Avi Goldhammer & Co. Law Office

The office of Avi Goldhammer & Co. is a distinguished law firm based in Haifa, recognized as one of Israel’s leading firms in legal representation for local authorities. Established in 1979, the firm has built a strong reputation for providing comprehensive legal services to municipalities, regional councils, and various governmental entities. Between 2014 and 2022, the firm was consistently ranked among the top law firms in Israel in this field by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). It has represented numerous local authorities, including the municipalities of Nahariya, Nazareth, Afula, Jezreel Valley, the Asher Regional Council, and multiple water and sewage corporations.

Areas of Expertise

The office specializes in litigation and appears before all instances, including the Supreme Court and the National Labor Court; it also represents clients in arbitration proceedings. Its key practice areas include: Administrative Law 
The firm has extensive experience representing local authorities in various civil proceedings, including disputes over municipal taxation, tenders, labor law, contractual agreements, and municipal property management. It also provides legal counsel in establishing and managing municipal water corporations.
Planning & Construction Law 
The firm represents local planning and construction committees in legal matters related to zoning, permitting, land expropriation, and municipal infrastructure projects.
Labor Law
Avi Goldhammer & Co. represents public institutions, corporations, and employees concerning employment contracts, collective agreements, workplace rights, wrongful termination claims, and labor disputes.
Real Estate Law
The firm advises clients on property transactions, land development, urban renewal projects, and real estate taxation, ensuring compliance with Israeli land regulations.
Medical Malpractice
The firm represents plaintiffs in medical malpractice claims, advocating for victims of negligence by medical professionals and institutions.
Class Actions
Avi Goldhammer & Co. represents plaintiffs and defendants in high-profile class action suits involving consumer rights, environmental law, and corporate misconduct.

Achievements, Significant Cases and Precedents

The office has participated in many important cases, some of which have attracted wide media coverage, and achieved significant precedents.
Some of the notable achievements and cases:
Cancellation of the Elections in Nahariya
The office represented Nahariya’s mayor who lost the 2003 elections. An appeal was filed and the demand to cancel the elections claimed it was bought. The Haifa District Court, by its president, Hon. Justice Lindenstraus (his title at the time) accepted the appeal, and the Supreme Court rejected an appeal against it. That was the first time elections had been canceled in a town of that magnitude. Afterward, the office succeeded in the cancellation of elections in three other local authorities – Beit Zarzir, Peki’in, and Arabe.
Nahariya Municipality v. Income Tax 
An appeal regarding surplus expenditure. The District Court accepted the Municipality’s position and canceled the bylaw.
Y.A. ALON v. Israel Land Authority
A petition to cancel decision regarding winning a tender. The petition was accepted and the winning has been restored.
Mifram Ltd. v. Beit Shean Municipality
An appeal to the Supreme Court to disqualify a tender offer due to a benevolent bank guarantee. The appeal was granted.

Significant Cases in Recent Years

CRM C v. Afula Municipality
A petition to cancel a decision regarding winning a tender. The office represented Afula Municipality.
Yigal Hacker and others v. Broner Yehuda
A claim to enforce a political agreement between party members of a party that ran in the municipal elections. Our firm represented the defendant. The court rejected the claim, stating that this was an unenforceable agreement, among other things.
Y.A. ALON Construction Ltd. v. The State of Israel: Israel Land Authority 
A claim for the loss of profit as a result of an illegal decision made by the tender committee to cancel the plaintiff’s winning of a tender. The procedure ended in an agreement according to which the State paid the plaintiff a sum of NIS 6.75 million.
Mazliach Zeevi Infrastructure, Development and Initiation Ltd. v. the Municipality of Tirat HaCarmel and others 
A petition against the decision of the tender committee to win another winning tender. In its decision, the committee ignored the mechanism of choosing the winner as determined in the tender conditions. The decision of the committee was supported by a legal opinion. Notwithstanding, the court accepted the petition, instructed to cancel the winner’s win, and returned the discussion to the committee while instructing to act according to the tender’s conditions, which led to the plaintiff’s winning of the tender.
The Nahariya Municipality vs. Afiki S.E.G Channels 
A lawsuit for betterment levies. The court accepted the claim and ordered the defendants to pay 8.6 million NIS, despite the debt being approximately 20 years old.

Lawyers of the Firm

The firm’s lawyers bring a wealth of expertise and experience in their respective fields:
Avi Goldhammer 
Founder of the firm, a graduate of Hebrew University Law School, admitted to the Israeli Bar in 1976. He served on the Haifa City Council and ran for mayor in 1993.
Oded Dong
Holds a law degree from the University of Haifa, admitted to the Israeli Bar in 1998.
Miri Walther Reuven: A University of Haifa Law graduate and former intern at the State Attorney’s Office, admitted in 1998.
Liran Cohen
Holds dual degrees in Law and Jewish Philosophy from Bar-Ilan University, admitted to the Israeli Bar in 2003.
Tali Goldhammer 
Graduated from Netanya Academic College Law School, admitted in 2004.
Nira Dadon
Graduated with honors from Netanya Academic College, admitted in 2003. She also serves as the firm’s administrative manager.
Amit Mooncher
Earned his law degree with honors from the University of Haifa, admitted in 2011.
Uri Goldhammer
Graduate of Netanya Academic College Law School, admitted in 2012.
Katia Goloveshko
Holds a law degree and a psychology degree with honors from the University of Haifa, admitted in 2019. Miri Shitrit
Graduated from Netanya Academic College Law School, admitted in 2003.
Rinat Paz Britman
Graduate of Netanya Academic College Law School, admitted in 2013.

Pro Bono Work

The firm sees itself as an integral part of the communities it serves and believes in contributing to society. As part of its pro bono work, Adv. Goldhammer serves as Chairman of the Development Fund for Yeruham, and the firm provides legal counsel for this fund as and for the Development Fund for Upper Nazareth. The firm has filed petitions against public housing companies to protect tenants’ rights and also handles specific pro bono cases referred by various organizations.