"The ‘extremely intelligent’ Hagai Doron impresses with his ‘creative thinking and legal strategy’ "
By Legal 500 EMEA

Overview

Hagai, who chairs the firm’s Antitrust & Competition Law Practice Group, is widely recognized as one of Israel’s leading antitrust lawyers.

Hagai’s extensive experience includes: advising on civil and criminal investigations by the Israel Competition Authority (including abuse of monopoly and market power, oligopoly markets, and cartel and restrictive trade practices investigations), challenging monopoly declarations, merger control, collaborative joint ventures, distribution strategy, cartels, dominance, licensing, and class actions involving breaches of Israeli antitrust law. In particular, Hagai acts for clients in damages and class action claims which seek substantial compensation following a finding, whether in the US, the EU or Israel, of a contravention of competition law. Hagai also has substantial experience co-coordinating with foreign counsel on Israeli antitrust and merger clearances for global and cross-border mergers, joint ventures, strategic alliances and other collaborative arrangements.

He advises on both non-contentious and contentious issues and has extensive experience resolving and litigating competition disputes before the Restrictive Trade Practices Tribunal and at all levels of Israel’s civil court system. Hagai’s clients are from a wide range of industry sectors, including: pharmaceuticals, banking and financial services, technology, consumer healthcare, energy, retail, defence, telecommunications, insurance, aviation, media and automotive manufacturing.

Hagai also has specific regulatory and industry expertise concerning the telecommunications and media industry. He acts for television and radio broadcasters, cable franchisees, internet content and service providers, production companies, internet service providers, newspapers and mobile phone manufacturers and network operators on all the regulatory and legal aspects of conducting business in Israel. He has a wealth of experience representing clients in tenders issued by the Ministry of Communications for the operation and broadcasting in Israel of television, radio and cable channels as well as for mobile telephone spectrum and internet services.

Languages: EnglishHebrew
Admissions: Israel Bar, 1997
Education: Haifa University, LL.B., cum laude, (1996)Haifa University, BA, Economics, summa cum laude, (1996)

Experience

Examples of Hagai’s extensive experience in Israel include:

  • Representing PSA in its USD 50 billion merger with Fiat-Chrysler Group to create the world’s fourth-largest automobile manufacturer.
  • Representing Bristol Myers Squibb in its USD 74 billion acquisition of Celgene.
  • Representing Allergan in the USD 63 billion acquisition by AbbVie.
  • Representing and advising Teva Pharmaceuticals in its USD 45 billion acquisition of Allergan.
  • Representing Medtronic Inc. in its merger filing with the Israel Competition Authority for the approval of its acquisition of Covidien Plc. for USD 42.9 billion.
  • Representing General Electric in relation to Israeli merger filings concerning its USD 30 billion acquisition of Baker Hughes.
  • Representing General Electric in the sale of its Global Industrial Solutions to ABB.
  • Representing General Electric in its merger filing with the Israel Competition Authority requesting approval for its acquisition of Alstom’s energy business for USD 17 billion.
  • Representing General Electric in its USD 21.4 billion sale of General Electric’s life science business to Danaher.
  • Representing Boston Scientific in a number of merger transactions including its EUR 3.7 billion acquisition of BTG Plc.
  • Representing Boeing in relation to the merger aspects of its USD 3.2 billion acquisition of KLX Inc.
  • Representing International Airlines Group in its planned EUR 1 billion acquisition of Spanish airline Air Europa.
  • Advising Bombardier in the contemplated acquisition of its rail unit by Alstom for USD 6.7 billion.
  • Representing Qiagen in its USD 12 billion acquisition by Thermo Fischer Scientific.
  • Representing and advising Procter & Gamble Company in all antitrust and competition matters in Israel, including the sale of its Duracell business and a merger with COTY Inc.
  • Acting for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries in numerous merger transactions, including the merger filing concderning a purchase between Teva and IWH UK MIDCO 2 LIMITED (“CVC”), in which CVC acquired a portfolio of products within Teva’s global women’s health business.
  • Acting for Teva in the merger filing concerning a purchase transaction between Teva and CooperSurgical, Inc. in which CooperSurgical, Inc. acquired the Paragard intrauterine copper contraceptive product business, as well as the US manufacturing plant, intellectual property rights and associated inventory previously owned by Teva.
  • Advising Procter & Gamble and Teva on their competition law requirements in Israel, including in connection with their USD 1.3 billion joint venture to form PGT Healthcare.
  • Representing Peugeot SA, General Motors Holdings LLC, BNP Paribas and Opel Automobile GmbH in the merger filing for the highly-publicized Opel purchase by Peugeot and BNP Paribas.
  • Representing and advising Francisco Partners and Verifone Inc. in the merger filing regarding the purchase of Verifone Inc. by Francisco Partners, valued at USD 3.4 billion.
  • Representing EQT in a transaction for the acquisition of ownership in Kuoni Travel Holding Ltd. and its subsidiaries.
  • Representing Linear Technology Corporation in the merger filing for the merger transaction with Analog Devices Inc.
  • Representing Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc. and Mead Johnson Nutrition in connection with the Israeli competition law aspects of their global merger, pursuant to which Reckitt Benckiser acquired sole control over Mead Johnson.
  • Representing Bain Capital Investors, LLC, Vista Equity Partners Management, LLC, Aptean Parent Company Sarl, Superion, LLC and Palermo TT Holdings, Inc. in a merger filing relating to the acquisition of joint control of Aptean Parent Company Sarl., Superion, LLC and Palermo TT Holdings, Inc. by Bain Capital Investors, L.L.C and Vista Equity Partners Management, LLC.
  • Representing GTCR LLC, Carlyle Partners VI, L.P. and Albany Molecular Research Inc. in the merger filing relating to the purchase of Albany by GTCR and Carlyle Partners.
  • Representing Thoma Bravo, LLC and Nintex Global Ltd. in the merger filing regarding the purchase of Nintex Global Ltd. by Thoma Bravo, LLC.
  • Representing Bactlab Diagnostics Ltd. in the merger filing concerning the purchase of certain assets of Lapidot Pharmaceuticals Ltd., relating to the distribution of Bactlab Diagnostics Ltd. products in Israel.
  • Advising and representing Beiersdorf AG in the merger filing regarding the establishment of a joint venture with ALPA Cosmetics Co., Ltd.
  • Representing Applied Materials Israel Ltd. in its merger filing with the Israel Competition Authority for the approval of its merger with Tokyo Electron Ltd.
  • Representing Cisco Systems, Inc. in its merger filing with the Israel Competition Authority for the approval of its acquisition of NDS Group Ltd. for USD 5.5 billion.
  • Representing Anglo American Plc. in its merger filing with the Israel Competition Authority for the approval of its acquisition of the Oppenheimer family’s holdings in the De Beers Group for USD 5.1 billion.
  • Representing British Airways in its merger filing with the Israel Competition Authority relating to its merger with Iberia, Líneas Aéreas de España and the formation of International Air Group, the third-largest airline group in the world.
  • Representing Koch Industries, Inc. and Broad Street Principal Investments, LLC in their merger filings with the Israel Competition Authority relating to their joint acquisition of Flint Group GmbH for USD 2.7 billion from CVC Capital Partners Ltd.
  • Representing Koch Industries, Inc. in a number of merger filings, including the purchase of Infor Inc. and the acquisition of a 44% shareholding interest in Guardian Industries for USD 1.2 billion.
  • Representing General Motors Corporation regarding the merger filing concerning its merger with Suzuki Motor Corporation.
  • Representing Lindengruppen AB and Foundation Asset Management Sweden AB in their merger filings with the Israel Competition Authority relating to their joint acquisition, via a tender offer, of Hoganas AB for USD 1.7 billion.
  • Representing American International Group Inc. in its merger with respect to its acquisition of AIG Israel Insurance Company Ltd. from Aurec Gold Investments Ltd.
  • Representing Tokyo Electron Ltd. in the merger filing relating to its acquisition of FSI International Inc. for approximately USD 252.5 million.
  • Advising GE Healthcare and Microsoft on the formation and regulatory approvals required for their 50-50 joint venture healthcare analytics and population health company, Caradigm.
  • Advising Fuji Electric following a class action proceeding in Israel based on the EU decision to impose fines on what it considered to be a GIS switchgear cartel.
  • Representing Sharp Corporation in the defence of a class action instituted against Sharp, Samsung Electronics Co., AU Optronic, Chi Mei and LG Display, claiming that the parties had breached antitrust law by conspiring to fix prices for LCD panels.
  • Representing British Airways in connection with a class action proceeding in Israel instituted against British Airways, El Al, Lufthansa and Swiss for alleged price-fixing relating to cargo surcharges.
  • Representing IATA (the International Air Transport Association) in proceedings before Israel’s Competition Tribunal to extend IATA’s exemption for the operation of its centralised settling program for airlines and travel agents (BSP), as well as application for an exemption to set up a similar settling program for cargo (CASS).
  • Representing IATA in an appeal to the Competition Tribunal initiated by the Israel Travel Agents Association, seeking to challenge the Tribunal’s decision to grant the BSP exemption.
  • Representing the Israel Electric Corporation (the IEC) in connection with proceedings alleging that a refusal by IEC’s employees to connect certain private electricity manufacturers to the national grid supply was an abuse of a dominant position, and a request to issue a mandamus order against IEC requiring it to connect the said manufacturers to the national grid.
  • Representing the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) and one of its executives in a precedential case in connection with proceedings alleging that IEC refused to provide services to customers of private electricity manufacturers, claiming that this constituted an abuse of a dominant position.
  • Representing Bank Leumi Le-Israel BM in connection with an investigation into cartel/collusive behaviour between the five largest banks in Israel arising from an exchange of information regarding fees. Each of the banks disputed the findings of the Israel Competition Authority and sought judicial review by way of filing an appeal to the Competition Tribunal, following which the Competition Authority’s findings were annulled by way of a consent decree.
  • Representing Reshet Media Ltd. (one of Israel’s major terrestrial broadcasters) in proceedings before the Competition Tribunal objecting, on competition law grounds, to the formation of a royalty collection society for directors and scriptwriters, asserting that the proposed rules constituted a restrictive arrangement.
  • Representing Barclays Bank PLC in two class actions: a class action concerning alleged manipulations of Libor quotes between 2005 and 2011, amidst claims that they constituted a restrictive arrangement, and a class action regarding alleged “Forex manipulation”.
  • Representing Scania AB in a class action alleging it participated, alongside other commercial vehicle manufacturers, in a global cartel to fix truck prices.
  • Representing Danfoss A/S in class action proceedings concerning an alleged global conspiracy to fix the prices of private and industrial compressors.
  • Representing Hitachi-LG Data Storage in class action proceedings regarding participation in an alleged global cartel to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing prices of ODD products and “bid rigging”.
  • Representing Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha in class action proceedings regarding participation in an alleged “global maritime transport cartel”.
  • Representing Cemex (Israel) Ltd. (the Israeli subsidiary of Cemex, the world’s largest aggregates and cement company) in hearings before the Israel Competition Authority, within the Authority’s investigation of rebates offered by Nesher Industries, Israel’s sole cement producer and (then) an officially-recognised monopoly, to certain customers.
  • Representing Paz Oil Company Ltd. (Israel’s largest oil and gas company) in a class action brought by the owners of Paz’s licensed petrol stations (the largest network of petrol stations in Israel) in one of the largest ever class actions in Israel, relating to alleged structural anti-competitive arrangements between Paz and its various petrol station franchisees across the country.
  • Representing Lime & Stone Production Company Ltd. (Israel’s largest producer of aggregates for the Israeli building and construction industry) which had been declared a monopoly by the Israel Competition Authority. Our team successfully acted for the client before the antitrust authorities to have this determination annulled.

Recognition

  • Chambers Global 2024: “Hagai is one of the most experienced competition lawyers in Israel.”
  • WWL 2024: Hagai has been recognized by Who’s Who Legal as a Thought Leaders lawyer in Competition.
  • The Legal 500 2023: Ranked Hagai among an elite club of “Hall of Fame” members in Israel, in the field of Competition/Antitrust and ranked as a Leading individual in the field of Telecoms and Media- “…One of his strengths is the combination of vast experience in the media sector with his great knowledge in the commercial and antitrust aspects – a combination which we find as helpful and efficient in many cases.”
  • Chambers Global 2023: Ranked Hagai in Band 1 for Competition/Antitrust, and recognized him in Dispute Resolution: Class Action (Defence) and TMT: Telecoms, Media & Broadcasting. Amongst his praises: Hagai Doron is a trusted adviser who has a strong command of the antitrust laws and their application in complex merger control matters.”; “He is very profound in everything he does, and you get the feeling that you are in good hands.”; “Hagai is also well experienced in working with the different regulators, as well as courts and other relevant stakeholders.”; “He is extremely experienced and brings to the table a deep knowledge and understanding of competition law.”
  • The Legal 500 2022: Ranked Hagai among an elite club of “Hall of Fame” members in Israel, in the field of Competition/Antitrust and ranked as a Leading individual in the field of Telecoms and Media- “Hagai is an exceptional lawyer: smart, profound, creative, fair and professional at an international level; A highly trusted adviser to our company and its top management, and no important business decision or move is being made without his hands-on involvement, advice and guidance. His work and advice have proven themselves punctual and precise, time after time; The team headed by Hagai Doron is great, professional, creative.”
  • Chambers Global 2022:  “…well regarded for his work on antitrust class actions. He is particularly active representing clients from the automotive industry in class action mandates, as well as matters arising in the energy and pharmaceutical sectors.”
  • Chambers Global 2022: “…acclaimed for his prowess in litigation and regularly acts for clients on antitrust class actions.” (Competition/Antitrust)
  • Chambers Global 2022: “Alongside his strong litigious practice, Hagai Doron provides regulatory advice to a range of clients from the cellular and television sectors. He demonstrates additional strength in competition and antitrust matters.” (TMT: Telecoms, Media & Broadcasting).
  • Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Competition 2022: Hagai has been selected as one of the top 5% of the world’s foremost competition lawyers, who are worthy of special mention owing not only to their vast expertise and experience advising on some of the world’s most significant and cutting-edge legal matters, but also their ability to innovate, inspire, and go above and beyond to deliver for their clients.
  • The Legal 500 2020: yet again ranked Hagai among an elite club of “Hall of Fame” members in Israel.
  • Chambers Global 2019: According to interviewees, Hagai Doron is “sharp and pragmatic.” He is known for his litigation work, which includes representing his clients in class action proceedings. He also possesses notable experience in hearings before the IAA commissioner. Clients appreciate that he “knows how to efficiently reach solutions” and is “able to deliver very targeted and practical solutions.” Hagai is also widely commended for his expertise in the telecoms and media space, describing him as a “real expert in antitrust.”
  • Chambers Global 2018:  Draws praise for his specialism in competition and antitrust matters, handling domestic and international clients from various sectors. One source observed: “He always knows exactly what to do. He is a highly experienced and respected lawyer in his field.”
  • Chambers Global 2016: Clients describe him as a “very kind, dedicated and highly professional lawyer who takes a business approach on top of his legal perspective.”
  • The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA): has recommended Hagai in the field of competition and antitrust, stating: “The ‘extremely intelligent’ Hagai Doron impresses with his ‘creative thinking and legal strategy’.”
  • Who’s Who Legal 2017: has recognized Hagai Doron, chair of the firm’s Antitrust & Competition Law Practice Group, as a leading expert in this field.
  • Who’s Who Legal 2016: has described Hagai Doron as  the “premier choice for dealing with complex and challenging antitrust matters in Israel”.
  • Hagai is listed as an expert in competition law in ‘The International Who’s Who of Competition Lawyers’.
  • Which Lawyer: ranks Hagai as a leading lawyer and expert in competition law and antitrust.
  • European Legal Expert: has recommended Hagai in the fields of Competition, IT and telecommunications.
  • Chambers and Partners: has ranked Hagai highly in its Competition/Antitrust in Israel category.
  • Chambers Global Client’s Guide: has singled out Hagai out as a key individual at the firm, with clients recommending him as being “very talented, very dedicated”; as “someone I would always recommend” who “responds quickly”, and “clients praise his pioneering approach to finding new solutions”. In years past, Chambers described Hagai as “an excellent antitrust lawyer, and an extremely good litigator”; “very responsive, accurate, succinct and practical – he provides the quality of service that multinational clients expect”.
  • Hagai is featured in Who’s Who Legal  in the competition practice area and the European Legal Expert has recommended Hagai in the field of competition and in IT and telecommunications.

Other Activities

Member of the Lex Mundi Antitrust Committee.

Member of the International Bar Association Antitrust Litigation Working Group.

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