Israel Group News - January 2026

Welcome to the January 2026 issue of our global newsletter, Israel Group News, dedicated to keeping you informed on the latest developments, emerging trends, hot topics, and DLA Piper activities that focus on bringing the dynamic and innovative Israeli ecosystem directly to your doorstep.

During the final quarter of 2025, we provided a wide range of legal services to Israeli companies, investors, and entrepreneurs, as well as to international businesses exploring opportunities within Israel. We view ourselves as an extension of the clients we serve; we aim to work with them for the long term, whether their needs involve guidance on day-to-day inquiries, focused projects, special situations, or large-scale transactions.

For more general information about the Israel Group, click here. To gain a perspective on our trusted advisor practice, the types of day-to-day guidance we provide, and our representative client list, click here. To view a recap of 2024, click here. In addition, to view a video about our charitable work in the community, click here. To watch our Rosh Hashana 2025 video, click here.

Please contact us if you have any questions or if we may be helpful in any manner. For new client requests, please send an email to dla-israel-attorneys@us.dlapiper.com.

Global employment trends and what's ahead: 2025 in review and 2026 preview

Global employers are preparing for a new era of workforce planning, compliance, and innovation. Economic and geopolitical uncertainty, rapid technological disruption, and fragmented regulation are rewriting the rules of employment worldwide.

DLA Piper’s report highlights key trends impacting global employers today and offers a preview of what to expect in 2026.

Additionally, for GENIE subscribers, we have produced country-by-country reviews of 2025 and 2026 previews for 52 jurisdictions across EMEA, Asia Pacific, and the Americas. If you are not yet a GENIE subscriber, you can register here. Please note that GENIE is a resource for clients of DLA Piper.

Recent legal insights from DLA Piper

Secured lenders are seeing increased demand from borrowers to execute secondary transactions in the venture lending space. While these transactions can raise concerns regarding control over leverage, investor support, and protecting collateral value, they can be compatible with prudent credit risk management, provided the credit agreement architecture anticipates them. This DLA Piper alert outlines practical approaches venture lenders are using to mitigate risks arising from secondary transactions.

The December 2025 edition of DLA Piper’s Gender pay transparency: A global guide to employer obligations is now available, bringing you the latest information on developments in Europe and beyond. Our guide covers jurisdictions across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East, with two new countries for December 2025: Slovenia and Greece. For each country, the guide highlights pay gap reporting requirements, as well as rules relating to pre-employment pay transparency and employee’s rights to access pay information. Click here to access the report.

The global tax environment is becoming increasingly complex and interconnected, with significant implications for compliance, risk management, and strategic planning. Recent developments, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Pillar Two global minimum tax, European Union regulatory reforms, and evolving United States and Asian tax policies, are reshaping how multinational enterprises operate. In this report, DLA Piper lawyers explore several key themes shaping the international tax landscape and provide takeaways from recent discussions with clients.

At DLA Piper’s Fourth Annual Product Liability Symposium, panelists shared key insights related to the new European Union Product Liability Directive, which will come into effect in December 2026. Read key takeaways from the discussion.

In an era of expanding artificial intelligence (AI) and related oversight, AI-specific due diligence is a critical component of corporate transactions when the target company substantially leverages AI. Learn how AI-related due diligence, supported by input from leadership, helps buyers and investors uncover and address unique risks, legal requirements, and governance challenges when acquiring or investing in companies that use or develop AI technologies.

On November 18, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that he designated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally. Once implemented, the status change will make KSA eligible for an increased range of benefits with respect to defense trade and security cooperation with the US. It will also streamline certain requirements related to direct commercial sales of defense articles that are subject to the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), particularly for space-related activities. This DLA Piper alert provides a brief overview of the “major non-NATO ally” status designation process and key implications under ITAR for businesses.

On December 18, 2025, the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act (HFIAA) was enacted, eliminating the longstanding exemption for Foreign Private Issuers (FPIs) from Section 16(a) reporting under the Exchange Act. Beginning March 18, 2026, directors and officers of FPIs must file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to disclose beneficial ownership and changes in equity holdings. While FPIs remain exempt from short-swing profit rules and short-sale prohibitions, these new requirements introduce tighter compliance timelines and increased scrutiny. Read more about how companies can prepare by identifying covered insiders, updating insider trading policies, and ensuring access to EDGAR Next for timely filings.

Data centers now play a key role in the digital economy, supporting everything from AI innovation to routine online transactions. Recognized as critical national infrastructure in many jurisdictions, these secure hubs are driving an unprecedented wave of growth. Global investment is projected to require almost USD7 trillion globally by 2030 to keep pace with demand, and construction activity is booming. This transformation creates significant opportunities, but it also brings risks. While public attention has often been focused on issues like sustainability, energy supply, and land constraints, construction-related data center disputes are on the rise and may increase. This alert examines these disputes and how they can be managed.

The NIS2 Directive marks a significant evolution in the EU’s approach to cybersecurity, expanding both the scope of regulated entities and the depth of compliance obligations. For organizations operating in the EU, remaining in compliance is critical for managing liability and cybersecurity protocols. Part 3 of DLA Piper’s three-part series on NIS2 discusses the directive’s impact on supply chains and how other relevant EU guidance may affect compliance. Part 1 and Part 2 of the series explore potential indirect applications of the directive in other areas not explicitly within its scope.

Recent matters

Below are recent Israel-related transactions in which DLA Piper was involved. The firm advised:

• G2 Risk Solutions, a leading US-based merchant risk and compliance solutions provider, on the US aspects of its merger with EverC, an Israeli fraud prevention and payments-related risk management company that is AI-driven
  
  
• Underwriters on a USD40 million follow-on public offering of ordinary shares by Israeli company Allot Ltd., a global provider of innovative network intelligence and security solutions for service providers and enterprises worldwide
  
  
• DigitalOwl, an Israeli Insurtech startup, on its sale to Datavant, a US-based healthcare data platform, for over USD200 million
  
  
• Ecolab Inc., a global sustainability leader, on the US aspects of its definitive agreement to acquire all the equity interests of Ovivo Inc., a Canadian provider of water treatment solutions for the manufacture of semiconductor devices, for CAD2.4 billion
  
  
• Similarweb, a leading digital market intelligence company based in Tel Aviv, on its USD8 million acquisition of Swedish company Winchel International, an IT company specializing in SEO tracking and optimization
  
  
• Lumivero, a Colorado-based software development company, on the US aspects of its acquisition of Dooblo Ltd., an Israeli market research company
  
  
• A leading global financial institution in connection with a revolving credit facility involving an Israeli medical device company
  
  
• An Israeli holding company on its acquisition of 50 percent of a UK-based globally regulated online broker

Global activity

In the fourth quarter of 2025, DLA Piper commenced projects for 77 Israeli companies in the following 41 jurisdictions: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, the EU, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, the UK, and the US.

Below are recent representative matters in which the firm assisted Israeli companies around the world:

• Commercial issues in the EU, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Morocco, Switzerland, the UAE, the UK, and the US
  
  
• Corporate and securities issues in Germany, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, the UAE, the UK, and the US
  
  
• Employment, employee benefits, and immigration guidance in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, the UK, and the US
  
  
• Litigation and dispute guidance in Finland, France, Germany, the UK, and the US
  
  
• Mergers and acquisitions (M&A), finance, and investment guidance in Belgium, Canada, the EU, Hong Kong, the UK, and the US
  
  
• Privacy and other product regulatory guidance in Australia, China, the EU, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the UK, and the US
  
  
• Real estate guidance in the UK and the US
  
  
• Regulatory issues in Albania, Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, the EU, France, Germany, India, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the UAE, the UK, and the US
  
  
• Tax guidance in Colombia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Turkey, and the US
  
  
• Patent, trademark, and copyright guidance in the EU, the UK, and the US

Colleague in the spotlight

Nicholas Klein
Partner, Co-Chair, National Security and Global Trade Practice
Global Co-Chair, CFIUS and Global FDI Practices
Washington, DC

Please tell us about your area of practice.

I focus on national security and international trade matters, including helping clients secure approvals from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and to comply with US export controls and economic sanctions. More broadly, I help clients understand the intersection of these and other US government regulatory tools and their impact on strategic business operations and transactions.

How can Israeli companies proactively structure transactions to minimize CFIUS risk? Are there particular industries (e.g., cybersecurity, AI, defense-related tech) where Israeli companies face heightened scrutiny?

Israeli companies can minimize CFIUS risk by conducting early assessments, structuring transactions to anticipate sensitivities and mitigation risk, and consulting with experienced legal counsel. Sectors such as cybersecurity, AI, defense-related technology, semiconductors, and biotechnology face especially high scrutiny from CFIUS. Proactive planning and transparent communication with US partners can help ensure smoother regulatory reviews and successful outcomes.

What US national security and foreign and public policy trends should Israeli companies keep in mind when expanding to the US?

President Trump issued the America First Investment Policy Memorandum in February 2025, which outlined several key areas of focus and policy for CFIUS. We have seen the effects of the implementation of these directives, including that CFIUS has become more willing to approve transactions quickly if they are low risk but also more willing to block transactions in lieu of complex mitigation. CFIUS remains keenly focused on critical infrastructure (including data centers, AI, energy, and communications), sensitive US-person data, and deals involving emerging technologies (e.g., AI, semiconductors, cybersecurity, advanced materials, defense, and biotech). Even seemingly routine investments may raise red flags if they touch on these domains.

We have also seen an increased connection between national security and economic security. Economic policies – such as supply chain resiliency, reduced dependence on China, and increased domestic manufacturing – are increasingly intertwined with CFIUS risk assessments.

In your experience, what makes Israeli companies unique when expanding to the US, and how do those qualities shape their interactions with US regulators and national security considerations?

Israeli companies tend to be proactive with compliance and adaptable to the pace of US regulation, all while emphasizing transparency. Their close ties with the US, especially around sensitive sectors like cybersecurity and defense, mean they undergo thorough reviews (such as CFIUS) and must carefully manage technology transfer concerns. These established security relationships often facilitate smoother regulatory interactions. However, CFIUS will continue to scrutinize their business relationships and connections with China, which may increase the risk of CFIUS mitigation to address potential technology or data transfer.

DLA Piper Israel Group updates

On October 23, 2025, our team celebrated Managing Director Naomi Maryles’s (New York and Tel Aviv) milestone birthday with a surprise party at Sphera in Rehovot in recognition of her friendship and leadership.

On November 2, 2025, we sponsored TAMID Group’s inaugural Legacy & Leadership Dinner Series in New York to connect TAMID alumni with each other and strengthen their ties to the Israeli ecosystem. Jeremy Lustman (New York; Washington, DC; and Tel Aviv), Partner and Head of DLA Piper’s Israel Group, serves on the Board of TAMID Group, whose summer interns have served our office over the years.

On November 23, 2025, we launched a new monthly Professional Networking Lunch Series with a presentation by Jen Airley, mother of fallen soldier Binyamin Airley and founder of a healing retreat center in his memory. The series brings together professionals in our neighborhood for networking and offers the opportunity to hear from scholars and learn about charitable initiatives around the country.

On November 25, 2025, the DLA Piper Israel Group gathered with family, friends, and our community of US expats for a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner at Tetto in Sarona Market, Tel Aviv.

On December 3, 2025, members of the firm attended Shalva National Center’s Annual Dinner to celebrate the organization’s 35th year. Funds from the 2024 and 2025 DLA Piper Charity Basketball Tournaments have gone to support the organization, which is dedicated to providing care for individuals with disabilities, empowering their families, and promoting social inclusion.

On December 11, 2025, DLA Piper Israel Group Director Dana Brody Glass (Tel Aviv) attended the Women in Tech Israel Summit, hosted at Herzog Law Offices. The event brought together speakers from around the world to share stories of leadership, impact, and resilience. It was an opportunity to meet and hear from professional women, many visiting Israel for the first time. Participants and speakers joined from across Israel, with international representation from Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Japan, North Macedonia, Italy, France, Panama, Kosovo, and the UK.

On December 23, 2025, we held an end-of-year team dinner at imerSion Restaurant in Jaffa to celebrate each member of the Israel Group and their contributions to the continued growth of our practice.

Finally, in December 2025, we were pleased to welcome our new marketing intern, Orly Lashak. Orly is a recent graduate of Reichman University’s Psychology program with a specialization in media. A native of Houston, Texas, Orly will support the DLA Piper Israel Group Marketing team across its events, research, content, and administrative coordination functions.

Professional and client events

On November 12, 2025, we hosted a webinar on the shifting geopolitical dynamics between Israel and the Arab world featuring Jennifer Gavito, Senior Advisor at The Cohen Group and Co-Leader of its Middle East practice. During the webinar, which was moderated by Naomi Maryles, Jennifer shared perspectives on the ceasefire with Hamas, expansion of the Abraham Accords, regime change in Syria, the weakening of Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the conflict with Iran, among others.

On November 16 and December 30, 2025, we hosted networking dinners for up-and-coming lawyers at Israeli firms with whom we collaborate. We met new colleagues and built new relationships across the Israeli legal ecosystem.

On December 10, 2025, we hosted a webinar with Blue Laurel Advisors on the rapidly evolving Saudi–US investment landscape and its implications for Israeli and global businesses. Guest speakers Tally Zingher, Founder and Managing Director of Blue Laurel Advisors, and Mark Donig, Head of Blue Laurel Advisors US, discussed takeaways from this year’s US–Saudi summits, recent economic developments, and strategies for doing business with Saudi companies.

On December 22, 2025, we hosted a dinner with clients, colleagues, and friends to reflect on 2025 and look ahead to 2026. Guest speaker Zvika Klein, Editor-in-Chief of The Jerusalem Post, shared perspectives on key topics from 2025, including geopolitics in the Middle East, Israeli politics, antisemitism, and more.

Upcoming events

• EU Whistleblower Directive Webinar with Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Israel: January 26, 2026
  
  
• Professional Networking Lunch with Yael Leibowitz: February 2, 2026
  
  
• Capital Markets Event with Gornitzky GNY: February 23, 2026

Giving back to the community

Corporate social responsibility is one of the guiding principles of the DLA Piper Israel Group practice. As part of this commitment, we engaged in the following sponsorships and community activities:

• We once again served as sponsors for the Sukkot Comedy for Koby show, which ran in cities across Israel from October 8 to 12, 2025. The event benefited the Koby Mandell Foundation, which provides support and healing for victims of terror, loss, and trauma.
  
  
• On October 15, 2025, we co-sponsored and attended a concert by Israeli musician Ishay Ribo in support of Nifgashim, an organization serving Israel and strengthening the connection between Jewish communities in Israel and the diaspora.
  
  
• On November 19, 2025, we volunteered with Nefesh B’Nefesh, a nonprofit organization that supports immigrants to Israel from North America, to assemble over 400 care packages for Lone Soldiers who completed a three-month Army Hebrew Course at the Michve Alon base before beginning their jobs in the IDF.
  
  
• On November 24, 2025, we again co-sponsored Ezer Mizion’s Thanksgiving Swing for Life golf tournament, which raises funds for the largest Jewish bone marrow registry in the world. Clients and friends joined Jeremy Lustman at the tournament for a day of friendly competition and networking.
  
  
• In honor of Chanukah, which took place from December 15 to 22, 2025, we donated to nine nonprofit organizations – one for each candle on the menorah plus a ninth donation symbolizing the shamash, the candle used to light all the others. Our contributions included, among other things, organizing a pizza dinner for DLA Piper Israel Group Director Yehudah Gordon’s (Tel Aviv) IDF Reserves unit and partnering with Yachad Israel to host a festive party, where we packed Chanukah gifts for the elderly.