Herzog, Fox & Neeman

History and Founding

Herzog Fox & Neeman was established in 1972 as a boutique firm focused on providing high-quality legal services for international clients doing business in Israel. The founders brought unparalleled political and legal pedigree: Chaim Herzog later served as Israel's sixth president, Ya'akov Ne'eman served as Minister of Justice, and Michael Fox was a leading corporate lawyer. Over five decades, the firm evolved into Israel's largest law firm, handling landmark cross-border transactions, billions of dollars in IPOs on NASDAQ and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, and precedent-setting Supreme Court litigation.

Business Model and Practice Areas

HFN operates as a fully integrated partnership with more than 50 practice groups. The firm's core revenue driver is its corporate and M&A practice, which advises on some of Israel's largest mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures, often involving multibillion-dollar cross-border deals. Its high-tech and venture capital practice is particularly renowned, serving as the go-to legal adviser for startups, unicorns, and leading venture capital firms. The firm also maintains strong litigation, tax, real estate, banking, and intellectual property practices. In recent years, HFN has been a pioneer in emerging sectors such as cryptocurrency and fintech, online gaming and gambling, crisis management, urban renewal, and impact investment. The firm's legal tech integration with Harvey AI in 2024 further demonstrates its commitment to innovation.

Market Position and Recognition

HFN consistently receives the highest number of Tier 1 rankings from Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, and IFLR among all Israeli law firms. It has been named "Israeli Law Firm of the Year" by Mergermarket, International Tax Review, LMG Life Sciences, and Lexology Index, and won "Employment Firm of the Year in Israel" at the inaugural Chambers Israel Awards. The firm also received the ALB Reuters Impact Deal of the Year (Premium) Award. Its cross-border capabilities are ranked Band 1 by Chambers, with over 50 lawyers who are native English speakers from the US, UK, and Australia, and foreign desks serving Korea, China, Japan, and other jurisdictions. The firm's client list includes Fortune 500 companies, unicorn startups, sovereign wealth funds, and the State of Israel.

Recent Developments

In 2024, HFN expanded its legal tech capabilities by integrating Harvey AI, a generative AI platform for document analysis, review, and drafting. The firm continues to strengthen its international presence, with its Silicon Valley office serving as a key hub for tech clients. HFN also remains active in shaping Israeli law through its involvement in high-profile litigation and regulatory work, particularly in the fast-evolving cryptocurrency and fintech sectors.