Our firm specializes in managing class actions in various areas. We have an impressive track record in winning a fair share of actions, some of which have gained significant media coverage.

What is a class action suit?

A class action suit, also known as a 'representative action', is a unique procedure in Israeli law, in which one (or more) plaintiff files a law suit and a motion to classify it as "representative" - that is, on behalf of a group, or class, of absent parties for an injury (of a similar nature) suffered by each member of the group due to a violation of the same nature. Class actions are founded on the protection of interests of the damaged individual, as well as that of the public.

In essence, a class action protects the individual's interest by providing a remedy to the damaged individual. In most cases, that individual does not go through the trouble of filing a law suit due to the high costs involved. Often due to the relatively minor nature of the damage one has suffered. Still, the aggregated damages to the group are significant, thus the accumulation of individual claims into one claim, namely a class action, makes each such individual claim worthy. The need to enforce the provisions of the law in the framework of which such action is filed, evidently serves public interest. Class actions serve as a deterrent – violators know that damaged individuals may act fiercely against them, with significant implications.

Also an important aspect of the public interest is efficiency and saving of resources that are inherent in a class action – this means less effort, time and funds spent by all parties involved: plaintiffs, defendants, lawyers and the Israeli courts. For this purpose, a class action serves to achieve uniform court decisions on similar cases and to prevent multiple similar suits. (Supreme Court Case 4556/94 Tezet  V. Zilbershats (1994)).

The Class Actions Act (2006) allows filing class action suits in a variety of matters, but stipulates a number of complex prerequisites for a suit to be classified as a class action.

Here are some of the Class actions managed by our firm:

El Al Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Misleading Seat Practices

A court certified settlement (January 30, 2020), in a class action filed against the Ashdod Port for the overbilling of weekend rates on weekdays. As part of the settlement, the Ashdod Port will repay NIS 100,000,000 to the public.
Click here for an article on this matter

A court certified settlement, in a class action filed against the First International Bank of Israel Ltd. and 4 other banks, for improper collection of securities deposit management fees, in Israel and abroad.

A court certified settlement, in a class action filed against Union Bank Ltd., for the improper collection of credit balances in clients' bank accounts.

A court certified settlement, in a class action filed against Bank Hapoalim Ltd., for the improper collection of management fees in securities accounts.

A court certified settlement, in a class action filed against Victory Supermarkets, for consumer deception in promotional signs posted at the chain's stores.

A court certified settlement in a class action filed (together with attorney Guy Herschkowitz) against Bluestone which produced Rihanna's concert in Israel, for incidents that took place before and during said concert.

A court certified settlement in a class action filed (together with attorney Shiri Raiff Florentine) against Gad Oron which produced Robbie Williams's concert in Israel, for ignoring the rights of very expensive VIP ticket holders.
Click here for an article on this matter

A court certified settlement, in a class action filed (together with Attorney Guy Herschkowitz) against the Team 3 Ltd. security company for violations of the collective labor agreement expanded by an expansion order to include all persons employed in the Israeli security sector, in such manner that the defendant made improper deductions and violated its employees' social rights.

A class action filed against one of the largest car rental search portals (RENTALCARS) for concealing the VAT component added to the prices of vehicle rentals presented on its website.
Click here for an article on this matter.

A class action filed against El Al Airways for their policy under which they fail to disclose the existence of inferior seats on their flights to some of their customers.

A class action filed against Portugal's national airlines (TAP) on April 16, 2020 for breach of duty under the Aviation Services Act, including failure to return considerations to individuals whose flights have been canceled by the airline and the provision of a voucher which does not serve as a 'substitute flight ticket' as required by the same law.
Click here for an article on this matter

A class action filed against Discount Bank Ltd. for improper collection of fees from bank customers who were promised various benefits.

In the last few years municipalities have been making efforts to promote and encourage urban renewal projects. However, only few of these plans have gone beyond the planning stages. Our partners are experienced in handling urban renewal projects, from their initial stages to their final completion, including managing the liaison with various professionals, receiving permits and working opposite committees and municipal authorities, accompanying the project's implementation etc. Our firm is highly active in this field. 

Our partners also use their experience and close acquaintance with municipal entities to assist our clients in overcoming obstacles derived from the complexity of the approval process of an urban renewal project, and in receiving permits and executing a desired project. Thus, our firm plays a dominant role in Israel's urban renewal field. 

In this framework, the firm handles tens of projects designed to strengthen existing buildings such as the national outline plans no. 38 and 38(2), evacuation-building projects, patio additions to existing buildings, etc.

Sapir, Sturm & Co. provides its clients with legal counsel throughout all transactional phases. Our partners have comprehensive experience in handling complex real estate transactions, accumulated while practicing in some of Israel's leading law firms in the field. 

Our firm provides legal counsel to a variety of clients, from contractors, entrepreneurs and acquisition groups to land owners and private individuals. Our services include all forms of real estate transactions from their initial stages to their final completion, including sale and purchase transactions, complex combination transactions and transactions involving the Israel Land Administration.
In addition, our firm accompanies its clients through the financing aspects of real estate projects and transactions, and act as their liaison with banking and financial institutions.

Sapir, Sturm & Co. has vast experience in all aspects of commercial and corporate law, accumulated while providing legal counsel to some of Israel's largest and prominent companies. 

Our firm provides legal counsel to a diverse portfolio of companies in commercial related matters such as mergers and acquisitions; investment transactions in public and private companies, commercial agreements, labor law issues, IP related issues, legal counsel to directors and other functionaries, and ongoing legal counsel regarding the company's day-to-day activities. 

Furthermore, the firm assists entrepreneurs in forming new companies, including selecting the most appropriate structure that is consistent with the company's goals and purposes, as well as forming partnership agreements, shareholders agreements etc. 

Our firm sets availability and responsiveness as top priorities in our commercial services. Our partners personally accompany their clients throughout all their business initiatives and assist them in pursuing their goals persistently and intelligently. Our firm also represents our clients in various commercial disputes and all court appearances, as well as in alternative dispute resolution procedures.

Sapir, Sturm & Co. specializes in representing legal disputes that occasionally arise in the course of real estate transactions and projects, without the need to involve the courts. 

Our firm represents its clients in claims against contractors regarding defects and failures, injunction claims, evacuation claims and financial claims against tenants, negligence claims against lawyers regarding misconduct of real estate transactions, nuisances, planning and construction issues, contractual claims, condominiums, etc. 

The firm also specializes in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods, such as arbitration, mediation and conciliation.

Sapir, Sturm & Co. offers exceptional expertise in the planning and construction field. During the years, the firm's partners represented many municipal entities, including planning and construction committees, city engineers and some of Israel's largest municipalities. Our partners acquired unique knowledge regarding the way those entities operate, as well as profound understanding of planning and construction procedures, as well as permits allocation. 

The firm represents its clients in different procedures before local and national planning and construction committees, including appeal committees, value decrease claims under the 197 rule of the planning and construction law, administrative petitions etc. 

Furthermore, the firm provides its clients with various legal services including land betterment tax, development agreements, assets improvement, promoting plans before the relevant committees, licensing procedures, expropriations and compensation claims.
Moreover, our partners are experienced in different unique aspects of the planning and construction field, including agreements between entrepreneurs and municipalities, constructions rights mobilization, preservation programs etc.