Gornitzky & Co.

Banking & Finance Litigation & Dispute Resolution Public International Law Commercial Homeland Security and Defense Mergers & Acquisitions

Partner

Nir Keidar is a partner at Gornitzky & Co.

Nir specializes in complex commercial and investment arbitration across a broad range of sectors, including construction and infrastructure, energy and natural resources, banking and financial services, insurance, technology (including cyber-security), food-tech, and M&A-related disputes. He acts under the rules of most major arbitral institutions as well as ad-hoc proceedings

A unique feature of Nir’s practice is the ability to operate where private disputes intersect with sovereign exposure and public international law matters. Drawing on extensive public international law experience, he acts in investor-state and state-to-state matters, and advises on public international law issues that arise in complex Israeli and transnational litigation, particularly where cross-border disputes intersect with insolvency, investigations, AML and anti-terrorism issues.

Nir is recognized as a “Leading Partner” in International Arbitration and Mediation in Israel by Legal 500, which notes that he “is increasingly active in investor-state work“. Gornitzky’s International Arbitration practice is consistently ranked Tier 1 by Legal 500 and is the only firm included in the prestigious GAR100 ranking of the world’s leading international arbitration. The practice has been described in the rankings as “a true market leader in international arbitration and mediation proceedings”, as “one of the few Israeli firms routinely handling investor-state case”. The practice has also been described as one which has “experience going up against some of the world’s top-tier firms” and which is “equipped to handle high-stakes commercial cases — with strong showings in the real estate, construction, energy and technology sectors — as well as award enforcement proceedings. ”

Additionally, Nir advises banks, insurers, and other financial institutions on cross-border banking and finance transactions and related regulatory work, with a particular focus on credit risk insurance, credit risk mitigation, and structured risk-transfer solutions.

Prior to joining the firm, Nir served for over nine years in the Israel Defense Forces Military Advocate General’s Corps. He held several legal positions, including Head of Section in the International Law Department, military prosecutor, and legal advisor in Judea and Samaria. Nir also served on Israeli delegations to  several United Nations fora, including the Committee on the Rights of the Child and Israel’s Universal Periodic Review before the Human Rights Council.

During his service, Nir advised Israel’s security administration and government ministries on matters of national security and international relations within the fields of International Law (including International Humanitarian, Telecommunications and Water Law), as well as Constitutional and Administrative Law. He was also involved in negotiating and drafting agreements with international and regional parties, and in the litigation of disputes before Israeli courts, including the High Court of Justice.

Nir’s recent International Arbitration, Public International Law and transnational litigation representations include:

Successfully acted for a major construction company at an ICC London seat arbitration pertaining to the construction of the largest private power plant in Israel in which clients ultimately were awarded with a USD 20 million award; Acting for a shareholder in a major airport concession in a USD 1 billion investment SCC arbitration against the host state; Successfully acted for an Israeli public construction company in an ICC London seat arbitration and mediation against a large US construction company in relation to a military construction project in Israel; Acting for one of the world’s largest mineral mining companies in a EUR 80 million dispute with a Geneva seat under the UNCITRAL rules pertaining to a power plant construction agreement; Acting for the main contractor in a circa USD 150 million ad hoc Israeli seated arbitration relating to the construction of data centers in Israel; Acting in the first ever enforcement case of an ICSID award before the Israeli courts; Acting for a state in a state-to-state dispute; Acting for a major international company in global enforcement proceedings arising out of an award in a PCA investment arbitration; Acting in an LCIA arbitration relating to a multi hundreds of millions of GBP indemnity claim relating to a complex shareholders dispute; Acting for a leading global private equity fund in a price adjustment arbitration relating to an M&A transaction with a fortune 500 company; Acting for an Israeli consulting firm in a LCIA arbitration pertaining to a dispute relating to fees claims by its representative in an Asian country; Acting for a leading global private equity fund in an arbitration relating to indemnity claims in connection with a financial services M&A transaction; Acting for an Israeli importer in an SCC expedited arbitration relating to claims for defects and force majeure relating to the manufacturing of goods in Europe for distribution to Israel; Acting for one of the world’s largest mineral mining companies in a EUR 80 million dispute with a Geneva seat under the UNCITRAL rules pertaining to the construction of a power plant; Acting for an Israeli energy company in connection with a dispute relating to the consequences of force majeure events arising out of the security situation in Israel; Acting for an Israeli construction company in obtaining temporary measures in support of an ICC arbitration as well as in ICC arbitration and mediation relating to the construction of a renewable power plan in Israel; Acting in veracious Israeli proceedings for the setting aside of an arbitration award in a complex cross-border matters; Acting for the liquidators of a global cryptocurrency fund in connection with Israeli-law aspects of cross-border disputes and insolvency matters; Acting for the liquidators of a global insurance-tech company in connection with Israeli-law aspects of their global insolvency processes; Acting for Israeli food manufacturers in disputes with foreign manufacturers of manufacturing machinery;

Nir’s recent Banking and Finance representations include:

Acting for Israeli banks in connection with a complex English language financing of a luxury hotel in Israel; Acting for Israeli banks in connection with various portfolio insurance transactions, and related credit risk mitigation matters; Acting for a syndication of banks in connection with Israeli law aspects of the financing of a leading global consumer chain; Acting for an a foreign branch of an Israeli bank in connection with real estate transactions in England; Acting for a leading Israeli lender in connection with fund finance transactions. Acting for Israeli banks in connection with credit insurance relating to export finance transactions and related credit risk mitigation matters; Acting for Israeli insurance companies in connection with their participation in various cross-border lending transactions; Acting for Israeli insurance companies in connection with CLN transactions with Israeli banks;

Hebrew and Engliah

2006, Israel Bar Association

LL.M., cum laude, International Law, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2010) LL.B., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2005)