Meitar | Law Offices

Number of partners: 174

Number of lawyers: 482

Languages: English, Hebrew, Chinese, Arabic, French, Russian, German, Japanese

Firm Overview:

Meitar is Israel’s leading law firm. The firm has a 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 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, hi-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 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 450 legal professionals, all of whom are committed to maintaining the highest standards of excellence and service.

Main Areas of Practice:

Meitar is Israel’s largest international law firm, and is unique in the number of partners who have worked for major international law firms in the US and elsewhere. Most of Meitar’s partners have either trained at leading firms, such as Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Skadden Arps and Weil Gotshal, or obtained their degrees at major international universities, including Harvard, Yale, Columbia and New York University. In addition, a large number of the firm’s partners are recommended in their fields of practice by Chambers and Partners, with more recommended partners than any other Israeli firm in corporate/M&A and dispute resolution. The firm’s goal is to provide its international and Israeli clients with the same level of service and quality which they are accustomed to receiving from law firms in the US, UK and Europe. The firm regularly assists non-Israeli clients in understanding the local business culture and landscape, including its local players, as well as regulatory processes and the Israeli judiciary.

Corporate & Securities:

A major part of the firm’s work consists of M&A; equity and debt offerings in Israel and abroad; banking and derivatives; venture capital investments; private placements; and securitisations. The firm also specializes in corporate restructuring, including splits, spin-offs, share buy-backs, joint ventures and management buyouts. The firm acts regularly in corporate, partnership and joint venture formation, establishment and implementation of stock option and compensation plans, and financing transactions.

Litigation:

Meitar has a strong litigation group that handles a wide range of commercial, securities, corporate (control, governance, minority rights, insolvency and reorganization), antitrust, class-action, banking, insurance, product liability, administrative, labour, white-collar and intellectual property litigation. The firm has extensive expertise in handling complex cases, high profile matters and cross-border disputes for local as well as international clients. Its attorneys regularly appear in all Israeli courts, in local and international arbitration proceedings, specialized courts, administrative tribunals and regulatory bodies.

Capital Markets:

Meitar represents underwriters and issuers in public offerings of debt and equity securities both in local market and in international markets. The firm was recently ranked by a leading legal publication as the top firm in Israel in the area of IPOs and a leading firm in this field worldwide.

Telecoms & Media:

Meitar includes among its clients some of the leading domestic and international telecommunications carriers and media companies. These include television operators, internet service providers, fixed and mobile telephony carriers, commercial radio broadcasters and content service providers.

Technology & Intellectual Property:

Meitar is intensively involved in structuring and negotiating the international transactions of its clients, for example, OEM; licensing; distribution; VAR; joint development; outsourcing with expertise in complex software transactions. Meitar handles all aspects of deals including: negotiations on commercial terms; drafting of agreements; setting up local entities; creating financial arrangements; ensuring protection of intellectual property rights; and cooperating with local counsel worldwide. The firm has a department devoted exclusively to software and other licensing agreements, and represents Israel’s largest software developer in all its licensing transactions worldwide.

Tax:

Meitar provides tax advice and planning in a range of areas, including: international taxation, corporate tax planning, employee compensation plans, real estate, trusts and estates, and personal tax planning.

Energy & Natural Resources:

Meitar’s energy and natural resources practice covers a wide range of fields, including upstream oil and gas regulation, licensing and agreements, downstream natural gas (transmission and distribution) regulation and agreements, regulation and power purchase agreements in the electricity sector, and the purchase of natural gas and renewable energy ventures.

China & Asia Practice:

Meitar has a unique and extensive experience working on matters related to the Asian markets for over 25 years. The firm represents leading Israeli corporations, institutions, high-tech companies and venture capital funds, in their Far East-related matters and transactions, in diversified industries.

Banking & Finance:

Meitar’s banking and financial services department is widely recognized as the leader in this area in Israel and abroad. The firm provides legal services to most of the banking corporations and financial institutions in the country, handling all legal aspects of their business activities. These include licensing, corporate governance, regulatory compliance and representation before regulatory authorities. Meitar also advises leading international banks that are active in Israel and local banks regarding international activity.

Real Estate:

Meitar is considered one of Israel's leading law firms in the field of Real Estate. Our activities cover a wide scope, including residential, industrial, office, hotels, malls and commercial centers. We represent clients in Real Estate matters that include sale, purchase, leasing, financing, planning, developing, construction, debt restructuring, liquidation, investment and ownership structures, litigation and other matters. Our firm regularly advises some of Israel's largest developers and investors, as well as multinational companies with Israeli operations, on Real Estate issues.

Projects:

Meitar is a recognized market leader in project and infrastructure finance. The firm advises lenders, sponsors, borrowers and contractors on project development and financing in a wide range of sectors (power and renewables, water, natural gas, transportation and social infrastructure) and project structures (BOT, PFI, DB, PPP and others).

Other General Legal Services:

The firm also provides services in areas such as; regulatory matters; labour-related issues; anti-trust; transportation; restructuring and insolvency; defence and homeland security and other matters.

Key Clients:

Meitar’s clients include leading multinational corporations, foreign companies seeking access to investors in Israel, private and publicly-traded companies in areas such as technology, communications, pharmaceutical and medical, media and publishing, energy, construction, banking, financial services, advertising, venture capital funds and investment companies, investment banks, holding companies and high net worth individuals.