Mendelson & Co.

Mendelson & Co. Law Office is a leading boutique law firm specializing in real estate law, including urban renewal, planning and zoning law, and local authority law (municipalities, local councils, and regional councils). The firm is ranked among Israel’s prominent firms in these fields.
The firm represents local authorities, developers, tenants’ representatives, leading real estate companies, and senior business executives, and advises on dozens of projects nationwide and complex legal matters with a total annual scope exceeding NIS 1 billion.

Key Practice Areas

•Local Authority Law — Ongoing legal counsel for municipalities and councils.
•Planning and Zoning — Statutory plans, objections, permits, exceptional use permits, and enforcement.
•Municipal Taxation — Development levies, public open space levies, drainage levies, building fees, betterment levy assessments, and appraisal support.
•Urban Renewal — Representation of tenants, developers, and authorities in Pinui-Binui and TAMA 38 projects.
•Real Estate — Representation of developers and tenants in complex transactions, transfer of rights, registrations, and condominium orders.
•Project Advisory and Management — Representation before the Israel Land Authority, Ministry of Interior, government ministries, and planning institutions.
•Administrative and Commercial Litigation before all court instances.

Among the Leading Firms in Municipal Law and Urban Renewal

Mendelson & Co. Law Office is ranked among the five leading firms in the fields of local authority law, municipal taxation, and urban renewal by international ranking guides. The firm was founded and is managed by Adv. Orly Mendelson-Toledano, LL.M., University of Haifa, former legal counsel to the Haifa Municipality, and one of the leading attorneys in northern Israel in the fields of local authorities and urban renewal.

Adv. Orly Mendelson, Founder and Owner

Adv. Mendelson was selected among the “40 Most Promising Young Professionals” in the fields of real estate and law for 2025. She is a sought-after lecturer at the Israel Bar Association in the field of urban renewal and is also highly experienced in expropriation law and compensation claims under Section 197 of the Planning and Building Law. She also serves as Acting Chair of the Urban Renewal, Local Authorities, Municipal Taxation, and Planning and Zoning Committees of the Israel Bar Association.
For many years, Adv. Mendelson served as in-house legal counsel for the Haifa Municipality and the Local Planning and Building Committee — among the largest, most influential, and complex public bodies in Israel. During her tenure, she achieved Supreme Court precedents on behalf of the Haifa Municipality and its administration that continue to serve as guiding rulings for other authorities nationwide.

Advising on Projects Exceeding 200 Million NIS and

Covering Approximately 1,400 Dunams
Throughout her public-sector roles, Adv. Mendelson led key legal and public initiatives, managed some of the largest municipal litigation cases in Israel, handled projects exceeding NIS 200 million and spanning approximately 1,400 dunams, advised on municipal bylaw legislation, led major tenders and engagements, and served as a trusted advisor to the Haifa Municipality’s leadership, senior officials, and state institutions.

A Private Firm Demonstrating Continuous Growth

Following her transition to the private sector, Adv. Mendelson established an independent firm that has demonstrated impressive and consistent growth. Within a short period, the firm became a leading practice advising and representing municipalities and local councils including Haifa, Hadera, Tirat Carmel, Nesher, Tivon, and others; municipal corporations; some of Israel’s largest real estate companies; developers in Pinui-Binui projects valued at hundreds of millions of shekels; hundreds and thousands of tenants and tenant representatives across the country; public officials and senior executives; as well as major institutional and commercial entities.

Combat Fighter, Commander, and Leader

Adv. Mendelson is a graduate of combat military service and served as a fighter in an elite Border Police unit — service that shaped her as an assertive, determined leader with exceptional personal resilience. The values of professionalism, endurance, discipline, courage, and dedication to mission that she acquired during her military service accompany her in every case and contribute to her strong courtroom presence and ability to manage complex matters with composure and precision.

High-Profile Public and Media Cases

The firm leads high-profile public and media cases, including administrative petitions against municipal taxation demands, cancellation of development and public open space levies, expropriation proceedings, claims under Section 197, statutory planning support, and planning objections — including representation before the District Courts, the Supreme Court, and the High Court of Justice.

Growth, Geographic Expansion, and Diverse Client Base

Over the past year, the firm expanded its operations across a broad geographic area including Haifa, the Krayot region, Hadera, Tirat Carmel, Nesher, Zikhron Ya’akov, and central Israel, and currently manages major cases for numerous authorities and projects spanning hundreds of dunams and hundreds of residential units.
The firm includes a team of attorneys with backgrounds in municipalities, public prosecution offices, and government systems, and works alongside leading architects, appraisers, and engineers to provide clients with a comprehensive professional framework.

Lectures, Leadership, and Public Activity

Adv. Mendelson is a regular and highly sought-after lecturer at the Israel Bar Association and at professional conferences in the fields of urban renewal, planning and zoning, and municipal taxation. She leads professional forums, initiates seminars and conferences, and takes part in extensive public activity aimed at advancing the rights of residents and developers and promoting efficient and responsible urban planning throughout Israel.