Professional notice
Israel
The competition team at HERZOG FOX & NEEMAN – which has two partners and five associates who spend most of their time on competition matters – has moved up to our highly recommended band. Talya Solomon leads the practice, which also features partner Iris Achmon. Major global and domestic companies have tapped Herzog for competition work in the past year, including Daimler, Volvo, Applied Materials, Israel Electric and the Israeli Organisation of Consulting Engineers and Architects.
The firm acted for Alstom in its proposed €6.2 billion acquisition of Bombardier’s rail equipment division, which received unconditional approval in Israel. Solomon and her team secured clearance for Applied Materials and Kokusai Electric in their merger, which involved horizontal overlaps and was subject to an in-depth review by the Israeli enforcer. The firm also handles a substantial docket of behavioural work, including acting for the Egg and Poultry Board in a class action related to a Chicken Meat cartel. The competition team is defending Netherlands-based DAF Trucks against a class action based on an alleged cartel among truck manufacturers in Europe, which has touched on the applicability of the US effects doctrine in Israel and the liability of alleged cartel members to indirect customers. The team also continues to represent two officers of the Port of Ashdod, one of Israel’s main maritime gateways, in a case related to the violation of the country’s monopoly law. Herzog was able to secure a 90% reduction in the fine against both individuals.
Herzog Fox Neeman’s Competition and Antitrust Department is a one-stop-shop for all antitrust and competition law matters in Israel. The department is comprised of and led by ex-Israel Competition Authority (ICA) officials, which grants the department with deep knowledge and understanding of ICA proceedings and thinking methods. The department is recognised by clients for being service-oriented, creative and having a pro-business attitude. Moreover, the department is widely known for its international capabilities, its ongoing cooperation with leading international law firms and its representation of major international and domestic clients.
The department has vast experience in advising on a broad range of matters of antitrust and competition law in Israel. This includes appearing before the Israeli Competition Tribunal and the ICA; representing clients in prominent civil and criminal antitrust litigation, including antitrust class actions; and advising on all antitrust matters (such as mergers, abuse of dominant position, cartels and restrictive arrangements).
The team's experience, expertise, deep knowledge of the ICA, cooperation with the firm’s departments and international capabilities, all allow the team to offer its clients out-of-the-box solutions tailored specifically to their commercial needs, and to assist them take a stance in court when necessary.
Household Client Names
The department's key clients include some of the largest companies in Israel. Such as;
- The Israeli Electric Corporation (the largest company in Israel);
- The Port of Ashdod (has one of the two largest administrative fines imposed on to date by the ICA);
- Arkia, one of the largest aviation companies in Israel;
- ChemChina’s local subsidiary and manufacturing arm, Adama;
- Ferrero and Neto leading food suppliers;
- The First International Bank of Israel, one of the five major banks in Israel;
- Two of Israel’s largest insurance companies - Menora and Phoenix;
The department also advises international companies such as HP, Philips, MSD and GE on their day-to-day activities and compliance efforts in the field of competition law.
Furthermore, the department is involved in the litigation of prominent cartel class actions (including international cartels) and excessive pricing class actions.
As well, the department is involved in some of the highest-profile cases featuring complex and cutting-edge competition law issues, as well as Israeli aspects of the largest merger transactions worldwide. It has advised on cases such as the Disney - Fox transaction and Mellanox on the bidding process, which ended with its intended acquisition by NVIDIA.
Meet Our People
Talya Solomon is a partner and the head of the Antitrust and Competition department, with over 20 years of experience. She is a former Team Leader in the ICA's legal department and has extensive experience representing clients before the ICA and the Israeli Antitrust Commissioner.
Talya has litigated in some of the most prominent competition law cases in recent years, including several notable class actions, as well as the first cases of administrative fines for monopoly abuse. Talya has an impressive track record of success in managing antitrust litigation cases including antitrust class actions.
Talya Solomon is an undoubted leader in this field and is a force in the Israeli market, recognised as such by competitors and clients alike. Talya is often invited as a lecturer to competition panels and teaches competition law at the College of Management.
Iris Achmon is a partner in the Antitrust and Competition department, a former member in the ICA, and with nearly 20 years of experience, including extensive experience in representing entities before the ICA and the Antitrust Tribunal.
Iris specialises in representation and advice to multinationals concerning their activity in Israel, first and foremost with regard to complex merger transactions, but also concerning the day-to-day conduct of companies with significant exposure to antitrust and competition laws. Iris regularly advises companies on antitrust compliance, including processes of implementing and internalising new and existing competition regulation and dawn-raid procedures.