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

Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co is ‘highly skilled in aviation law’, particularly on the contentious side, where it secures a significant volume of consumer, cargo and civil litigation on behalf of major airlines. The team is also active in regulatory and finance matters in the aviation space, while on the infrastructure front it routinely handles road and rail projects. Department head Shirly Kazir is widely lauded for her aviation industry expertise, with sources commending her as an ‘outstanding leader’ — she also handles maritime disputes. Other key contacts include projects head Gilad Winkler and senior litigator Reuven Behar.

Herzog Fox & Neeman’s ‘excellent knowledge of the industry’ translates into a broad transport practice, which has strong skill sets in aviation, public transport and road projects. Arguably, the team is best known for its strength in finance-related matters, particularly in the aviation sector for clients such as Aviation Capital Group, BNP Paribas and MG Aviation. It also has supplementary expertise in transport technology, with recent experience in satellite navigation and driverless cars. Aviation head Alan Sacks and project finance specialist Mark Phillips are the key contacts.

Naschitz, Brandes, Amir & Co.’s first-class transport practice is well balanced between maritime and aviation law and is best known for its strong record in high-stakes litigation — it also handles corporate and commercial work. Clients include the full range of industry participants, including ports, airlines, shipowners and operators, insurers and banks. Department head Ilan Winder specialises in aviation, with his recent work spanning matters for Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and Ukraine International Airlines. Senior associate Merav Nur focuses on shipping, with an emphasis on disputes.

‘Very highly regarded in shipping circles’, S. Friedman & Co. Advocates & Notaries is well known for its longstanding close relationships with major industry names such as ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, Maersk Line and Portline HK. Alongside its premier maritime practice, the group also has experience in aviation and rail-related matters. Amir Cohen-Dor heads the maritime, aviation and transportation department and is highlighted as the ‘foremost shipping law authority in Israel’. The group also includes Michael Safran, who specialises in shipbuilding matters, ship sale and purchase and shipping finance.

Transport boutique Ilan Orly & Co. Law Firm concentrates exclusively on maritime and aviation law, with a dominant practice in the former field. The group is recognised for its strength across all key areas of shipping, including sale and purchase transactions, shipbuilding, ship finance, marine insurance and casualty. Firm founder Ilan Orly is an acknowledged leader in shipping law. Eran Shellac is also recommended and leads the firm’s growing yachts and mega yachts practice.

Leshem-Kipperman, Law Offices & Notary specialises in transport, liability and insurance law, with a focus on the aviation and shipping areas. Litigation is a sweet spot and the group has expertise across a range of product liability, cargo claims and admiralty disputes. On the non-contentious side, the group advises on finance, regulatory issues and sale and purchase transactions. Moshe Leshem and Irit Leshem Kipperman are the names to note.

S. Horowitz & Co’s transport practice spans the aviation, rail and auto industries, with clients including airlines, satellite operators, suppliers of rolling stock, and suppliers of travel-related services. Department co-head Hugh Kowarsky is noted for his aviation expertise and, alongside fellow co-head Eyal Doron, recently represented British Airways and Ryanair in contentious matters. The group also advises on market regulation, corporate finance transactions and infrastructure development.

‘One-stop-shop’, AYR – Amar Reiter Jeanne Shochatovitch & Co routinely advises transport industry clients on regulation, litigation, project tenders, finance transactions and commercial agreements. The multi-disciplinary practice draws together expertise from a wide range of sectors, with road-related matters a particular sweet spot due to its close relationships with Kesher Rent A Car, Mayer Group and Kavim Public Transportation, the second-largest public transportation company in Israel. The department is jointly headed by litigator Ram Jeanne, class action head Yaron Reiter and corporate and commercial lead Yoav Caspi.

Leveraging the strength of its hi-tech and start-up practice, Erdinast, Ben Nathan, Toledano & Co. had a strong showing in technology-related transport matters over the past year, particularly in the auto and bus spaces. Among its highlights, the firm advised Intel-owned Mobileye on its groundbreaking joint venture with Volkswagen and Champion Motors for the launch of a commercial self-driving ride-hailing service in Israel. The department is led jointly by corporate and M&A head Doni Toledano and energy and infrastructure specialist Uri Noy.

Goldfarb Seligman & Co.’s cross-practice group brings together diverse skill sets in litigation, infrastructure, corporate and M&A, regulation and technology. The firm acts for local and global companies and public-sector entities across all transport spheres, with its recent work spanning rail, aviation, maritime and roads. Rami Sofer, who heads the corporate, finance and infrastructure department, is noted for his record in infrastructure projects. Commercial and international litigation head Zvi Bar-Nathan is a key contact for contentious matters.

Gornitzky & Co. handles a range of transport matters, with an emphasis on road-related work. The firm’s close relationship with major public transport operator Dan Public Transportation paid dividends over the past year and the firm advised the client on several matters. Most notably, it advised Dan on its collaboration with VIA Mobility Israel to establish Bubble, a new on-demand shuttle van service — managing partner Kfir Yadgar led that work. Infrastructure partner Yiftah Farber is also noted for his record in bus-related issues.

The ‘very experienced team’ at Meitar Law Offices  is particularly active in infrastructure projects, with sources highlighting its familiarity with all project models. It also advises on aviation matters for clients such as AerCap and El-AL Airlines. Alon Gellert leads the regulation group and has a strong track record in transport disputes. Project finance head Jonathan Finklestone is noted for infrastructure development.

M. Firon & Co Advocates and Notaries’ practice is increasingly weighted towards transport infrastructure, with its recent activity spanning port, rail and tunnel projects. The group also continues to handle a significant volume of aviation work, particularly contentious matters, for clients such as Israel Airports Authority, B. Sky flight services and Corendon Dutch Airlines. Tamar Firon-Smorodinsky is the key contact for infrastructure projects, while Ron Genat is noted for his aviation experience.

Shibolet & Co. acts for a varied mix of transport clients, with Israeli and multinational start-ups, mid-size companies and market leaders all on the team’s books. Rail is a strong suit and the team advises Israel Railways on procurement issues, commercial agreements and contentious matters. The firm also advises bidding consortia on tenders for infrastructure projects, including rail, port and road projects. Corporate and commercial partner Gadi Ouzan jointly heads the department alongside infrastructure specialist David Magriso.