Professional notice
Israel
MEITAR LIQUORNIK GEVA LESHEM TAL has undergone significant changes at the top of its competition practice after former practice leader Michal Halperin left to take over as head of Israel’s Antitrust Authority. Meitar partner Niva Barg Livnat took over as head of the practice; two other partners round out the competition team. The firm prides itself on its experience working with high-tech and innovative companies, especially on matters such as the definition of markets in emerging industries and technological industries still in the research and development stage. The firm sees itself as the market leader on the interface between intellectual property and competition law.
Pfizer remains a major client for which the firm has acted on two recent complex deals: its merger with Allergan, and its acquisition of GlaxoSmithKline’s meningitis vaccines business. The antitrust authority approved both deals. The firm is also working for Yenot Bitan in its bid for rival retailer Mega, which is now on appeal to the tribunal after a disagreement on divestments. In behavioural matters, the firm counsels payment clearance company Shva on compliance issues, a joint ownership question and other matters; and El Al on an abuse of dominance investigation before the IAA. It is also guiding Philip Morris International in defending against a class action lawsuit filed in Tel Aviv District Court alleging abuse of the company’s monopoly power through excessive pricing.
Number of partners: 90
Total number of lawyers: 330
Languages: English, Hebrew, French, Russian, German
Offices
Ramat Gan, Israel: 16 Abba Hillel Silver Road 5250608
Tel: +972 3 610 3100
Fax: +972 3 610 3111
Email: [email protected]
Firm Overview
Meitar Liquornik Geva Leshem Tal is the largest law firm in Israel, and Israel's leading international law firm.The firm has a strong reputation for excellence in domestic and international matters. The firm represents some of the world's largest multinational corporations in corporate, commercial and litigation matters, in Israel and abroad.
Meitar Liquornik Geva Leshem Tal is a full-service firm, representing clients in corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, international and domestic capital markets, banking, finance and derivatives, corporate and commercial litigation, licensing, high-tech, energy and infrastructure, real estate, antitrust and taxation and other regulatory matters.
The firm has represented clients in Israel’s largest M&A transactions and international public offerings, and has represented some of the world’s largest multinational corporations in class action and corporate litigation. Meitar Liquornik Geva Leshem Tal is unique among Israel's largest law firms in the number of partners who have worked for major international law firms in the US and elsewhere. The firm has a strong team of over 280 legal professionals, all of whom are committed to maintaining the same high standards of excellence and service,that clients are accustomed to receiving from law firms in the US, UK and Europe. Meitar consistently receives the highest rankings from independent guides, such as Chambers & Partners, The Legal 500 and IFLR1000.
Main areas of practice
Corporate and securities: advising public and private companies, private equity firms and financial sponsors, investment banks, government entities, and individuals in almost every sphere of corporate transactions and litigation.
Mergers and acquisitions: We have consistently represented either purchasers or targets in Israel's largest M&A transactions.
Dispute resolution: Meitar's litigation department has extensive experience in representing leading multinational companies in complex corporate, commercial and civil litigation in Israel, as well as in major local and international arbitrations.
Taxation: Meitar’s tax department provides a full range of services with respect to client activities, both in Israel and abroad.
Capital markets: The firm represent issuers, underwriters and investors in all stages of initial and secondary public offerings of equity, debt and hybrid securities in the US, Europe and Israel.
Real estate: The firm advises clients on a wide range of real estate transactions, including acquisitions and sales, leasing, land use, secured financing, debt restructuring, investment and ownership structures, and development and construction.
Antitrust and competition law
Number of partners: 3
Number of lawyers: 10
Meitar regularly advises clients from a variety of industries on matters relating to compliance with antitrust and competition law, including with respect to monopolies, restraints of trade, joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions. We also work with some of the world's largest international law firms on the Israeli antitrust filings for major multinational merger transactions, and on assessing transactions under Israeli antitrust law.
Key clients: Siemens AG; El Al, Israel's national air carrier; Bank Leumi; Tnuva, Israel's biggest dairy and a major food producer; Amdocs; Endemol; Facebook; Philip Morris; Pfizer; Rolls-Royce; Covidien; Adidas; Bayer; Eli Lilly; Cisco; Stratasys; and Clal Insurance.
Other main areas of practice
- High-tech
- Technology and intellectual property
- Banking and finance
- Energy and infrastructure
- China and Asia practice
- Telecommunications and media
- Regulatory
- Defence, homeland security and cybersecurity
- Labour/employment
- Planning and construction