Areas of Practice

Labor Laws

Labor law is a dynamic and fascinating field, which reflects, in real-time, social, economic and political developments. As a consequence of the firm's expertise in this area, it has become one of the leading shapers of case law in the field of labor law.

The firm's practice spans the full range of the matters entailed in individual and collective labor law, including the related subjects, such as public employees' rights, officers in government authorities (the President of the State, government ministers, Members of Knesset and judges), tenders, pensioners' rights from their place of work, disciplinary law, and employees’ rights during proceedings of privatization, winding-up and re-structuring.

The following may be found among the key judgments and main subjects in which the firm was involved:

Aplication of the Employee's Right to a Pre-Dismissal Hearing – the clarification and enforcement of the rules of a proper hearing, the expansion of the hearing right for quasi-public employers, in the event of dismissals resulting from downsizing and for all types of labor relations.

See, for example: Margolit Eilat v. The Employment Service (1993), Eyal Katzav v. State of Israel (1996), Dr. Nathalie Davidoff v. The Clalit Health Fund (1997), Ronit Ya'akobi v. The Meuhedet Health Fund (1998), Dr. Anatoli Poliakov v. The Postal Authority (1998), Dr. Michael Stark v. Misgav Ladach (2000), Rachel Cohen v. The Israel Government Coins And Medals Corp. (2003).
Contracts of Senior Personnel in the Public Service, and Contract Termination – the interpretation of senior employees' contracts and the right to be employed by virtue of a senior employee's contract, restrictions on the dismissal of an employee employed by virtue of a senior employee's contract and restrictions on the non-renewal of the contract.

See, for example: The Rina Zamir Case (the decision of the Service Committee of the Civil Service Commission – 1998), Ilan Ozri v. The Postal Authority (1999), Reuven Lieber v. The Postal Authority (1999), Dalia Artzi v. State of Israel (2000), Aharon Cohen v. State of Israel (2002), Edmond Saheik v. The Israel Broadcasting Authority (2004).
Pension Decision for Officers at the Government Authorities (the President of the State and his Survivors) (Amendment) (2004) – a comparison of the President's right with that of other officers (government ministers, judges, the State Comptroller, etc.) to receive an increased pension in respect of previous public duties.
Handling of Claims by Virtue of Section 29 of the Budget Foundations Law - following the enactment of Amendment no. 24 to the Budget Foundations Law, which granted extensive powers to the Ministry of Finance, in the determination of alternative wage and retirement arrangements.
Employees' rights during proceedings of privatization, winding-up and re-structuring - Zim Company, Israel Broadcast Authority, the Alliance Tire Company, Guttman Institute, MISGAV LA'DACH and BIKUR HOLIM Hospitals.
The Priminister’s Security Guards Case (2007) – A ruling of The Appeal Employment tribunal, granting the cleimant’s millions of NIS compensation, after accepting their claim regarding incomplete payment of minimum wages and erroneous calculations of wages.
The “Mifal hapyis” seniors Case (2007) and The Bat Yam municipal Authority seniors case (2007) – Settling the restitution of wage overpaid due to the Supervisor of Wages at the Ministry o Finance according to Sec. 29 of the Fundamental.
The Postal Service seniors Case (2008) and The Bat Yam municipal Authority seniors case (2007) - A ruling of The Appeal Employment tribunal, accepting the claimant’s argumentations of unfair dismissal, which was based on influences, and awarding them salary payments and compensation.
The case of prof. A. Rivkind V. Hadassa (2012) - prevention of service as head of department, in case of introducing of rotation system.

Administrative and Public Law

The firm handles the filing of petitions to the High Court of Justice and to the administrative courts relating to various matters pertaining to the field of administrative and public law: the supervision of the labor courts by the High Court of Justice, the cessation of appointments and dismissals for political considerations, the Freedom of Information Law, environmental quality.

See, for example:

High Court of Justice Eisenberg – the disqualification of Yossi Ginosar from the position of Director-General of the Ministry of Housing (1993).
The Azulai Family v. The Union Bank of Israel Ltd. – the bank's obligation to disclose internal audit reports (1995).
High Court of Justice The Dudaim Waste Site (1998).
High Court of Justice Ya'akov Bucharis v. The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs (2001).
High Court of Justice Professor Yohanan Stassman v. The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs (2001).
High Court of Justice Ya'akov Vidas v. The Minister of Communications, et al. (2003).
Administrative Petition The Association of Homes for the Aging v. The Ministry of Health (2002, pending in the Supreme Court) – disclosure of documents pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law.
the klepner etc. case in the supreme court of appeals - remedies in case of wrong dismissals

Communications and Media

The firm represents journalists and media entities in drawing up agreements and in litigation. Among other clients, the firm has represented the Israel Broadcasting Authority in various proceedings that were filed against it, various broadcasting entities, as well as Chaim Yavin (approval of the employment contract with the Israel Broadcasting Authority, in contrast to the position of the Association of Journalists and the petition filed by MK Poraz), Moshe Negbi, Rivka Michaeli, Motti Levy, Arnon Zuckerman, Eliezer Yaari, Edmond Saheik and Motti Kirschenbaum.

Higher Education

The firm served as the legal advisor to the Council of Higher Education, between 1998 - 2004. In this capacity, the firm provided professional legal support to the current operations of the plenary of the Council of Higher Education and its committees, with respect to Israeli institutions of higher education as well as with respect to overseas branches, and the firm handled matters for the Council of Higher Education and represented it in various legal proceedings that were filed against it, in the various legal instances.