An Israeli lawyer has enlisted the Law Society to help persuade the Israel Bar Association and government to change the law and allow foreign lawyers to practise in his home country.
English and Israeli-qualified Elad Man, a lawyer at Tel Aviv-based Man-Barak, wants to promote greater co-operation between English and Israeli law firms. He said liberalisation of Israel’s practice rules is necessary due to the increased amounts of business being done between the two countries, but he said political pressure at government level was required in order to achieve it.
Mr Man, who recently held talks with the Law Society on the issue, said there were 35 Israeli companies already listed on the Alternative Investment Market, and five on the main stock exchange. ‘Israeli companies are looking for capital markets to fund expansion. They used to go to the US, but since Sarbanes-Oxley they are looking more to Europe and the UK,’ he added.
Explaining the obstacles to change, Mr Man said: ‘Israel is already over-lawyered – there is one lawyer for every 271 people, and the Israel Bar Association fears increased competition if foreigners are permitted to enter the domestic legal market.’But Timothy Eppel, a partner at City firm McFaddens, which is keen to open a branch office in Israel if the practice rules are changed, said: ‘We would not be offering a service on Israeli law, but advising on English and international law, so would not present a threat to local lawyers.’
A spokeswoman for the Law Society said: ‘We’re keen to work with firms interested in Israel and to find a means of making access to the country easier.’
Jonathan Morris, vice-chairman of the British Israel Law Association and a partner at City firm Berwin Leighton Paisner, said: ‘Israel is not alone in having prohibitions on the practice of foreign lawyers, but the growing trend towards globalisation makes it increasingly inevitable that these barriers will come down. ’ But he added: ‘It could take time.’ The Israel Bar Association declined to comment.
(published on the Law Society Gazette - written by Catherine Baksi)