal and Tama 38 projects at Tel Aviv's Fishman Center and Lahav Institute.

AYR – Amar Reiter Jeanne Shochatovitch & Co's practice predominantly acts for developers on urban renewal projects, where it advises on all aspects, including negotiations with tenants, financing and land registration. Omer Gadish handles evacuation and construction and NOP 38 projects, leveraging his wider expertise in residential and commercial real estate, banking and finance and land taxation. In one highlight, Gadish is advising Shapir Housing and Building on a demolition and reconstruction project involving 700 new units. Amir Amar is another key name. Eli Eshel and Meytal Katz-Rosenberg were new arrivals in July 2020.

Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co acts for developers, promoters and property owners engaged in urban renewal projects at all stages, from negotiations with apartment owners through to certification and occupancy. It receives a steady steam of work relating to demolition and reconstruction. The group is advising Tama 38 Company on 50 separate projects, including five under construction, comprising thousands of units in total. Amir Chen handles Tama 38 and 38/2 projects alongside a wide range of other real estate transactions. Senior associate Ori Yanoc frequently assists Chen with all types of urban renewal projects. Omri Shilo is the other name to note.

Gornitzky & Co.'s urban renewal group advises clients, including well-known investors and developers, on large-scale Tama 38 and evacuation-construction projects across Israel, in addition to mixed use developments comprising commercial and residential units. Shlomo Cohen, who heads up the firm's large real estate and construction team, is well versed in all aspects of construction projects, including planning permissions, land acquisitions and financing transactions. Eyal Marom has standout expertise in large infrastructure projects and considerable experience handling large-scale commercial and residential projects in Israel.

Lipa Meir & Co's urban renewal practice represents developers and tenants throughout the course of NOP 38 and evacuation-construction projects, some of which involve thousands of units and large-scale city renewal plans. The group has expertise handling negotiations with government authorities, agreements with tenants and objections by local municipalities to building plans. The team is advising Pashkovsky Group on several projects, including an evacuation-construction matter in Holon involving the construction of 1,800 new residential units. Yariv Shalom is the key name.

Shibolet & Co.'s team is active in Pinui Binui and Tama 38 projects, where it primarily advises landowners but also acts for developers. Drawing upon its wider real estate practice, the firm is able to provide full-service advice, including handling financing matters, planning and zoning disputes and construction. Eran Balint and Yair Salomon are the key names. Balint's clients include developers in Israel and foreign lenders, whereas Yair is a key name for assisting municipalities with all real estate matters and has strong knowledge of the regulatory requirements of urban renewal projects.

Steinmetz, Haring, Gurman & Co. primarily advises developers and, less frequently, tenants throughout the course of evacuation-reconstruction projects, but is also active in other types of urban renewal initiatives. Oren Erdman specialises in Tama 38, Tama 38/2 and evacuation-reconstruction projects; he is advising Shlomo Sixt Group on a project in Givatayam in which two new towers will be built, adding 1,000 new apartments, public areas and commercial spaces on top of the refurbishment of 300 existing apartments.

Barnea Jaffa Lande & Co.'s urban renewal team predominantly represents apartment owners during negotiations with entrepreneurs and developers in relation to urban renewal projects. The team also has the capabilities to advise developers and construction companies throughout the course of Pinui Binui and Tama 38 projects. Eldar Adato, who joined the firm in 2019, has considerable experience in real estate, zoning and planning and residential projects, with particular strength in depth representing clients in various disputes, including land expropriation claims, administrative petitions and civil cases.

Eshel, Ashlagi, Rozent - Law Offices handles a high volume of demolition-rebuild projects across Israel for residents and developers. The group handles deal structuring, negotiations, zoning plans and registration, among many other areas. Eli Eshel is the most active member of the group and demonstrates expertise in evacuation and reconstruction projects. Meytal Katz-Rosenberg is also a key player in the practice, with strong knowledge of the taxation, construction and planning aspects of urban renewal projects, including city renewal plans. Since publication, Eli Eshel and Meytal Katz-Rosenberg joined AYR - Amar Reitar Jeanne Shochatovitch & Co.

Miller & Co. Law Office predominantly advises real estate entrepreneurs on evacuation-construction and Tama 38 projects, where it provides full legal support during negotiations with tenants, planning procedures and permits, construction contracts, and representation before municipalities in relation to other regulatory issues. Yossi Miller's expertise in planning and zoning matters includes objections and appeals, and financing. He is advising Minrav Projects on a Pinui Binui development comprising 720 new apartments in six high-rise buildings in Haifa.