The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Israel > Telecoms and media

Erdinast, Ben Nathan, Toledano & Co. represents a wide range of companies in the telecoms and media sectors in contentious and commercial matters, including class actions relating to abuse of dominance and unfair pricing, defamation claims, privacy disputes, employment law matters, M&A and major investments. Hadas Bekel specialises in contentious work and Shay Dayan leads on the majority of the firm's commercial mandates in this field. Bekel is advising DBS Satellite Services (YES) on various matters, including all aspects of the launch of a new over-the-top broadcasting service, StingTV, which involves agreements with suppliers, acquiring broadcasting rights and consumer protection issues. Lior Oren, Jonathan Achiron and Giora Erdinast are also noted.

Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co acts for clients, including major broadcasters and technology companies, on high-value commercial agreements and M&A and in regulatory disputes. On the disputes side, it handles libel suits, defamation claims, broadcasting rights issues and copyright law. Of particular note, the team is engaging with the Israeli Ministry of Communications' wholesale market reform, where it acts for Bezeq. The 'outstanding' Yoram Bonen is sought out to handle novel matters, including advising New Channel 10 and its shareholders on its merger with Reshet Media, which is the first ever merger to take place in the country's TV industry. Barak Glickman is another name to note.

Herzog Fox & Neeman predominantly advises well-known international telecoms and media companies, as well as social media giants, satellite companies and airlines. Its workload spans corporate transactions and commercial agreements and the regulatory authorisations that they entail. The group also assists companies investing in over-the-top and internet of things services with respect to their global activities and the regulatory challenges arising. Practice head Esther Sternbach acted for Walt Disney and Fox on a merger between the two companies valued at $71bn, spanning numerous jurisdictions.

Krispin Rubinstein Blecher Law Offices predominantly represents major Israeli broadcasters in petitions and other disputes regarding, for example, infringement of IP, broadcasting and over-the-top streaming rights, channel scheduling issues and M&A approvals. It also handles various regulatory matters relating to the telecoms space and further stands out for its knowledge of the issues deriving from the presence of online media platforms in Israel, particularly concerning competition law. Noga Rubinstein, who is able to draw on previous experience as the Chief Legal Counsel to the Ministry of Communications, acted for Channel 10's labour union during the company's merger with Reshet Media.

S. Horowitz & Co is a popular choice for large media and digital media companies to defend them in class actions. The group's broader offering includes handling major M&A deals and corporate agreements, advising media and telecoms clients seeking to obtain permits and licensing rights from regulatory bodies and assisting companies with bids for major commercial tenders. Hagai Doron represents television and radio broadcasters, cable franchisees, internet content providers and newspapers, among others, with notable expertise advising on tenders issued by the Ministry of Communications for broadcasting licences. Associate Nir Ogolnik specialises in advising media and telecoms clients on regulatory matters, including alleged breach of privacy.

Yigal Arnon & Co has strong expertise in IP and copyright disputes acting for a range of media companies. Other work includes defending telecoms and media companies in class actions; acting for technology companies in relation to claims spanning defamation, privacy and IP; and advising clients on securing the regulatory approvals necessary to set up OTT streaming services. Ido Chitman has vast knowledge of copyright law, with a specialism in the protection and use of benefits rights and performers' rights. Ruth Loven  has expertise in litigation in the telecoms and media space, where she acts for clients including Google and Cellcom.

AYR – Amar Reiter Jeanne Shochatovitch & Co predominantly acts for media and telecoms companies in privacy and data security matters, including disputes and class actions regarding Israeli and EU privacy law. Alongside this, the team handles libel and copyright proceedings and also assists with M&A involving telecoms and media companies. Eyal Roy Sage, who is 'exceptionally brilliant, sharp and knowledgeable', is qualified to practice in Israel, New York and England and Wales. He specialises in contentious and non-contentious privacy, intellectual property and antitrust matters.

Gornitzky & Co.'s team advises clients on a variety of regulatory and corporate matters, including obtaining approvals prior to M&A and executing commercial agreements between broadcasters and contracting parties, including distribution agreements, lease agreements and licensing agreements. Lior Porat represents major media companies and shareholders investing in the telecoms and media sectors in Israel. She is advising D.B.S. Satellite Services ('Yes') throughout its negotiations with the Ministry of Communications regarding a potential transfer of all of the company's assets to Bezeq group. Ziv Rotenberg is also noted.

Meitar Law Offices  acts for media and telecoms companies on M&A and other corporate transactions. On the contentious side, the group's expertise includes defamation, privacy and copyright disputes. The team also has experience of representing clients before parliamentary committees and government ministries in relation to regulatory issues. Yossi Abadi has expertise in M&A, litigation and legislative matters in the media and telecoms sectors.

Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. Advocates and Notary advises PE and VC funds, media companies and advertising companies on a wide range of corporate transactions, including M&A, demergers, investments and financing rounds. The firm also assists start-ups, technology incubators and digital media platforms with GDPR compliance, privacy and various other regulatory matters. Ian Rostowsky advises clients on a wide range of transactions. Recently, he assisted Reshet Media on its merger with Channel 10. Yoav Etzyon advises private and public entities, including media companies, engaged in equity and debt transactions in Israel and the US. In 2019, Hilla Shribman & Adi El Rom joined from boutique outfit Shribman & El Rom.

Goldfarb Seligman & Co. acts for media and telecoms clients on corporate transactions and advises investors in such companies, in addition to handling the defence of class actions and disputes concerning competition law before the ICA. Zvi Bar-Nathan, head of the commercial and international litigation team, frequently represents clients in class actions and other major contentious matters, through arbitration proceedings and in court. Boaz Golan is the firm's go-to partner for competition law disputes in this sector. Ashok Chandrasekhar is another name to note.

Shibolet & Co. with Raved, Magriso, Benkel & Co. has expertise in copyright disputes, often involving claims for royalties by copyright holders. To a lesser extent, the group also acts for companies, including Cellcom, in litigation and on corporate transactions, including M&A. Tamir Afori, noted by one client for his 'unique expertise in all aspects of IP rights', advises domestic and foreign clients in copyright disputes throughout the court circuit in Israel and regularly appears before legislative committees of Knesset in matters concerning IP law in the telecoms sector.

Shimony Gross & Co's 'efficient, responsive and creative' practice primarily advises production companies on the commercial agreements underpinning the development of TV series, including licensing and distribution agreements. Eran Shimony, noted for his 'straightforward approach and uncompromising work ethic' by one client, has a wealth of experience in the sector which includes advising television operators, content distributors, TV channels and production companies on all types of transactions and licensing agreements. He also has expertise in contentious matters concerning copyright  and libel law.