Adv Pinhas Rubin > Gornitzky & Co. > Tel Aviv, Israel > Lawyer Profile
Gornitzky & Co. Offices

Vitania Tel-Aviv Tower
20 Haharash St. TLV Israel 6761310
Israel
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Adv Pinhas Rubin

Work Department
Corporate; Tax; Mergers & Acquisitions; Banking & Finance; Capital Markets & Securities; Trusts, Estates & Private Wealth Management; Litigation & Dispute Resolution; Class Actions & Derivative Suits; White Collar Crime; Restructuring & Insolvency; Administrative Law; Commercial; Telecoms & Media; Antitrust & Competition
Position
Firm Chairman and Senior Partner.
Career
Pinhas Rubin is the Chairman and the Head of the firm at Gornitzky & Co.
He is considered by the Israeli financial press to be a “key position” holder and was listed therein as one of the people who will “open any door for you”. Since 2002, The Marker Magazine has repeatedly identified him as one of the 100 most influential people in the Israeli economy, and leading international legal guides named him “a super lawyer” and “the best lawyer in Israel”. In 2019 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chambers Global guide.
Mr. Rubin sets himself apart from other legal practitioners, who specialize in one specific field, with his unique interdisciplinary approach: He is regarded as a reputable expert in the numerous fields in which he regularly practices, especially in the areas of corporate law, tax, mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, trusts and estates, litigation and dispute resolution, white collar crime, class actions and derivative suits. In addition, Mr. Rubin lectures on a variety of legal topics at Israel’s finest academic institutions.
Acting across a broad range of legal practices, Mr. Rubin is extensively involved in Israel’s most significant transactions and legal disputes.
Mr. Rubin has the utmost respect for his clients’ privacy and therefore clients remain anonymous in notable representations that include:
- Assisting Israel’s largest commercial groups and banks in their tax issues and tax disputes;
- Involvement in tax matters on behalf of leading international telecommunications companies, financial service providers, and banking institutions in Israel;
- Representation and counsel to foreign trusts and their beneficiaries regarding trust laws and related tax matters;
- Representation of affluent Israeli families in their legal matters, as well as legal and tax advice to high net worth individuals who qualify for a tax holiday upon their immigration to Israel;
- Mergers, acquisitions and re-organizations of leading Israeli companies, including Israel’s largest energy companies;
- Structuring a three-way merger of three publicly-traded Israeli insurance companies;
- Structuring a merger between Israel’s two largest food manufacturers;
- Acting on behalf of Israel’s largest banks in mergers and acquisitions;
- Representation of Israel’s largest bank, in its share offering by prospectus (“GDR”) to accredited foreign investors;
- Representation of Israel’s largest companies in IPOs on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange;
- Representation of high profile corporate leaders in defense of white collar crimes;
- Litigation in class actions and derivative suits on behalf of leading industrial and commercial companies in the Israeli economy, such as banks, insurance companies and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange;
- Acting on behalf of US and Israeli investors in the acquisition of a controlling interest in Israel’s largest bank;
- Ongoing representation of Israel’s largest banks in their various corporate and tax issues;
- Advising and litigating on behalf of Israel’s leading insurance companies on various corporate, tax and commercial matters;
- Advising Israel’s largest business groups with regard to the recommendations of the Committee on Increasing Competitiveness in the Economy (the “Concentration Committee”);
- Representation of the CEO of a leading international public company, traded both in the US and Israel, in an appeal to the Israeli Supreme Court regarding an alleged criminal tax violation, in which the decision of the district court was overturned;
- Representation of Israel’s Ministry of Finance and three former finance ministers in the governmental investigation committee regarding the collapse of bank securities on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange;
- Representation of a significant private shareholder in the sale of his interest in one of Israel’s largest insurance companies;
- Serving as the liquidator of a large international insurance company, including devising a liquidation plan and negotiating an arrangement with international creditors;
- Representation of Israel’s leading gas companies before the Committee to Examine the Fiscal Policy on Oil and Gas Resources in Israel (the “Sheshinski Committee”);
- Representation of one of Israel’s leading commercial families in their personal and commercial affairs, including their purchase of significant interests in banking and insurance companies.
- Representation of the Israeli Ambassador to a significant foreign country, formerly the president of one of Israel’s leading universities, in certain settlements with the authorities and his defense before the High Court of Justice in his appeal on the preclusion of his appointment as Israel’s ambassador.
- Representation of a controlling shareholder in a public company suspected of committing several inside trading offenses, in which he was acquitted of all charges.
Languages
Hebrew and English.
Memberships
1973, Israel Bar Association; Member of the National Advisory Committee on Reform of the Israeli Court System that was established by the Minister of Justice and the Chief Justice of the Israeli Supreme Court; Chairman of the Israel Bar Association’s Taxation Committee (1985-1999); Member of the National Committee on Reform of Taxation, a committee appointed by the Minister of Finance, and that applied principles of international taxation on the Israeli taxation system (known as the “Rabinovitz Committee”) (2002)
Education
LL.B., Tel Aviv University (1972)
Lawyer Rankings
Israel > Restructuring and insolvency
(Leading partners)The ‘creative, smart and communicative team’ at Gornitzky & Co. acts for distressed corporations, creditors, shareholders, financial institutions and private equity sponsors on a broad range of mandates, from debt and capital restructurings, corporate finance restructurings and structured receiverships to insolvency cases, where the team is often appointed as liquidators, receivers or trustees. Yaron Elhawi, who is noted for his expertise in insolvency matters, in addition to bankruptcy, debt arrangements and corporate restructuring cases, jointly leads the practice alongside Karen Reichbach-Segal, who is a ‘hands-on and highly capable lawyer with years of experience’ as a trustee in stay of proceedings and compositions with creditors, in addition to acting as the receiver and liquidator of companies. Amnon Biss, who represents creditors in distressed companies, debtor companies and their executive management in insolvency mandates, is another key contact in the group, alongside Pinhas Rubin and Ofer Tzur.
Israel > Dispute resolution > Dispute resolution: local litigation and arbitration
Gornitzky & Co. houses ‘one of the top three litigation teams in Israel’, according to satisfied clients. The diverse practice acts for a mix of multinational corporations, small-to-medium sized companies and individuals across a range of litigation, arbitration and mediation proceedings. The team further stands out for its activity in high-stakes cases, particularly in the financial services, technology, transport and energy areas, among others. Department head Ofer Tzur is considered by some as ‘Israel’s pre-eminent litigator’; his work takes in both domestic and cross-border cases. Other senior litigators include high-profile firm chairman Pinhas Rubin; managing partner Kfir Yadgar, who specialises in hospitality and transport-related cases; and Ofer Fleischer, who focuses on corporate, capital markets, and energy disputes. Also noted are Eli Cohen
(‘highly skilled and knowledgeable’); Maya Sabari (‘very sharp and smart’) and newly promoted partner Inbal Ronel.
Israel > Insurance
Gornitzky & Co. handles work for five of the largest insurance companies in Israel, notably in class actions, finance matters, and M&A transactions, as well as assisting with regulatory and tax issues. Experienced litigator Harel Shaham leads the firm’s insurance work. He recently worked with firm chairman Pinhas Rubin to defend a series of class actions against large domestic insurers concerning allegations of the unlawful collection of funds from insured members; a recent Supreme Court decision found in favour of the insurers.
Israel > Commercial, corporate and M&A
(Hall of Fame)Gornitzky & Co.’s M&A practice is renowned for its expertise in managing complex cross-border and domestic transactions for Israeli and international conglomerates, public corporations, private equity funds, and venture capitalists. Co-head Chaim Friedland specialises in capital raising, while fellow co-head Elite Elkon is recognised for her work on intricate mergers and acquisitions, financial regulatory matters, and financing transactions. Timor Belan is an expert in international compliance and investigations, while Yehonatan Raff specialises in cross-border private M&A and hi-tech venture capital. Firm chairman Pinhas Rubin
serves as another key contact in the practice
Israel > Tax
(Hall of Fame)Gornitzky & Co. has a long history in the practice area, with expertise in corporate, real estate, and private client taxation, in addition to strength in indirect taxes. The group covers both contentious and non-contentious mandates, and is praised for its ‘deep professionalism.’ Highly experienced practitioner Pinhas Rubin co-leads alongside Daniel Paserman, whose practice covers both corporate and private client tax matters. Gil Grady advises on tax aspects of M&A, financings, and restructurings, as well as litigation. Shlomo Aviad Zider has key strength in contentious tax matters, with experience in investigations and criminal tax cases, while Assaf Prussak is a notable name for international tax mandates. Adi Haya Raban is highly active in litigation.
Lawyer Rankings
- Commercial, corporate and M&A Israel
- Dispute resolution: local litigation and arbitration Israel > Dispute resolution
- Hall of Fame Israel > Tax
- Hall of Fame Israel > Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Leading partners Israel > Restructuring and insolvency
- Restructuring and insolvency Israel
- Tax Israel
- Insurance Israel
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Banking and finance
- Capital markets
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution > Dispute resolution: local litigation and arbitration
- Dispute resolution > Dispute resolution: mediation and international arbitration
- Energy
- Real estate and construction
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Tax
- Telecoms and media
Firm Rankings
- Competition/antitrust
- Dispute resolution > Dispute resolution: class actions (including derivative actions)
- Employment
- Healthcare and life sciences
- Infrastructure
- Intellectual property > Intellectual property: commercial/transactions
- Investment and venture capital funds
- Dispute resolution > Dispute resolution: white-collar crime, investigation and fraud
- Hi-tech and start-ups
- Insurance
- Intellectual property > Intellectual property: disputes
- Planning and zoning
- Transport
- Intellectual property > Intellectual property: filing/prosecution