Ophir Kaplan

Partner

Adv. Ophir Kaplan specializes in tax law, providing comprehensive advice to local and foreign clients on complex tax matters.

Ophir provides strategic and ongoing consultation in corporate and individual taxation, international taxation, indirect taxation, etc., prepares legal opinions and obtains advance tax rulings, and represents clients before the Tax Authority and courts in tax assessment proceedings and various tax disputes.

Based on his extensive experience in international and corporate taxation, he advises clients on restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, employee stock option plans, SAFE transactions and other fundraising, real estate transactions, investment transactions of all types, barter transactions, and similar matters. His practice also includes advising high-net-worth individuals and families on wealth protection and next generation transfer, family trusts, and investment strategies.

Ophir is known for his contributions to the field and serves as an active member in various tax committees of the Israel Bar Association. He has published numerous articles on corporate taxation, individual taxation, international taxation, indirect taxes, real estate taxation, and municipal taxation in various aspects.

Core Capabilities

  • Corporate and Individual Tax Planning: Providing strategic tax planning for major corporations and high-net-worth individuals, including tax-efficient structuring and advance tax rulings
  • International Taxation: Advising multinational corporations on cross-border transactions and investments, representing global companies like AT&T, Veolia, Perrigo, and McDonald’s
  • M&A and Transaction Taxation: Structuring tax-efficient mergers and acquisitions, including billion-dollar transactions such as the Perrigo Rx division sale and Veolia divestiture
  • Employee Benefits and Compensation: Designing and advising on tax-optimized compensation packages and stock option plans, for corporations and startups
  • Real Estate Taxation: Counseling on property transactions and development projects, including major initiatives like the Weizmann Institute Science Park valued at NIS 1 billion
  • High-Net-Worth Advisory: Providing tax counsel to wealthy families on wealth protection strategies, next-generation transfer planning, and family trust structures
  • Tax Dispute Resolution: Representing clients before Israeli Tax Authority and courts in complex proceedings, including multi-billion NIS disputes like the Weizmann Institute case
  • Indirect Taxation: Advising on VAT and customs taxation for domestic and international operations, with proven success in resolving complex disputes

Notable Representations

  • Advising Perrigo Group in disputes regarding the sale of its Rx division for approximately NIS 1.55 billion
  • Advising AT&T in various investments and transactions in Israeli corporations
  • Representing Veolia Group in court tax dispute regarding the sale of its Israeli operations to Oaktree Fund valued at approximately NIS 1 billion
  • Advising and representing McDonald’s Group in various transactions including acquisition of rights from local franchisee, Omri Padan, for hundreds of millions of dollars
  • Representing Israel Electric Corporation in taxation of power plant sale transactions as part of the reform
  • Advising Weizmann Institute of Science in tax assessment discussions and litigation regarding tax demands of approximately NIS 2 billion and advising on the Science Park project valued at NIS 1 billion
  • Advising Bank Hapoalim regarding restructuring (mergers) and various transactions with credit card companies, including VAT dispute resolved in court
  • Advising Ambridge Europe and Euclid Transactional insurance groups regarding insurance coverage for various M&A transactions, such as the sale of Max credit card company valued at approximately NIS 2.5 billion
  • Advising the rights holder of the globally recognised Rummikub game and other intellectual property, on the taxation aspects of a sale of its IP and business activities to a non-Israeli resident group
  • Representing Kimberly-Clark in acquiring holdings in Hogla-Kimberly valued at approximately NIS 650 million

recognition

Education

  • Master of Laws (LL.M.), Summa Cum Laude, Tel Aviv University, 2008
  • Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), College of Management, 2002

Admission

  • Israel Bar Association, 2003

Contact

Expertise

Languages

Hebrew, English

News & Insights:

By Ophir Kaplan

Access our legal insights, thought leadership and expert analysis

Updates

Employer Deposits into Individual Policies to Secure Future Employee Severance Grants

A recent ruling changes the tax treatment of employer severance policy deposits, affecting compensation structures across Israel.

Updates

Taxation of Stock Options for Employees Who Became Israeli Residents

The Tax Authority issued new guidance on taxation of foreign stock options for employees who became Israeli residents. Two beneficial tracks are now available: taxation under Section 3(i) with potential income spreading over 6 years, or conversion to Section 102

Updates

Rethinking Transaction Structures

Why do Israeli M&A deals favor share purchases over asset deals? While asset purchases offer liability protection and simpler integration, seller tax concerns drive the preference. But for cross-border deals with post-closing restructuring plans, asset purchases may actually be smarter.

Updates

TAX NEWSFLASH – AUGUST 2025

Are you prepared for significant Israeli tax changes?

News

Israeli crypto Tax – a Snapshot

The Israeli regulators and financial system approach towards cryptocurrencies has been a matter of criticism in the past several years due to lack of clarity and regulatory guidelines.

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