Gornitzky & Co.

Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity & Venture Capital, Corporate, Commercial, Technology and Life Sciences, Administrative Law, Homeland Security and Defense

Partner

Assaf Harel is a partner at Gornitzky & Co. who leads our firm’s Cyber-Security and Data Protection practice.

Assaf advises various clients, from international financial institutions to tech companies and cyber-security companies, on the practical implications of privacy and cyber-security laws and regulations. Such advice includes, among others, assisting companies in crafting organizational data protection policies, negotiating data protection agreements, tailoring practical solutions to cyber-security and privacy related matters in cross-border M&A transactions and minimizing the legal exposure from cyber attacks. Assaf is a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/E). Assaf is also a member of the Israel Bar Association’s Internet Committee.

Assaf also advises clients on various regulatory and compliance matters, including anti-corruption, homeland security and international law. In that context, Assaf is experienced in conducting internal corporate investigations and in representing clients before governmental authorities in Israel and abroad. Additionally, Assaf represents clients in cross-border investments, mergers and acquisitions and transactions involving intellectual property and information technology.

Prior to joining the firm, Assaf held several key positions as a legal advisor to the Israel Defense Forces. As part of his service as a government lawyer, Assaf advised decision makers in the highest levels of Israel’s security administration on issues involving international law, administrative law and national security law. Assaf had a key role in crafting the Israeli government’s legal positions on various national security matters and he also took part in representing the government before the Israeli Supreme Court.

Hebrew and English

2007, Israel Bar Association

LL.M. (International Law), summa cum laude, The Judge Advocate General’s School (Charlottesville, Virginia), (2012) - Ranked top of the class. M.B.A (Finance & Corporate Strategy), Tel-Aviv University (2011) LL.B., magna cum laude, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2006) B.A. (Economics), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2006)