The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Israel > Transport

Herzog Fox & Neeman is a leading firm for aviation finance, where it acts for lenders and leasing companies, international air carriers and a major aircraft manufacturer. The group is jointly headed by Mark Phillips and Alan Sacks, who acted for two international lenders in relation to the financing of two Boeing aircraft acquired by El Al Israeli Airlines; the lenders in this matter were located in Japan and thus the transaction employed a Japanese aircraft finance structure. Additionally, Sacks advised Aviation Capital Group on the sale and leaseback of a new aircraft to Akira Israeli Airlines, and also advised the client on a lease transaction with El Al. Also recommended is Mark Phillips, whom clients describe as 'an exceptional lawyer by any standard'. Phillips has experience in aviation finance, but also advises CityPass, the operator of the Jerusalem Light Rail's Red Line, on a full range of contentious and non-contentious matters. Of late, the team advised CityPass on issues such as passenger detention and penalties for fare evasion. Other key clients include Arkia Israeli Airlines and Turkish Airlines.

Naschitz, Brandes, Amir & Co. has historical ties to the aviation and maritime industries, and handles complex disputes - particularly insurance-related litigation - as well as ongoing commercial advice. Department head Ilan Winder is the firm's key contact for aviation sector work and is representing a litany of international air carriers in class action litigation concerning flight cancellations. The team also has dedicated expertise in crash litigation and passenger fatalities. In one matter, Moshe Ben-Sira represented Cessna in a District Court claim regarding two passenger deaths. The shipping and maritime practice group acts for both of Israel's major ports, international port companies, yacht owners and cruise operators, and overseas forwarders. A key figure in the practice group is senior associate Merav Nur, who represents Ashdod Port in all litigation arising from damages to its infrastructure or its cargo shipments. Similarly, the team is representing Haifa Port in a claim filed against it regarding damage cause to a cargo and vessel in the port. Nur is also regularly engaged to register vessels internationally. Shipco Transport and RCL Cruises are among the team's clients.

Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co handles regulatory matters and commercial and civil litigation for a host of domestic and international air carriers. Shirly Kazir heads the aviation practice and, together with the litigation team, is acting for Delta Air Lines and Lufthansa in relation to separate claims regarding certain global policies concerning unused tickets; she is also representing British Airways in a class action dispute concerning the company's global no-show policy. Kazir also represents aviation groups in insurance-related litigation, such as recently representing Germania Airlines in a claim for damages arising from an aircraft collision at Ben Gurion Airport. In addition to her aviation-sector work, Kazir has experience in the maritime industry, where she is advising an international shipping company on the regulatory aspects of its establishment of Israeli operations. Other key clients include Pegasus, Wizz Air, Ryanair, Small Planet Airlines, and QAS - Quality Airport Services.

'Despite its size', Gottlieb, Gera, Engel & Co. Advocates is 'known to be a prominent firm', especially in aviation finance and leasing. The department is headed by Charles Gottlieb, who is engaged by foreign lenders, air carriers and an international aviation company in relation to a variety of cross-border finance, purchase and leasing transactions. Another contact in the team is Assi Talmor, who provides ongoing advice to Eldan Transportation Group, a leading domestic car rental company, regarding its private and public market fleet financing. The practice was recently strengthened by the arrival of Osnat Issan, who was formerly vice president and general counsel of CAL Cargo Air-Lines, Israel's largest air freight operator.

The service at Harris & Co. Maritime Law Office is marked by 'uncompromising professionalism' and 'an elite knowledge of the maritime industry'. Jointly led by John Harris and Yoav Harris, the team handles complex litigation at all level of the Israeli courts, including ship arrests, and provides ongoing advice to shipowners, agents, freight forwarders, operators and other corporate shipping groups. The firm also handles ship sale and purchase transactions and vessel registration.

Ilan Orly & Co. Law Firm specialises in complex litigation in the shipping and maritime industry. The firm, which is highly regarded by peers, is headed by name partner Ilan Orly, who  acts for a range of market participants, including shipowners, charterers, P&I clubs, and operators. Orly also handles marine insurance litigation. Eran Shellac and Yoav Shpigler are additional contacts.

Leshem-Kipperman, Law Offices & Notary advises clients in the maritime and aviation sector on general commercial matters, insurance and disputes, including tort litigation. In the maritime sector, the team has particular expertise in ship arrests and maritime lien litigation, while in the aviation space, the team advises on aircraft finance, sale and purchase transactions, leasing, and various regulatory matters. Moshe Leshem and Irit Leshem Kipperman are key contacts.

In the aviation sector, S. Horowitz & Co handles civil litigation, antitrust issues and regulatory matters for industry associations, aircraft manufacturers and major international airlines. Practice co-head Hugh Kowarsky assisted a well-known commercial airline with the regulatory approvals necessary for certain special-circumstance overflight permits. Kowarsky and fellow co-head Eyal Doron are representing British Airways in a claim filed by five travel agencies regarding the accessibility of British Airways' flight information on the claimants' global distribution systems. The team also provides antitrust advice in relation to proposed mergers and joint ventures in the aviation sector.

AYR – Amar Reiter Jeanne Shochatovitch & Co advises public transportation groups, auto companies and clients in the aviation sector on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious work. Of particular note, Yoav Caspi and Assaf Lapid advise the largest public transportation company in Israel, Kavim Public Transportation, on everything from tender participation, bus purchase and financing agreements, to various regulatory issues and litigation. The team also acts for El Al Israeli Airlines in relation to corporate governance, securities, privacy and litigation. Other key clients include auto companies Kesher Rent A Car, Mayer Group, Shlomo Sixt, and Auto Center.

Goldfarb Seligman & Co. acts for domestic and international airlines in commercial and civil litigation, commercial transactions, and day-to-day operational mandates. In the contentious space, Zvi Bar-Nathan is representing multiple international air carriers in a claim and counter-claim regarding the companies' policy on remuneration for travel agents that sell tickets for the airlines. The team has also advised an aircraft manufacturer on a supply agreement with the Israeli government.

Gornitzky & Co. provides a host of commercial and regulatory advice to clients in the public transportation sector. In particular, the team advises Dan Public Transportation Company on all of its day-to-day operational matters, including public tenders, regulatory concerns, and commercial contracts and joint ventures. Additionally, the team advises Pandan Advanced Transportation on the execution of long-term service agreements, the importation of buses and other commercial agreements. Key figures in the team include Kfir Yadgar and Yiftah Farber.

M. Firon & Co Advocates and Notaries has traditional strength in the aviation sector, where it provides corporate, regulatory, employment and litigation advice to industry associations, government bodies, aircraft owners, and freight and passenger airlines. The key contact in the team is Ron Genat, who acts for the Israel Air Line Pilots Association in relation to a range of regulatory matters. Gad Elbaz, who formerly headed the aviation practice, left the firm in 2018.

Meitar Liquornik Geva Leshem Tal Law Offices has a wealth of experience in transport infrastructure mandates, which has brought the team work from potential concessionaires such as Dan Bus Company. Moreover, the team has handled complex litigation for an international auto producer, and advises Hainan Airlines and Korean Air on ongoing commercial and regulatory issues associated with its Israel-facing operations. Additionally, Adv Alon Gellert acted for Or Yarok, a nonprofit traffic safety lobbyist, in relation to certain legislative and regulatory initiatives regarding traffic safety. In the contentious space, Adv Israel Leshem and Adv Ron Peleg are representing Volkswagen Group in a number of class action claims concerning issues such as airbag safety and discrepancies in the company's fuel emissions reporting.

Leveraging the strength of its corporate, litigation and tender law practices, Shibolet & Co. with Raved, Magriso, Benkel & Co. handles commercial work and general litigation for a variety of domestic and international transportation companies. The corporate team provides ongoing legal services to General Motors, which includes advice on privacy, environmental law and the exportation of autonomous vehicles, while the litigation group has handled general commercial and class action litigation for clients such as Albar Leasing and Shlomo Car Sale. Hillel Ish-Shalom is representing Aeroflot - Russian Airlines in a class action dispute concerning its ticket cancellation policy. Further, Adi Zaltzman provides a wide range of commercial law advice to Budget Israel and Holiday Travel Israel. Gadi Ouzan and David Magriso are key contacts in the team.

Salomon, Lipschütz & Co. provides a comprehensive service to several of Israel's largest public transportation companies. The transportation department is headed by Amit Gur, who serves as legal counsel for the Forum of Private Public Transportation Companies in Israel. Gur is engaged by clients such as Nateev Express - Public Transportation and Afikim - Public Transportation in relation to a range of regulatory matters involving procurement, environmental issues, the execution of service contracts, and accessibility compliance. In the contentious space, Gur is involved in a number of civil claims and disputes concerning issues such as disability law, service delays and consumer protection. Other key clients include Kavim Public Transportation, Israel - Ramallah Bus Company, and Metropoline Public Transport, which is a new client of the firm.