Gornitzky & Co. > Tel Aviv, Israel > Firm Profile

Gornitzky & Co. > The Legal 500 Rankings

Israel > Banking and finance Tier 1

With notable expertise in export finance, Gornitzky & Co. is regularly sought out by the five largest banks in Israel, as well as by non-bank institutional lenders and borrowers, for advice on both transactional and regulatory matters, ranging from real estate financings and credit risk mitigation structuring, to acquisition finance and debt financing work. Practice head Eli Elya is a key contact, routinely advising on out-of-court debt restructurings, while Dubi Gross and Elite Elkon notably focus on cross-border banking and finance transactions. The team also includes Inbal Badner and Hana Atias, noted for their expertise in real estate and construction finance work; Idan Baki, who is an expert in acquisition and leveraged financings; and credit transaction and regulatory specialist Ori Yitzhak.

Israel > Capital markets Tier 1

Gornitzky & Co.‘s team of capital markets experts routinely advises both Israeli and international issuers, banks, investors and underwriters on the full spectrum of public and private offerings of debt and equity securities, large IPOs, as well as listing securities on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Spearheaded by Chaim Friedland, who is the go-to lawyer for issuers and underwriters on outbound transactions, the team also includes Yair Shiloni, who is highly praised by clients for his expertise in public offerings, capital raisings and bond issuances. Domestic capital markets and securities practice head Sharon Werker-Sagy specialises in IPOs and follow-on offerings, while global equity and debt offerings expert Ari Fried, Uri Heller, and corporate and local capital markets practice head Lior Porat are also recommended.

Israel > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Regarded as the go-to firm for new international players on the Israeli market, Gornitzky & Co. maintains a stellar reputation in the field, handling the country’s highest-profile M&A transactions, while also notably assisting private equity firms in their private capital raising operations. Department co-head Chaim Friedland is the main contact, while fellow co-head Elite Elkon’s practice includes financial regulatory matters and financing transactions. Other key names include Timor Belan, who concentrates his strong capabilities on international compliance and investigations, hi-tech industry expert Yehonatan Raff, and firm chairman Pinhas Rubin.

Dispute resolution > Dispute resolution: class actions (including derivative actions) Tier 1

Over the past year alone, Gornitzky & Co. represented clients in 187 class action certification motions and 89 derivative certification motions. The team is well-placed to handle matters involving all of Israel’s core industry segments, but it has been particularly active on behalf of clients in the financial services sector of late, including Israel Discount Bank, Harel Group and Menora Mivtachim Group. It also recorded a significant uptick in consumer protection and accessibility class actions. Ofer Tzur heads the overarching litigation department and ‘triumphs over the most complex trials’. The team additionally includes Noam Ronen, who specialises in class actions and derivative claims; Maya Sabari, who is noted for complex derivative actions; and ‘great litigator’, Harel Shaham.

Dispute resolution > Dispute resolution: mediation and international arbitration Tier 1

The ‘top-notch international arbitration team’ at Gornitzky & Co. is regularly engaged by international clients on arbitration cases, including interim applications to the Israeli courts, with additional experience in enforcement cases of both arbitration awards and court judgements. Practice leader Eli Cohen is an ‘experienced and sharp litigator’, who handles high-stakes energy, construction and infrastructure disputes, while Nuna Lerner is praised as an ‘an outstanding lawyer with excellent technical skills’. Nir Keidar represents clients in proceedings under the rules of various arbitral bodies, as well as in ad-hoc proceedings, and Shai Sharvit is commended as ‘a star in international arbitration’. ‘Calm and collected’ associate Myriam Feinberg is another key contact in the group.

Israel > Energy Tier 1

Gornitzky & Co.’s diverse client roster demonstrates that it acts for major stakeholders in energy matters, including energy companies, borrowers, lenders, investors and construction companies. The firm’s comprehensive practice is additionally evidenced through its work across the full gamut of legal issues, from exploration and regulatory compliance, through to project development, project finance and energy transactions. High-profile name Jack Smith is ‘an expert in his field’ and anchors a group that includes infrastructure, energy and project finance partner Ronit Rozenstein-Barel and projects specialist Itay Geffen. Maya Dvir and senior associate Liron Koren are also recommended.

Israel > Infrastructure Tier 1

Gornitzky & Co.’s diversified infrastructure practice is frequently appointed to handle a broad range of transport projects, social infrastructure matters and industrial projects. Primarily active on behalf of private-sector participants, including sponsors, construction companies and lenders, the group is equipped to advise on all stages of a project, from pre-qualification to operational issues. The group is co-led by Itay Geffen, who stands out for his impressive record in structuring multi-sourced financings; Ronit Rozenstein-Barel, whose expertise spans project finance and development; and Yiftah Farber, who is noted for his experience in the public transport sphere. Recently promoted partner Maya Dvir and senior associate Liron Koren are also recommended.

Israel > Real estate and construction Tier 1

Active in planning and zoning, construction and real estate transactions, Gornitzky & Co.’s real estate group enjoys strong relationships with major developers, property owners, hotel chains and retail clients, among others. The multidisciplinary practice additionally stands out for its supplementary experience in real estate taxation, finance-related matters and litigation. Among the names to note, department head Shlomo Cohen is held up as a ‘go-to guy for complex real estate transactions’; Eyal Marom’s experience spans the real estate, infrastructure, and hotels and leisure spheres; Lior Relevy specialises in commercial and real estate work, including financings; and Shiri Shani focuses on commercial real estate matters, with an emphasis on project development.

Israel > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 1

The team at Gornitzky & Co. represents distressed corporations, creditors, shareholders, financial institutions and private equity sponsors in insolvency and corporate restructuring mandates. Praised as ‘incredibly commercial and deeply knowledgeable’, Yaron Elhawi handles high-stakes insolvency cases and jointly leads the team alongside Karen Reichbach-Segal, who has experience in liquidations, receiverships, and insolvencies. ‘Pragmatic and deal-oriented’ Amnon Biss advises on debt settlements in litigation mandates and is frequently engaged by creditors. Firm chairman Pinhas Rubin and Ofer Tzur, who spearheads the litigation department, are also key contacts in the team.

Israel > Tax Tier 1

Gornitzky & Co. is well versed in taxation work for high-net-worth individuals who have immigrated to Israel from other countries, as well as those who have chosen to emigrate from Israel to different jurisdictions. The firm handles matters for such clients including taxation of trusts and foreign tax credit advice. The firm also stands out for its high-profile tax litigation experience, regularly handling appeals at the Supreme Court level, as well as multiple appeals against the tax authority. The team is jointly led by Pinhas Rubin, who focuses on the financial services sector and also specialises in criminal tax adjudication, and trusts and estates expert Daniel Paserman. Gil Grady is also key, covering corporate tax, real estate taxation, VAT and sales tax matters. Shlomo Aviad Zider, an experienced advisor in tax-related investigations and an accomplished litigator, is another of the team’s top practitioners.

Israel > Telecoms and media Tier 1

Lawyers at Gornitzky & Co. score highly with sources for their ‘unique combination of legal expertise and technological understanding’. A longstanding powerhouse in media and telecoms law, the comprehensive practice spans the full range of sub-sectors, including the TV, satellite, internet, social network, and cellular spheres. The team is led by managing partner Lior Porat, who contributes over two decades of experience at the forefront of the telecoms industry. Additionally, up-and-coming specialist Asaf Avtuvi is highly regarded for his experience in advising leading TMT companies on regulation, disputes, and transactions, including M&A, procurement and licensing issues. At associate level, seniors Anat Schnur Rabinovich and Rebecca Genis are recommended.

Israel > Competition/antitrust Tier 2

Gornitzky & Co. fields a robust competition and antitrust practice which advises clients from a range of industries, including energy, infrastructure, and healthcare, on both criminal and civil proceedings. Drawing on his previous senior position at the ICA, practice head Avner Finkelshtein‘s broad practice spans antitrust litigation, criminal cartel investigations, and abuse of dominance, while Lior Frank focuses on complex litigation cases, most notably class action proceedings. Senior associate Noa Schwitzer Amar is also recommended for her prowess in handling class actions related to claims of abuse of dominant power and excessive pricing.

Dispute resolution > Dispute resolution: local litigation and arbitration Tier 2

Commended as being ‘highly respected by the judicial system and its judges’, Gornitzky & Co.’s dispute resolution group is equipped to handle high-stakes cases in the commercial, civil and administrative law fields. Considered by some as a ‘strategic genius’, group head Ofer Tzur continues to raise his profile in the market and was at the helm for several key matters over the past year, including representing Property and Building Corp and Hadarim Properties in a multimillion-dollar dispute with Mega Or Holdings and Big Shopping Centers. Other experienced partners include firm chairman Pinhas Rubin; Kfir Yadgar, who possesses niche expertise in hospitality and transport-related matters; and commercial litigator Ofer Fleischer. The team also draws on Shirin Gabbay-Metzger, Eli Cohen and ‘creative’ senior associate Inbal Ronel.

Israel > Employment Tier 2

Gornitzky & Co. houses a team of specialised practitioners who routinely represent clients from the public transportation, financial and insurance, travel and tech industries in complex collective bargaining agreements and employment-related litigation, where practice head Michael Ayalon stands out for his expertise in labour law-related disputes and administrative matters. Also active is the team in handling transactional issues, negotiations with workers’ organisations and collective agreements, areas in which Sagi Padureanu is particularly well-versed. Collective labour law expert Roni Sharon Aviram and employment-related M&A transactions specialist Lee Alter Kizis are also recommended.

Israel > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

Praised by clients for its ‘wide range of expertise', Gornitzky & Co. acts for its varied client base of medical equipment manufacturers and distributors, and pharma companies. The team is jointly led by Assaf Harel, Itamar Mei-Zahav, Netta Shaked-Stadler, and Shy Baranov. Harel is well-versed in the full range of data privacy and cyber-security issues, whilst advising on internal anti-corruption policies. Mei-Zahav is known for his extensive corporate expertise, assisting a number of healthcare clients with IPOS and strategic collaborations. Corporate law specialist Rebecca Genis is particularly adept at handling the drafting of medical data processing agreements within the medical device industry.

Israel > Hi-tech and start-ups Tier 2

Lawyers at Gornitzky & Co. ‘excel as solution-finders’, according to sources. The group acts for start-ups across all key technology segments — including fintech, cybersecurity, life sciences, gaming and agri-tech, among others — with extensive experience in M&A and financing transactions, capital markets and commercial work. Dual New York- and Israel-qualified Shlomo Landress spearheads the technology department and brings strong cross-border experience to the table. Additionally, Eyal Raz, who co-heads the private investment funds team, and Daniel Marcus are experienced tech specialists, while Dan Fisher is an impressive up-and-coming partner.

Intellectual property > Intellectual property: commercial/transactions Tier 2

Known for its significant international IP licensing and strategy formulation expertise, Gornitzky & Co. houses a team of specialised practitioners fully equipped to advise clients across a range of sectors, including biotechnology and software. China IP law expert and practice head Ziv Rotenberg is a key contact for both contentious and non-contentious IP-related matters, while Anat Zehavi is noted for her knowledge of complex software licence agreements.

Intellectual property > Intellectual property: filing/prosecution Tier 2

Gornitzky & Co.‘s IP capabilities are focused in particular on the filing and prosecution of trademarks, as well as on managing complex trademark portfolios, where Shirley Gal stands out for regularly representing domestic and international clients from a range of sectors, including pharmaceutical, cybersecurity and energy. The team also includes patent and trademark law expert Ziv Rotenberg.

Intellectual property > Intellectual property: disputes Tier 3

Gornitzky & Co.‘s IP team is well versed in a variety of complex, often cross-border IP litigation proceedings, with an emphasis on trademark disputes and copyright infringement proceedings. Chinese IP law specialist Ziv Rotenberg consistently represents both domestic and international companies in complex intellectual property disputes, and Anat Zehavi is recognised for her expertise in litigation and dispute resolution.

Israel > Investment and venture capital funds Tier 3

Alongside its expertise in venture capital and private equity funds, Gornitzky & Co.‘s team displays significant experience in advising pension funds, insurance companies and high-net-worth individuals on all investment fund-related aspects. The team is jointly chaired by fund formation expert Eyal Raz and Gila Ponte-Shlush, who is regularly engaged by fund managers for her specialisation in fund formation and structuring, as well as in regulatory matters. Known for representing some of the leading institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals in Israel, Amit Ron is another name to note.

Israel > Transport Tier 3

Gornitzky & Co.’s transport practice benefits from the firm’s close relationship with Dan Public Transportation and it provides ongoing advice to the bus company on day-to-day matters, project tenders and corporate transactions. The team also has a presence in tech-driven transport work, where it acts for start-ups and funds. Managing partner Kfir Yadgar handles a mix of contentious and corporate work and oversees the group together with transactional partner Yiftah Farber.

Dispute resolution > Dispute resolution: white-collar crime, investigation and fraud