From the earliest struggles for women’s legal rights to complex land disputes, from the era of the British Mandate through to independence—we have been instrumental in building a completely new legal framework and charting unknown legal waters for a country that was once nothing more than an aspiration—we have been part of this journey every step of the way.
Our journey is intertwined with the civil, legal, and industrial story of Israel. It is a story of ingenuity, of trailblazers, of people called “Haluzim” in Hebrew – the pioneers who broke ground for others. It is a story best told in motion.
The first 10 years of our firm’s history took place under the British Mandate in the early years of the 20th century, when women were not permitted to practice law. But there was one woman, Rosa Ginzberg, who together with attorneys Harry Sacher and Shalom Horowitz fought for her right to enter the legal profession. Her struggle, waged in both the legal and political arenas, culminated in a precedent setting decision by the Supreme Court which recognized the right of women to be lawyers.
During the 1930s, disputes over the ownership of land and the conflict between the Jewish and Arab populations were at the heart of life during the British Mandate period in Palestine. S. Horowitz & Co. represented many of the Zionist organizations involved in the establishment of the State of Israel. As a direct result of the firm’s vast experience, Shalom Horowitz was invited to testify before the Peel Commission, the Royal Commission established by the British government to investigate the causes of the Arab uprising in 1936.
In the 1940’s, Pinhas Rutenberg’s vision of an electricity company comes to fruition and our firm has represented the Israel Electricity Corporation (IEC) since its inception until today (at that time it was known as the Palestine Electricity Company).. Throughout that period, , S. Horowitz & Co has worked closely with the IEC on a wide variety of issues, including conducting negotiations on behalf of the company in a dispute regarding rights to use the waters of the Yarkon River to generate electricity.
The fourth decade of our firm also marked the first years of the State of Israel. The young country that declared its independence in 1948 needed not only one leadership but also one law that was equal for all. S. Horowitz & Co. played an integral role in the establishment of the legal system in Israel. In the 1950s, the firm grew and expanded with important key players like attorney Tzvi Tal (who was later appointed a Supreme Court Justice), Katharine Luthi-Jaffee, Nehemiah Solomon and Ruta Oren, all of whom entrenched themselves as important pillars within our practice. In the 1950s, the firm worked very closely with Dead Sea Works Ltd., the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, manufacturers such as Polgat and Sugat, and also helped establish the Weizmann Institute of Science’s Technology Transfer Company.
The 1960s, The fifth decade of the firm. The Israeli legal system continues to develop, and the Agranat Commission is established to determine the powers and standing of the Attorney General. Adv. Abraham Levin is appointed a member of it. Ruth (Ruta) Oren, an attorney at the firm and later on one of the leaders at its helm, accompanies Yeda Research & Development Company Ltd., a company owned by the Weizmann Institute of Science, and fosters unique legal mechanisms that facilitate a balance between the academic freedom of scientists and the commercialization of scientific developments, as well as preservation of the Institute’s rights. The firm adds to its ranks Dr. Amnon Goldenberg, whose extraordinary work will later on earn him the title “the greatest of litigators”. We will hear more of him in the coming decades.
The sixth decade of the firm. The 1970s. The firm is growing and already consists of 9 attorneys, and is involved in every significant incident occurring in the country: Commencing with advising the IDF Chief of Staff LTG David (Dado) Alazar before the Agranat Commission of Inquiry, established for investigating the circumstances that led to the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War, on to representing Israeli evacuees from Yamit in negotiations with the State for compensation, and culminating with representing the Director-General of the Mossad (Israel’s national intelligence agency) before the commission investigating the events surrounding the Sabra and Shatila massacre. The major cases in those years were led by Dr. Amnon Goldenberg, who was considered an expert for resolving crises.
In the 1980s, the firm continues to grow and to be involved in the country’s turbulent affairs. Dr. Amnon Goldenberg represents Itzik Mordechai in the Bus 300 affair, and extricates him from incrimination proceedings brought by the Shin Bet (the Israel Security Agency). The also firm represents the Yamit evacuees against the backdrop of the signing of a peace treaty with Egypt. In the proceedings in front of the Kahan Commission of Inquiry, which investigated the Sabra and Shatila massacre, the firm played an important role by representing the then Director-General of the Mossad, Nahum Admoni. In the civil law sphere, the firm provides representation in precedential case in a copyright claim concerning the famous LEGO bricks, and thus was instrumental in shaping the intellectual property law in Israel. Between the years 1982-1984, Advs. Alex Hertman and Tal Band joined the firm. Both began their professional journey as articled clerks (legal interns) at the firm, and would later become among its heads.
In the 1990s S. Horowitz & Co. closely accompanies the most interesting affairs of those years, and particularly – the famous bankers’ trial that caused an uproar in the country. Likewise, in its eighth decade the firm acted vigorously to provide representation in the field of intellectual property to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and the American Hughes Aircraft Company. The firm also accompanied the Israel Electric Corporation Ltd. in precedential proceedings in tender law, and even represented the State of Israel in a claim filed against Mossad agents in the Lillehammer affair.
The 2000s bring about good news in the fields of globalization, technology, the internet, and also healthcare. Our firm represented Maccabi Healthcare Services in legislating the National Health Insurance Law, a law which revolutionized in the healthcare services field, and stated that every Israeli resident may choose his or her own health insurance organization). Thereafter, the firm represented Maccabi in a precedential petition to the Supreme Court concerning implementation of the law. To this day the firm continues to advise many companies in the field of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, as well as start-ups in the field of life sciences and medicine. In addition, during these years, the firm represented the evacuees from Gush Katif in negotiations conducted with the State with regard to receiving compensation in consideration for the expected evacuation, and continues to be involved in precedent-setting decisions in the various legal arenas.
In its tenth decade, the firm continues to be involved in the most important crossroads and to impact the field of law in Israel. The firm represents the UK insurance company Marsh in the case concerning the explosion of the “Amos 6” satellite, and also represents Raytheon Technologies Corporation in the defence of its exclusive trademark – PAVEWAY. Likewise, the firm continues to be a partner in building and developing the country and accompanies large infrastructure projects. During these years, the firm also represents Israel Discount Bank Ltd. in bankruptcy proceedings being conducted against Israeli businessman, Eliezer Fishman, which is considered the largest bankruptcy case in the history of the State of Israel.
S. Horowitz & Co. concludes its’ first 100 years of activity and growth, but is certainly not stopping, and is looking forward to the future. The State of Israel continues to grow at a dizzying pace. Projects that were once considered a dream, are now becoming a reality: ports, freeways, trains and tunnels and, of course, renewable energy. The firm accompanies and supports projects of this nature, for example, the Tel Aviv Light Rail, Highway 6 North, the new Knesset Building, etc. The firm also accompanies Asian and European clients as part of their entry into the Israeli market. Furthermore, the start-up nation attributes and technological developments have created an entire world in which the law has come to play a crucial role. In these areas the firm serves as a spearhead and represents huge corporations such as Google, Walla!,Ynet, etc. Indeed, there is no telling what the future holds, but it is safe to expect that S. Horowitz & Co. will continue to be at the forefront of accomplishment and will carve-out legal solutions in every field deemed necessary.
