Overview

We have unrivalled expertise advising on the full spectrum of legal and commercial issues relating to the insurance sector. We

represent the world’s largest insurance companies and domestic insurance companies, as well as their insureds, Lloyd’s syndicates, brokers, HMOs, and underwriters. We represent these clients, inter alia, in significant, high-profile, complex litigation; corporate and commercial disputes; major class actions; subrogation claims and claims relating to professional negligence; medical negligence; damage to property and personal injury. Our team also has extensive experience handling transactional and regulatory work in the insurance space.

Our transactional and litigation experience in the insurance field includes:

  • Advising the insurance industry on corporate and regulatory issues, in particular, minimum capital requirements and permits to conduct insurance business and obtaining control permits from the Israeli Supervisor of Insurance Companies.
  • Negotiating, arbitrating and litigating insurance coverage disputes.
  • Acting on claims involving product liability, fidelity insurance, director and officer coverage, professional indemnity, life insurance, commercial risk, health coverage, executive liability and antitrust issues.
  • Defending insurers in individual and class actions against allegations of breach of good faith and fair dealing, violations of Israeli insurance regulations, fraud and unfair competition.
  • Advising on policy wording and disputes regarding their contractual interpretation.
  • Verifying compliance of insurance programs within the context of project and general corporate financing.
  • Advising on the regulatory aspects of the acquisition of insurance companies.
  • Advising on insurance aspects of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and corporate restructurings.
  • Advising on insurance within the context of project and infrastructure financings, including the taking of security over insurance policies.

 

Our lawyers, with expertise in litigation, regulatory compliance, transactions and public policy, are able to draw on a wealth of experience, in order to tackle the multitude of issues faced by clients.

The firm is regularly ranked among the leading firms in Israel for its insurance practice by The Legal 500, and our insurance disputes team was described by The Legal 500 as a ‘top-class group of litigation specialists’.

 

Recognition

  • The European Legal 500 2021 has ranked S. Horowitz & Co. in Tier 1, describing it as: ” S. Horowitz & Co has an exceptionally diverse insurance practice; it handles contentious, transactional and regulatory work for major international and domestic insurance companies. On the contentious side, the firm is often involved in subrogation claims and class actions involving allegations of fraud or breach of good faith and fair dealing. In terms of non-contentious work, the firm advises clients on M&A, divestitures of their shares, corporate restructuring and insurance tenders, among others.”. In addition, the directory quotes the firm’s clients: “The team is very supportive, available to us 24/7 and gives us the feeling that we have a legal partner at any time. We also feel that, apart from the legal aspect, the team has a broader business view than other firms, and helps us understand the potential exposures of any legal action so we can take the right decision from our side.”
  • The European Legal 500 2020 has ranked S. Horowitz & Co. in Tier 1 in the field of Insurance: “S. Horowitz & Co’s ‘top-class group of litigation specialists’ represents major international and domestic insurance companies in corporate and commercial disputes, major class actions, subrogation claims and claims relating to professional negligence, medical negligence and personal injury. The group also has experience handling transactional and regulatory work in the insurance space.”
  • The European Legal 500 2019:S. Horowitz & Co comprises ‘top-class litigators for bigger-ticket disputes of all kinds’ and represents insurers and insureds in insurance-related commercial litigation as well as claims and subrogation work.”
  • The European Legal 500 2016: “S. Horowitz & Co.’s ‘outstanding team’ is recommended for contentious insurance issues.’”
  • The European Legal 500 2015 states the insurance team of “S. Horowitz & Co is noted for high professional ability, quick responses and knowledge of the market” and that it “regularly acts for multinational insurers in product liability cases“.
  • The European Legal 500 2013 recognises that regarding work by this team “clients certainly get value for money”.
  • The European Legal 500 2010 says that the team is comprised of “accessible lawyers with high levels of expertise”.