Middle East - Israel

Goldfarb Gross Seligman & Co.

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Following the January 2023 merger between Gross & Co and Goldfarb Seligman, the combined Goldfarb Gross Seligman & Co. of Tel Aviv now offers the services of an expanded team of ‘experienced, dynamic and reliable’ professionals covering an array of specialist areas. The firm represents a vast range of major banking, insurance, retail, tech and healthcare companies, both multinational and domestic. The tax team is led by four practice heads: managing partner Tal Atsmon; high-net-worth individual tax planning expert Yaron Sever; experienced litigator Oren Biran; and indirect taxation specialist Gill Nadel. Liat Faig-Neuwirth, who heads the VAT-focused arm of the practice, is also central, as is real estate taxation expert Elisha Kesner. Moti Balilti, who has a background in international taxation matters, and the Zurich-based Inbal Faibish Wassmer are further notable names.

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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘We worked with both seasoned partners and junior associates, and both the categories of professionals performed outstandingly.’

  • ‘The team is experienced, dynamic and reliable, all with a strong background in the industry and well-versed in tax matters. The quality level of the services they offer is above the market.’

  • ‘Inbal Faibish Wassmer in particular is an outstanding professional, able to combine a wide professional knowledge to an equally strong acumen in human relationships.’

  • ‘The service provided was very professional both in terms of the final product and the work process. Every question and need was answered and they were available when needed, even beyond the usual working hours.’

  • ‘I always refer to Inbal Faibish Wassmer, an excellent all-round professional and highly experienced. She is very personable and highly specialized in Israeli tax matters, so I always refer to her for cases involving Israeli features.’

  • ‘They are able to provide complex information that are understandable and help enormously with decision-making. They are very professional and accurate and have extensive knowledge as well experience. They always provide accurate answers quickly.’

  • ‘Goldfarb Gross Seligman & Co. is a leading tax practice in Israel, with a team of experienced and knowledgeable professionals. They have helped me with complex and challenging tax issues, such as cross-border transactions and tax planning. They are always responsive, proactive, and creative in finding solutions. ’

  • ‘Top team in Israel with a very high calibre of professionals. The team has incomparable access to the local administration and is able to negotiate sensitive matters of tax, immigration and property law.’

Key clients

  • AIG Inc.
  • UBS AG
  • The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
  • Credit Suisse
  • Cisco Systems Inc.
  • Dell EMC Corporation
  • Bank Hapoalim B.M.
  • Arison Group
  • Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
  • Playtika
  • Insight Partners
  • YL Ventures
  • IPC Jerusalem Ltd
  • Babcock Power Inc.
  • Otonomo Technologies Ltd.
  • Accelmed Growth Partners
  • Operator Partners
  • Alpha Wave Ventures
  • TLV Partners IV LP
  • Flytrex Aviation ltd.
  • Zscaler Inc
  • ION Acquisition Corp. 1 Ltd.
  • REE Automotive Ltd.
  • Pagaya Technologies Ltd.
  • MyHeritage Ltd.
  • Itamar Medical Ltd.
  • DSP Group, Inc.
  • SodaStream International Ltd.
  • Michman Basad Ltd.
  • Adidas Israel Ltd.
  • Israel Discount Bank Ltd.
  • Medtronic plc
  • A.L. Ten Bis Ltd. ("10bis")
  • Shufersal Ltd.

Work highlights

  • Representing Teva Pharmaceutical Industries in two tax litigation cases before the Supreme Court involving a unique Israeli taxation mechanism.
  • Acting for American venture capital firm Insight Venture Partners in tax aspects of multiple investments and purchases of Israeli companies.
  • Representing Israeli independent power producer MRC Alon Tavor Power in tax litigation related to its ILS acquisition of the Alon Tavor Power Plant from the Israel Electric Corporation.

Lawyers

Leading individuals

Tal Atsmon

Tal Atsmon

Goldfarb Gross Seligman & Co.

Adv. Atsmon is Managing Partner and Co-Head of the Tax Department of the firm. Adv. Atsmon advises clients on complex Israeli and international tax matters relating to a wide range of domestic and foreign transactions, among which are mergers and acquisitions in Israel and abroad, corporate investments, corporate reorganizations and joint ventures, public offerings and private placements of equity, debentures and other financial products. Adv. Atsmon also handles domestic and international tax planning for Israeli and foreign corporations. Adv. Atsmon possesses significant reputation in the field of individual tax planning for high net worth individuals and trusts for the purpose of tax planning and the planning of family wealth. In addition, Adv. Atsmon advises on matters relating to employee compensation, including advising directors on option plans and other incentive plans, relating to taxation and securities. Adv. Atsmon represents some of Israel’s most prominent public and private companies, including Israeli banks and hi-tech companies, from the initial stages of their establishment to the final stages of public offerings. In addition, Adv. Atsmon represents international companies, among them are some of the largest American and European public companies which invest in Israel, as well as international banks active in Israel and foreign trusts which relate to Israel. Adv. Atsmon is regularly ranked as one of Israel’s recommended tax attorneys by several international guides, including Chambers, PLC Lawyers, The Legal 500 and Best Lawyers, as well as by Israeli guides such as BDICode and Dun’s 100. Adv. Atsmon serves as Head of the Tax Committee of the Israeli Bar Association and as tax counsel to the CFO Forum. Adv. Atsmon also serves as a director in some of Israel’s largest public companies.

Yaron Sever

Goldfarb Gross Seligman & Co.

Adv. Sever is Co-Head of the Tax Department of the firm, and a member of the Executive Committee. Adv. Sever specializes in tax consulting on a wide range of domestic and international transactions, including merger and acquisition transactions, investments, joint ventures, corporate restructuring, public offerings and private allocation of capital, debt and complex financial products; as well as the establishment of venture capital funds, hedge funds and private investment funds. Adv. Sever possesses extensive experience in tax consulting and tax planning for high net worth individuals and families, relating to various investments and trusts, and in tax planning prior and subsequent to relocations. In addition, Adv. Sever possesses a unique expertise in advising Israeli and international clients on legal issues and tax aspects relating to equity-based compensation to executives and employees. Adv. Sever was ranked by the international rating Chambers & Partners as one of Israel’s leading tax attorneys. Adv. Sever also serves on the Tax Forum of the Israel Bar Association.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Tal Atsmon, Yaron Sever, Oren Biran, Gil Nadel

Other key lawyers

Liat Graber, Elisha Kesner, Liraz Tubul, Liat Faig-Neuwirth, Inbal Faibish Wassmer, Moti Balilti, Shay Fahima, Ayal Shenhav