The real estate team at Gornitzky & Co. is ‘composed of deal makers who find solutions to any problem’, according to some. Leveraging experience in all stages of real estate development, the group advises on planning and zoning, construction projects, real estate transactions, and day-to-day commercial matters. Department head Shlomo Cohen is a ’standout in the field’ and his broad practice encompasses real estate transactions, planning and zoning law, real estate taxation, and litigation. Other senior practitioners include Eyal Marom, who specialises in construction projects; Lior Relevy, who is noted for transactional work, including real estate acquisitions and disposals, property portfolio management, and leasing matters; Shiri Shani, who is recommended for project development; and Itai Itzkovich, who has an emphasis on commercial and residential real estate projects.
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Profile

Profile

Work Department

Real Estate & Construction, Banking & Finance, Tax, Hotels, Travel & Leisure.

Position

Partner

Career

Shlomo Cohen is a partner at Gornitzky & Co.

Shlomo Cohen Leads Gornitzky’s real estate and construction team.
Shlomo has experience in all aspects of commercial and residential real estate law, including planning and zoning, construction and development, selling or leasing of multiple housing units, real estate taxation, real estate transactions financing and income producing properties (particularly regarding shopping malls) and he frequently advises the firm’s clients in those matters. Shlomo also has a vast experience in representing clients vis-à-vis different agencies such as Israel Land Administration and municipal authorities.

Shlomo considered one of Israel’s leading experts and respected attorneys in the area of retail properties and shopping malls, as well as transactions involving hotels – representing one of the country’s leading hotel chains in its ongoing corporate and commercial matters.

In addition, Shlomo represents clients in the sale and purchase of hotels in Israel and he represents one of the country’s leading hotel chains in its corporate day-to-day matters.

Notable and recent representations:

  • Representation of Melisron Ltd., controlled by the Ofer Brothers Group, in the purchase of the Ramat-Aviv and Savyonim malls from Africa Israel (TASE: AFIL), controlled by businessman Mr. Lev Leviev, for approximately NIS 1.35 billion.
  • Representation of Melisron Ltd. in the real-estate, M&A and acquisition financing aspects of a transaction in which it purchased 70% of the capital stock of British-Israel Investments Ltd. (TASE: BRTS) for approximately NIS 1.7 billion. Upon completion of the deal, Melisron-British is now one of the largest groups in the Israeli shopping malls industry.
  • Representation of Fattal Group in a sale and leaseback transaction, of a portfolio of 18 hotels located in 12 cities in Germany, valued at EUR 400 million. The purchaser and lessor are Pandox Hotels, a leading Swedish hotel owner listed on the Stockholm Exchange. Concurrent to the sale Fattal Group has signed a long-term lease agreement with regards to the hotels that were sold.
  • Representation of H2ID, a company held by D.E. Technologies Ltd. (a subsidiary of Israel Chemicals Ltd. (TASE: ICL) and Delek Infrastructures Ltd.) and Shikun & Binui Ltd. (TASE: SKBN), in the construction (and further extension) and operation of a major NIS 1.25 billion desalination facility in the city of Hadera.
  • Representation of G4S Group and Shikun & Binui Ltd. (TASE: SKBN) – as shareholders in equal parts of Policity Ltd., which was declared the preferred bidder in the NIS 1.2 billion tender for the design, finance, construction, operation and maintenance of the national training center of the Israeli Police for a period of 25 years. The project will include training facilities, firing ranges, sports and other facilities in 42,000 square meters of buildings on a 230-dunam (57.5-acre) site.
  • Representation of SodaStream International Ltd. (NASDAQ: SODA) with regard to a major project in southern Israel, which includes the construction of four new factories, as well as several warehouses, service center and offices on approximately 85 dunam.
  • Representation of the private owners of approximately 100 dunam of land in a zoning change procedure. Upon successful completion, the zoning will allow for the construction of approximately 480 residential units and an 800 square meter commercial center.
  • Representation of Israel’s largest hotel chain, Fattal Hotels Ltd., in signing a NIS 75 million agreement for the construction and partial renovation of a hotel in the city of Rehovot. The transaction also included a long-term lease agreement of the asset.
  • Coordinating the real estate sector of a leading real estate Group, including companies which are in the forefront of Israel’s economy. In this capacity Shlomo handled the purchase of 70% of the capital stock of British – Israel Investments Ltd., the purchase of Ramat Aviv Mall, the purchase of Savyonim Mall, the sale of land in Hertzelia’s marina, selling of commercial real estate all over Israel and provided continues legal advice regarding these clients ongoing income-producing properties and registration matters.
  • Sale and purchase of income-producing properties in different areas of Israel.
  • Representing private companies in selling a compound in Ramat-Gan, a transaction estimated at about NIS 125 million.
  • Representing a partnership in the purchase of over 500 dunams of land, valued at approximately NIS 900 million and up to NIS 3 billion.
  • Representing one of Israel leading hotel chains in purchasing hotels in Eilat and handling the drafting of the leasing agreements and the management agreements regarding those hotels.
  • Representing different buying groups in Tel-Aviv and in Beer-Sheva.
  • Representing numerous apartments’ purchasers in luxury buildings.
  • In addition, Shlomi served as an associate editor in “Real Estate” magazine.

Languages

Hebrew and English.

Memberships

2002, Israel Bar Association

Education

LL.M., cum laude, Bar-Ilan University (2001); LL.B., magna cum laude, Bar-Ilan University (2001) - Dean's List (1998, 2000).

Content supplied by Gornitzky & Co.

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘An amazing law firm with creativity and knowledge.’

  • ‘Shlomo Cohen is the best real estate lawyer in the country. He is my number 1 choice for any complex real estate deals in Israel. Smart, sophisticated and pleasant to work with.’

  • ‘The firm's real estate team is excellent, very experienced, skilled and knowledgeable. It is dedicated to providing top-notch legal services and best results.’

  • ‘Shlomo Cohen’s professionalism, integrity, and dedication to excellence make him a standout in the field. His ability to think outside the box and offer creative solutions sets him and his team apart from others in the industry.’

  • ‘A highly professional and very attentive team. Lawyers are highly professional and very motivated and engaged.’

  • ‘The team excels in tax and real estate law, is very knowledgeable, provides outstanding service, and is composed of deal makers who find solutions to any problem.’

Key clients

  • Melisron
  • Gav-Yam Land
  • Ofer Investments Group
  • Tshuva Group: Elad Israel Residence; Delek Sea Maagan; Elad hotels; Elad Dead Sea Hotels; Tashluz Poleg and Sharon Tshuva Holdings (2011)
  • Vitania
  • Amdocs Israel
  • Shikun and Binui Real Estate
  • Egged Transportation Company
  • Dan Public Transportation
  • Fattal Hotels
  • Ofek Sheli Building and Development
  • Phoenix Insurance Company, White City Buildings
  • Clal Insurance Ltd. (TASE: CLIS)
  • Property and Building Corp
  • Ramat Hovav Power Station - partnership with Shikun & Binui  and Edeltech
  • Arison Group.
  • Amad Real Estate Development and Investments
  • Getter Group
  • Megureit Israel - Residential Real Estate Investment Trust
  • Geva Real Estate
  • Shufersal
  • Guy & Doron Levy Engineering, Construction Investment
  • Danya Cebus
  • Israel Canada (t.r)
  • A.T City Reconstruction Company - Israel
  • Fortissimo Capital
  • Sphera Funds Management
  • Nice
  • Emilia Group
  • Yossi Avrahami Civil Engineering Works
  • Merkaz Yeshivot Bnei Akiva
  • BST Group
  • S.B.T. Logistics
  • Iron Nadlan
  • Baruch Sun-Chen Initiative and Marketing
  • Breeze Ashdod Warehousing and Logistics
  • The Karta Group: A.R. Karta Center Givat Shaul
  • Gishmei Chaim
  • The Hagit Power Station – a partnership between Shikun & Binui and Edeltech
  • Reindeer Energy
  • Strauss family: Mr. Adi Strauss and Mrs. Irit Strauss.
  • Mishab Housing Construction & Development
  • Nevo Dori Management and Initiative
  • L'eoreal Israel
  • Naaman Group
  • Shagrawi Building and Construction (SBC)
  • Delek Motors
  • Bait Bakfar
  • Matalon Family
  • Phoenicia Flat Glass Industries
  • Bet Elazraki Children’s Home
  • Maimon Group.; Manor Urban Renewal
  • Mishan Center
  • A.S Yagel Investments & Construction
  • Ben David Group; A.L.A Pearl Limited Partnership

Work highlights

Advised Gav-Yam Land on various matters, including on three transactions totalling over NIS1bn.
Advised Melisron on various matters, including on real estate acquisitions, lease agreements, management agreements, and more.
Advised Delek Group on several transactions, including on the NIS250m acquisition of a 44.4% stake of Maabarot Products.