Established in 1973, Shibolet is one of Israel's largest, full-service multidisciplinary law firms with a strong emphasis on cross-border corporate transactional work. The firm operates one of Israel's finest M&A practices, a major high-tech practice (including fund formation), a leading securities and capital markets practice, a high-level tax practice group and an excellent commercial litigation practice. Based in the heart of Tel-Aviv, Israel's commercial and financial center, the firm offers its clients integrated legal services in all fields of commercial-corporate law on a global basis, combining outstanding personal service and an in-depth understanding of the clients' affairs. Shibolet has operated an affiliated office in New York City since 1976, and it was the first Israeli law firm to open an Israeli-Chinese desk in Shanghai, joining forces with a leading Chinese law firm.

Integrated Legal Services

Shibolet’s Integrated Legal Service provides its clients with a comprehensive legal solution for complex transactions and activities which require disciplines that combine several fields of law and multiple jurisdictions. This multifaceted service often enables considerable savings in international transactions. 
 
The Integrated Legal Service features:
 
Interdisciplinary Service: In all necessary fields of law that address relevant aspects of the client's specific activity or transaction. 
 
Global Service: Shibolet offers clients professional services all over the world in cooperation with leading law firms in each jurisdiction, while supervising, cooperating and coordinating their activities.

An Overview
 

An Overview: After acquiring an in-depth understanding of the client's affairs, Shibolet provides a comprehensive overview of the relevant requirements while focusing on business development. 
 
Shibolet maintains ISO 9001:2000 certification for Quality Management System standards in the field of Legal Services from IQNet (International Certification Network) and its Israeli partner - the Israel Standards Institute, making Shibolet the only major law firm in Israel to receive such certification. 
 
The firm’s areas of specialization are: Commercial - Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Securities and Capital Markets, High-Tech and Life Sciences, Venture Capital and Fund Formation, Environmental Law and Cleantech, Intellectual Property and Patents, Telecommunications, Project Finance and Infrastructure, Antitrust, Banking and Financial Institutions, Media and Entertainment, Internet, Real Estate, Labor and Employment and Tax. The firm provides counsel for all aspects of commercial activity including joint ventures, complex contractual relations, corporate governance, privatizations, regulatory work, litigation and alternate dispute resolution. All transactions are carefully devised and monitored to ensure compliance with government and administrative regulations and compliance laws, tax regulations and environmental requirements. 
 
Shibolet's clients include multinational corporations, large and small local companies, private investors, venture capital, private equity and hedge funds, domestic and foreign financial and banking institutions, and many major players in global and domestic trade, business, infrastructure, telecommunications and cable markets. 
 
A significant part of Shibolet's commercial practice involves the creation of joint ventures and other business relationships, mergers and acquisitions, securities and capital markets, privatizations, and financings. Foreign and domestic banks, as well as investment institutions, benefit from the attorneys' accumulated business and banking knowledge, enabling skillful representation in all areas connected to regulatory matters, private placements, restructuring, capital formation and privatization. One of the firm’s senior partners served for 6 years as a board member of Bank Hapoalim, Israel’s largest bank. The firm has acted for several large international investment banks including Merrill Lynch, Solomon Brothers and Prudential Securities, as well as domestic financial institutions such as Mizrachi Investment Company, Clal Finance and Investments and the Israel Phoenix Insurance Company. The firm, which represents BNP Paribas in Israel, helped the Bank to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals to open a branch in Israel.
 
In the high-tech sector, Shibolet represents start-ups, mature technology companies, multi-nationals, investors and venture capital funds. The firm’s solid experience in fund formation has enabled the establishment of some of Israel's leading venture capital funds and has fostered the development of a widely respected high-tech, Cleantech and life sciences practice. Shibolet handles all aspects of intellectual property transactions including patent and trademark registration, prosecution and licensing, distribution and marketing agreements. The firm has served as special counsel to the Chief Scientist’s Office and as legal advisor for its Technological Incubator Program. Thanks to this working relationship, Shibolet has accompanied many early stage companies and aided their efforts to obtain various grants and financial resources required for research and development technologies.

Shibolet's Securities and Capital Markets group is involved in numerous equity and debt offerings on The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, NASDAQ and AIM as well as private offerings to institutional investors. Shibolet represented underwriters and foreign investment banks in the public offering of NIS 5 billion by the Israel Refineries. The firm's Securities and Capital Markets Group also advises clients on the capital markets' ongoing reporting requirements. Government regulatory requirements in the securities field are monitored regularly by the firm’s attorneys. The latter advise on all compliance issues and act as counsel for many companies in the course of their registrations and listings on Nasdaq, TASE and European stock exchanges.

The firm advises on BOT & PFI infrastructure projects, project financing and government and municipal bids, both in Israel and overseas. Extensive complex negotiations are one of the trademarks of Shibolet’s practice. The firm has been instrumental in the mobilization of many large-scale infrastructure projects such as the first large private water desalination plant in Israel and its related power plant, as well as highways and wind energy power plants. Some of these privatization efforts constitute the first  attempts of their kind in Israel. The firm offers its expertise and well-established contacts to major corporations and institutions seeking government contracts or the formation of highly structured projects.
 

Shibolet is one of the leaders in Israel's telecommunications and media industry, and it has acted as counsel for many top players in the telecom market, including internet service providers, international phone providers, owners of internet portals, etc. The firm has represented investors in negotiations for the acquisition of cable and television channels, newspapers and other media and communications concerns.
 
Shibolet has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, obtaining government approvals and clearance for complex transactions in many industries, assisting clients to comply with government regulations, and representing clients before the Antitrust Authority in price fixing, discrimination, monopolization, mergers, restrictive covenants and unfair competition litigation. 
 
Shibolet recognizes the importance of helping newly formed companies to acquire the necessary financing and direction to develop research and technology as well as successful incorporation in domestic and foreign trade markets. With this goal in mind, the firm’s attorneys skillfully advance the formation and maintenance of companies, carefully structuring each company according to the rules of proper corporate governance. They provide expert counsel in all related matters such as employee-employer relationships, executive compensation and agreements, registrations at relevant government bodies and compliance with all official and administrative regulations. 
 
Shibolet’s litigation team deals with all aspects of civil, commercial and business litigation. The firm’s services include enforcement of judgments against governmental bodies, bankruptcies and receiverships. Shibolet is also active in alternative dispute resolutions and a number of its attorneys serve as arbitrators and mediators. 
 
The firm’s real estate practice provides comprehensive counsel to developers, construction companies, institutional lenders and corporate clients in all matters relating to development, commercialization, construction, taxation and zoning of real estate.

Things You Should Know About Shibolet
 

Credentials for Practice Areas and Lawyers:

• Ranked by Legal 500 as a top tier law firm in high-tech, start ups and venture capital.
• Legal 500 recommended and ranked the firm in 11 practice areas - Corporate M&A, high-tech, dispute resolution, capital markets, projects and energy, banking and finance, real estate, telecommunications, tax and IP.
• Ranked by DUNS100 as a top tier law firm in high-tech and dispute resolution.
• Lior Aviram, Senior Partner and head of the high-tech practice group at Shibolet, was described as “most impressive: a creative and business-oriented deal maker.” (Chambers)
• Shibolet's  Corporate team enjoys an excellent reputation in the area of international transactions. Richard Roberts, Senior Partner and a team leader , was praised as “a top-level operator and excellent strategist.” (Chambers) 
• Shibolet’s litigation team is “very determined and successful - it conducts comprehensive background research and provides exemplary client service.” (Chambers)
• Richard Roberts, Senior Partner and co-head of the corporate M&A practice group at Shibolet, was recommended as  "[being] Endorsed by a number of market sources for his transactional dexterity and cross-border expertise." (PLC)
• Hillel Ish-Shalom, Senior Partner and head of Shibolet's dispute and resolution practice, was recommended for: "[being] An experienced practitioner with a strong reputation." (PLC)
• Attorney Hadas Raccah, head of Shibolet's labor law practice, was named one of the leading lawyers in Israel in the field of labor and employee benefits. (PLC)
• Shibolet has been named one of the top ten law firms to work for in Israel. (Calcalist)

Internationally Oriented:

• Over 50 percent of the firm's clients are internationally based.
• The firm has an affiliate office in NYC and it was the first Israeli law firm to acquire an Israeli-Chinese desk in Shanghai  (at one of China's largest law firms).
• Exclusive Israeli member of TerraLex, an international network of over 160  leading independent law firms in nearly 100 countries serving the business and personal interests of clients whose requirements transcend their national borders. Membership is by invitation only and members are renowned and respected in their local jurisdictions, as well as internationally.
• The firm’s strong US footprint generates a large amount of US/Israel cross-border international work. (Legal 500)

Valued Customer Service:

• Shibolet is the only major Israeli commercial law firm to be ISO 9001:2000 certified in the field of Legal Services.

Museum Tower Office:
4 Berkowitz St., Tel Aviv 6423806
Telephone: 972-3-7778333
Fax: 972-3-7778333

Rubinstein House Office:
20 Lincoln St., Tel Aviv 6713412
Telephone: 972-3-7772222
Fax: 972-3-7772200