Hartavi Bornstein Basson & Co. Law Offices

Hartavi Bornstein Basson & Co. (HBB) is an exceptional law firm with a unique professional worldview in the real estate sector. For decades, the firm has specialized in all facets of real estate—from complex litigation and transactions to urban renewal and contractor representation. This extensive expertise provides the team with a broad, systematic perspective, enabling them to manage complex real estate cases and guide clients safely through the complexities of government bureaucracy..

History

Founded in 1996 as the successor to the long-standing Sochovolsky-Hartavi firm, the current partnership of Zeev Hartavi, Mira Bornstein, and David Basson now comprises 16 lawyers—mostly promoted from within—and 12 support staff.

Vision & Strategy

The firm aims to lead Israel’s land, planning, and real estate sector as a “one-stop-shop” by managing the most complex cases and transactions. The firm provides personalized service delivered by its partners and assistants, guided by a commitment to uncompromising professionalism and a transparent, candid approach.

Practice Areas

Real Estate and Commercial Litigation – Real estate litigation is one of the firm’s core areas of practice, encompassing representation in all courts in matters of ownership disputes, protected tenancy, expropriations, partition of real estate, historical rights, arbitration, and mediation for companies, local authorities, cooperative associations, and private clients.
Planning & Building – The firm handles full planning and urban zoning (TABA) processes, from the initial initiation phase through to construction and sales, in cooperation with planning institutions and professional consultants. Concurrently, the firm provides ongoing comprehensive legal representation to local planning and building committees and municipalities (including Hod Hasharon, Ra’anana, Kadima-Zoran, and Rosh HaAyin), encompassing advisory services for committee officials, participation in plenary meetings, handling betterment levies, and representation in tenders, administrative petitions, and legal proceedings involving appraisers and the courts..
Real Estate Projects – The firm handles large-scale real estate projects-including residential, commercial, and industrial-providing a comprehensive legal framework that includes drafting agreements, handling taxation, planning procedures, land registry (Tabu) registration, and representation before appeal committees. Known projects led by the firm: Neve Avivim Tel Aviv, Neve Amirim Herzliya, Merom Naveh Ramat Gan, Givat Merom Givat Shmuel, Givat Savion Hahadasha, Lev Rehavia, Migdal Neve Tzedek, Hamashtela Tel Aviv, Nof Hayam project, Custom House Jaffa, Hatzrot Hamoshava Rehovot, Lugano Yehud, Beit Avgad, Oasis Building, Hamachlavot Ramat Gan, Mamilla Jerusalem, Herzliya and Holon Industrial Zones.
Urban Renewal and Earthquake Retrofits – The firm manages large-scale urban renewal and TAMA 38 projects for major developers, including representing landowners in complexes across Ramat Aviv G, Yad Eliyahu, Ramat Hatayasim, Givat Shmuel, Ramat Gan, Yehud, Kiryat Ono, Givatayim, and Petah Tikva.
Kibbutzim and Moshavim - The firm holds long-standing expertise in representing kibbutzim, moshavim, and cooperative associations, having established key legal precedents. We provide comprehensive legal support—including disputes with the Israel Land Authority, protection of agricultural and real estate rights, and zoning regulation—while offering ongoing institutional and business guidance to dozens of communities nationwide, including Reshpon, Kfar Shmaryahu, Shefayim, and Ein HaMifrats.
Hospitality and Hotels - We provide comprehensive legal counsel to hotel chains, covering asset and corporate acquisitions including real estate, planning, and tax aspects, and ongoing operational management. Additionally, we offer full-service legal support, including drafting management agreements, labor and commercial law advice, and professional representation.

Clients

Private landowners, kibbutzim, and moshavim; leading developers and hotel chains (including Prima and Almog Red Sea); financial and public institutions (Discount Bank, Histadrut, Hadassah Hospital, Bar-Ilan University, and the Ministry of Defense); and various local municipalities.

Founding Partners

Adv. Zeev Haratavi |Founding Partner
Expert in real estate transactions, planning, zoning, and expropriation cases. Experienced in arbitration, mediation, and land registration. Served as a judge in the Israel Bar disciplinary court, national president of the Young Israel Bar (1965), and a member of the Merhavit Planning & Building Committee (1976–1985)..
Adv. Mira Bornstein |Founding Partner
Specializes in complex real estate transactions, property rights litigation, and planning procedures. Provides dedicated legal counsel to churches, as well as to moshavim and settlements regarding their land and property rights..
Adv. David Basson |Founding Partner
Coordinates the firm’s litigation department. Represents companies and private clients in real estate disputes, tax matters, and complex transactions. Expert in providing counsel to businesses, kibbutzim, and moshavim on land and settlement rights.
Adv. Hagai Midan | Partner
Expert in complex real estate transactions, with a focus on residential, commercial, and hospitality projects. Specializes in managing ventures—including purchasing groups, combination deals, and air-rights transfers—while providing comprehensive legal support to corporate and government entities, as well as resolving disputes through mediation and litigation.
Adv. Ezra Kokia | Partner
A leading legal expert in the fields of planning and zoning, with unique expertise in strategic litigation and shaping binding legal precedents. Focuses on representing local authorities and institutional bodies in complex administrative proceedings, real estate taxation, and representation before the highest judicial tribunals, bringing a comprehensive legal perspective to every case.
Adv. Simon Toussoun | Partner
Specializes in large-scale real estate litigation, including property disputes, evictions, and expropriations. Provides end-to-end guidance from planning to execution, with expertise in betterment levies, Section 197 claims, and urban renewal, combining strategic planning insight with robust legal representation.
Adv. Elad Stupel | Partner
Specializes in litigation and commercial representation for institutional entities and hotel chains, particularly in property disputes, expropriations, and compensation cases. Provides comprehensive legal counsel on ownership, protected tenancy, partition, and planning law, while integrating expertise in Jewish law into legal proceedings and contract drafting.
Adv. Yossi Klein | Partner
Leads the firm’s urban renewal practice, specializing in tenant representation for completed projects. Participated in drafting the Government Urban Renewal Authority’s standard agreements and serves as legal counsel to municipal renewal administrations. Additionally, he offers extensive expertise in planning, zoning, and advancing complex land re-designation projects. .