Israel

Our dedicated Israel team comprises a number of fluent Hebrew speakers, together with dual qualified lawyers, all of whom have in-depth legal and commercial knowledge of the Israeli and UK markets. Our track record of promoting bilateral trade between Israel and the UK spans 30 years.

In relation to capital markets matters, we have a long history of acting for Israeli companies raising equity, either through a listing on the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market or AIM Market or through a dual quotation. We have strong links with fund managers who are looking to invest in Israeli companies and have experience of numerous market and product sectors. We are instructed both by companies seeking admission and by brokers seeking to raise money for such companies.

Our real estate team has advised extensively on transactions of all types and sizes for Israeli investors including pension funds, corporate bodies and private individuals. Our tax group underpins these property transactions by providing a wide-ranging tax advisory service including pre-sale and acquisition structuring, stamp duty, stamp duty land tax and VAT.

Our private capital team advises trustees with Israel-resident trust beneficiaries and Israel-based companies and individuals on structuring their acquisition of UK and worldwide assets appropriately. We advise on all aspects of the retention and transfer of family wealth within the UK and on related UK taxes, such as UK inheritance tax, capital gains tax and the annual tax on enveloped dwellings. In addition, we are often instructed to deal with the estates of deceased family members who hold assets in multiple jurisdictions, including the UK and Israel.

• Israeli headquartered co-working office provider – expansion into the London office market and assistance with all commercial agreements relating to their European offering.
• Israeli family office – assistance in asset managing its UK commercial property portfolio including lease re-gears, new lettings, planning and general management work.
• Marjem Settlement (a Swiss family trust) – sale of Baljean Properties Limited, a company owning Marks & Spencer’s flagship distribution facility at Castle Donington, Leicestershire, to Tritax for £82.25m.
• Various trusts – restructuring several trusts with Israeli beneficiaries in order to accommodate changing Israeli tax legislation.
• Israeli institutions – acquisition of property owning JPUTS.
• Major Israeli institution – acting in a co-investment with an American investment trust in four substantial shopping centres.
• American investment fund – acting for an American investment fund with significant Israeli connections on the purchase of a retail and residential development in central London.
• Private family trust – acquisition of a joint venture company that owns the state–of–the–art M&S distribution centre in Castle Donnington, North Leicestershire. The 1 million sq ft distribution centre is half a mile long, 100 ft tall and covers a 60 acre site.
• Offshore group controlled by a renowned Israeli entrepreneur – acquisition of Camden Lock Market (a site in excess of one acre, housing 250 market stalls, 50 shops, 20 workshops and five food outlets); the acquisition of 50% of shares in the offshore group owning Camden Stables Market and a large development site known as Camden Lock Village; and a £230m refinancing facility secured on Camden Stables Market with affiliates of Nomura International Plc.
• Israeli family and their Jersey corporate vehicle – acquisition of an office building in the City of London for £27.4m and associated landlord and tenant due diligence and advice.
• Israeli tech entrepreneur – acquisition of a residential portfolio in Knightsbridge, London for £55m.
• Israeli high net worth client – disposal of an office building in Mayfair, London for £25m.
• Israeli institution – acquisition of units in a JPUT owning a commercial building in central London with the use of Warranty & Indemnity insurance, together with all associated legal work including real estate due diligence, negotiation of the sale and purchase agreement and disclosure documentation, commercial agreements, finance agreements, tax and TUPE issues.
• Israeli offshore trust – acquisition of a building in Camden market for £8m. The building has subsequently been redeveloped and let on the basis of GDV of £27m.
• High net worth Israeli client – acquisition of a portfolio of loans, secured on commercial properties, from a UK lender. We also advised the client on the sale of a number of office buildings in London in excess of £100m.
• Several trusts and individuals – advising in connection with settlements negotiated with the Israel tax authorities following changes in Israeli laws relating to trusts and funds.
• Israeli company, Oakwood Properties – acquisition of over 200 show homes throughout England and Wales that were subsequently rented out to Barratts Developments PLC.
• Israeli companies iPoint Media PLC, Summet Hi–Tech Coatings, LogNet Information Systems plc, Morria Biopharmaceuticals Plc, MIRAS Imaging plc, Sepal Pharma SA and TK Signal – various fundraisings via offers for subscription.
• PeerTV – admission to AIM of this leading provider of internet TV solutions, incorporated in the UK but with its principal operating subsidiary in Israel.