Yigal Arnon & Co. represents Israeli and foreign banks, investment houses and other financial institutions. We are ranked consistently among Israel’s top banking law firm practices.
Our team provides services to most banks in Israel in, among other areas, financing transactions and day-to-day matters. We also represent borrowers in complex financing transactions, including debt restructuring, and we assist with securitizations. In addition, our team provides opinions on Israeli law to international organizations. For example, we provide all members of ISDA and ICMA—whose membership includes all leading banks and financial institutions in the world—with consultation on the collateral arrangements in derivative contracts that are based on the ISDA Master Agreement, as well as on securities repurchase agreements and securities lending.
Because of our key position in this sector, Yigal Arnon & Co. is associated with some of the largest and most important financing transactions that have taken place in Israel to date. We represented one of the purchasers of the controlling interest in a sale of one of largest banks in Israel, as well as several leading banks in the sale of their holdings in provident and mutual funds, and in distribution arrangements of pension products as required in the wake of the “Bachar” reforms of the Israeli financial markets.
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Yigal Arnon & Co.’s Banking and Finance Group assists banks, investors, institutional entities, private entities (business ventures and nonprofit organizations), controlling shareholders and interested parties and officers in these establishments with all relevant permits and licenses. We also analyze regulatory requirements to help our clients create procedures and documents—or adapt those they already have—to meet legal and regulatory requirements. In doing so our experts keep abreast of the latest developments in anti-money laundering, “know your client”, anti-corruption and related regulations.
Yigal Arnon & Co. is at the forefront of project finance in Israel. Our deep understanding of the economic and legal interests of the key players in this sector position us to help our clients succeed.
We have extensive project finance experience in infrastructure, electricity production, roads, light rail, water and sewage treatment and waste treatment. We also have a wealth of experience working with government entities and agencies in connection with tenders, international projects, project finance and privatization. Our lawyers are highly proficient in private and public financing arrangements, including BOT (build-operate-transfer), PFI (public finance initiative) and BOO (build-own-operate).
We have represented the banking sector in several projects of this kind, as well as the public authorities and the public sector. For example, we represent Israeli banks in claims and complex finance transactions and financial engagements with concessionaires. We also work frequently with foreign clients seeking to participate in commercial and other activity in Israel, and have gained a stellar reputation for our work in the public sector.
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Yigal Arnon & Co. represents Israeli and foreign banks, investment houses and international financial institutions in court, in arbitrations and before other tribunals, in all banking-related matters. For example, we represent banks in complex claims filed against them, including securities investment consulting; derivative and futures transactions; trading room services; interest and commissions; provision of loans and credit lines; and the preparation, management and liquidation of collateral.
We also represent banking corporations, including in legal proceedings instigated by clients, guarantors and collateral holders—for example, in financial claims, collateral liquidation proceedings and proceedings arising from collection processes. Likewise, we work with banking corporations in insolvency proceedings of all kinds, including liquidation, protection against creditors and debt restructuring, asset liquidation and receivership and bankruptcies—where the bank initiates the process and where the bank is involved as a third party. We also represent banking corporations in class actions touching on all aspects of banking services, including causes of action arising from bank-client relationships such as commissions, interest and account management, as well as in cases involving the implementation of regulatory instructions and other consumer-related issues.
In addition, we represent banks, officers and shareholders in derivative actions pertaining to the management of banking corporations. We also handle claims involving the real and financial assets of the bank, copyrights and intellectual property, and embezzlements and other unlawful actions against the bank or by its employees.
Yigal Arnon & Co. is at the leading edge of the global fintech revolution, as technology developed in Israel is acquired, used and developed by banks, financial institutions and high-tech and technology companies at an ever-increasing rate. Companies all over the world—including banks and financial institutions—are updating their systems and adapting them so they can provide digital banking, clearing, e-commerce and financial services.
Our fintech clients benefit from a collaborative approach in which lawyers from our top-ranked Banking and Finance and High-Tech Groups join forces to provide comprehensive and effective representation. We represent Israeli and international banks, financial institutions and numerous fintech startups looking to expand to global markets. We also work with traditional financial institutions interested in acquiring early-stage Israeli tech companies. Likewise, we work with companies that provide payment and clearing systems, financial information systems, peer-to-peer technology, crowd lending solutions, insurance technology, digital currency and blockchain.
Yigal Arnon & Co. was among the first law firms in Israel to recognize the growing potential of blockchain technology and its ability to disrupt both traditional and new industries. Combining a deep understanding of the technology and its relevance in diverse areas of the law, we are well-positioned to advise a wide range of clients, from early-stage ventures to more established corporations and investors.
With the rise of the use of cryptocurrencies, our team has provided legal counsel in a range of areas, from initial coin offerings (ICO), securities law, AML/KYC and the formation of changes and exchanges to crypto hedge fund formation, tax matters and local regulation.
Yigal Arnon & Co. is on the cutting-edge in the cryptocurrency space, presenting at conferences, publishing articles and providing interviews to media outlets worldwide. In addition, members of the firm have been actively involved with Israeli regulators in formulating policies and guidelines for cryptocurrencies.
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