“Head of the [litigation] department and possessing the most international arbitration experience of the team, US-qualified Israel Leshem is [praised by clients] as 'a thoughtful and powerful lawyer with useful contacts and a fantastic reputation in corporate litigation'.”
Chambers & Partners 2010

“Practice head Israel Leshem is a very good lawyer with excellent judgment and unique experience"

Legal 500 2011

Dr. Israel (Reli) Leshem heads the firm’s Litigation Group. He represents local and international clients in complex litigation in the Israeli courts and in arbitration. Reli also represents clients in international arbitration and assists and coordinates their cross-border litigation in foreign courts.

Chambers & Partners awarded Dr. Leshem the highest individual rank in dispute resolutions

(band 1).

Reli is considered one of the leading experts on civil procedure and commercial arbitration in Israel. He is one of five members of the Minister of Justice’s Advisory Committee on Civil Procedure, and the only representative from the private sector. He was a senior lecturer on civil procedure at Tel Aviv University Law School and taught civil procedure and arbitration law at the College of Management Law School. He is the Chair of the Israel Bar Association’s Continuing Legal Education Program on Civil Procedure and Evidence and serves on the board of directors of the Arbitration Institute of the Israeli Bar Association.

Prior to the merger that created Meitar Liquornik Geva & Leshem Brandwein, Reli was a senior partner in Leshem Brandwein (1994-2003), a senior partner in Lipa Meir, Leshem & Co. (1988-1994) and an associate at the New York firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore (1983-1985).

Representative cases:
Commercial and Business Litigation:

Representation of the founders of Excellence Investment House in a US$200 Million claim for enforcement of an option agreement against Phoenix Investments.
Representation of the Israeli Oil Refineries (ORL – BAZAN) in a series of claims in excess of NIS 200 million, concerning sludge accumulated in an oil storage facility.
Representation of Medinol vs. Boston Scientific Inc in cross border dispute over breach of shareholders’ agreement, distribution agreement and breach of intellectual property rights, conducted in New York, Europe and Israel.
Representation of Lumenis, an Israeli medical device hi-tech company, in a claim against Alma Lasers, and four of its founders for damages in the amount of NIS 200 million for infringement of copyrights and misappropriation of trade secrets.
Representation of Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management in a lawsuit filed by El Al Israel Airlines regarding alleged breach of a Boeing 747-400 sale contract.
Representation of Savient (formerly BioTechnology General Inc.) in its protracted patent dispute with Genentech.
Representation of Israeli Oil Refineries in a series of cases against the Israeli Government in the Supreme Court pertaining to oil prices.

Companies and Securities Litigation:

Representation of the controlling shareholders against the minority shareholders in one of Israel’s largest beverage producers.
Representation of Sun Pharmaceuticals in a control battle over Taro Pharmaceuticals – a leading Israeli pharmaceutical company.
Representing the trustee of an insolvent group of public companies in claims of NIS 100 million against former directors and officers for breach of fiduciary duty.
Defending one of the “big four” accounting firms in an NIS 60 million professional negligence claim by the liquidators of a bankrupt public company.

Antitrust Litigation:

Defending one of Israel’s largest food producers and suppliers in a criminal antitrust litigation.

International Arbitration:

Representation of one of Israel's leading telecommunication providers in an ICC arbitration against Telecom Italia (Italy's largest telecom company) involving more than 100 million Euro.
Representation of one of Israel's largest agrochemical producers in a multi-million dollar ICC arbitration in Zurich against BASF.
Representation of a leading metals manufacturer in arbitration against the Government of India.
Representation of the Republic of Bulgaria before the Supreme Court of Israel in an appeal relating to an international arbitration proceeding.
Representation of Space Com in a $55 million ICC arbitration against Asia Satellite Corp. over defects in satellites.

Product Liability:

Defending Merck & Co. in all pending actions in Israel concerning the pain relief drug Vioxx, including three class actions filed in this matter.
Defending GlaxoSmithKline in a class action concerning the drug Avandia (indicated to diabetes type 2).
Defending Eli Lilly & Co in a class action concerning the drug Zyprexa (indicated to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder).

Class Action Defense:

Defending a large Israeli investment bank in a class action claim in the amount of NIS 60 million.

White-Collar Crimes:

Defense of one of Israel's leading baby food importers and its former CEO in major criminal proceedings involving charges of selling defective products.
Defense of one of Israel’s largest food producers and suppliers in a criminal antitrust litigation.

Administrative:

Defense of the US Government in an administrative petition at the Jerusalem District Court regarding the construction of a new consulate compound.

Publications:

Author of the Israeli chapter in "The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Class and Group Actions 2010, A practical insight to cross-border Class and Group Actions work". Published by Global Legal Group, London. http://www.iclg.co.uk

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Author of the Israeli chapter in "The International Comparative Legal Guide to: International Arbitration 2009", a practical insight to cross-border international arbitration work. Published by Global Legal Group, London. http://www.iclg.co.uk

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Author of The Israeli Chapter in "The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Litigation and Dispute Resolution 2009", A practical insight to cross-border litigation and dispute resolution. Published by Global Legal Group, London. http://www.iclg.co.uk

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Languages: Hebrew and English

Born: Israel